The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-30

From q question OF dangerous fric-
ton with Great Britain and Germany
the situation has completely changed
and President Roosevelt has been
asked to arbitrate the Venezuelan diff
culties. 1t as moi so very far from
possible war to cordial friendshio-
Lockport Journal
Senator Lodge has invented a new
way OF dealing with tn: coal tariff so
rs to make progress backward. He has
introduced a bill to repeal the duty on
coal brought from Canada when .Ire
Canadians sha repeal the duty en- coal
imported from the United States. I'm
stgine h fury with which the btu
minous ate will make war upon
this rpeasurei Non the less IL ought
TO pass as a first step toward a mutual
ly advantageous reciprocity.-Phiiadei-
phia Record.
the anthracite region, who hire out
their boys n girls of IL to IA years.
to work by day and by night, are
Polaks n Huns, who were imported
under h good old system, to dispiace
American, Welsh end Irish min ers.
Thus the chicks are coming home 10
roost on Deacon Baer's front fence.
The foreign element in Massachusetts
was responsible for 80 per cent. of the
child labor in the mills of the state.
and this is true Of all the New En-
gland states.-Chattanooga Times.
To the question of the Times-Unioo
and Citizen as to whether prosperity
makes us richer. the esteemed Pensa-
cola News replies, "Only some of us.
Just so. 1t is equally true that ad-
versity makes only some of US poorer,
and the average man will never know
the difference IL he will keep a level
hoad have f0ith in htc nnrrntr an1
pay no attention to those who get up
scares for private benefit or partisan
oehoof. Try n prescription, even
though given I'm no Doctors dog latin
it is plain truth hammered into words
ny Observation-Disclosures Times-Cn-
ion.
The administration has the entire
body of American public sentiment be-
bind it in its earnest efforts to bring
the Venezuelan trouble to an end hy
means of arbitration. Upon the details
IF its successive steps in the promo
ton OF this object there is always
room for much doubt n conjecture,
but of the intensity and the sincerity
of its e~ndeavors to bring about the de-
sired result there is no doubt. Fort
unately,, too, there are two personal
elements prominent in the case which
are decidedly encouraging. Secretary
Hay has given us reason to place much
confidence in his skill and the knowl-
edge he has acquired by very consider
able experience of complicated dipio-
matte situations; and Minister Bowen
has so conducted himself in the deh.
cate position in which he was placed
az to win the respect and good will OF
all parties to the controversy.-Tampa
Tribune.
One of the first steps to be taken IN
strengthening the position Of the United
States against the possible attacks of a
European coalition should be the WITH
drawal of the United States from the
Philippines. In order to make the stand
of the United States against European
interference on the Western hemis-
phere impregnable, it is for our great
republic to get out of the Eastern half
of the world. Our retention of the
Philippines in a serious degree weakens
the logical solidity and justice of u
contention that America is to be kept
for Americans. The Philippines might
be traded off to Holland for Dutch
Guiana. or to England or to France for
some of their possessions on the Wes.-
ern hemisphere, but whatever is done,
it should secure the retirement Of the
United States from the far East. The
question is one of craftsmanship and
not of party politics.-New Orleans
Picayune.
The Roosevelt-workshop thai has de-
veloped in Washington and some other
sections since it has become apparent
that the president is to have the next
republicans nomination, is rapidly APP
preaching the point where it will cause
nausea. If the president makes a pun
and ne has lately developed the habit
of p~erpetrating some astrocious ones
the Washington papers n corrr-
spondents make a story Of it. So no
torious has this become that some of
the funny columns" are making paro-
dies on presidential puns. And then
the other day when the president sent
a cable to an estimable old lady in Dem
mark, saying: your son is breakfast
ing with us: we send you our loving
sympathy" the son forthwith declared
the message would rejuvenate his
mother n cause her to live ten years
longer. That ought, of course to be
worth a consulate 20 me son.-Savan-
nah News.
So many of our generals, including
even Funston, have shown themselves
to he such sound advisers on subjects
of international Importance, that we
are not surprised to have General
Young add himself to the list of our
greatest living political thinkers. This
he did at the Cleveland Chamber of
Commerce dinner on Saturday. This
officer, who is to succeed General Miles
as commander of the army next fall,
did not hesitate to divulge the impor-
tan news that we should soon be fight
ing again in Asia, this time to preserve
our trade rights and advantaGeS-per-
haps as soon as he is in chief COM
mand. General Young did rot content
himself with mere assertion. He vas
ready TO prove that very shortly the
Philippines will be the gateway through
which all our gods will pour into Asia,
much, we suppose. in the same way in
which we now trade with Europe by
way of the Azores and the Canaries.
We have long known that trade fol-
lows the flag" but General Young has
improved upon this nice-sounding
phrase by adding, 'if the flag is backed
by sufficient force The larger The
army the greater the trade. Here we
have another great contribution to the
literature of pure economics which
should make the name Of Young ia
nous. We trust that no one will be SO
unkind as to connect General Young's
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