The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-26

1--WE, anu a stTOnS one 10 drive the
troop ships Of Germany and England
across the South Atlantic. A not too
formidable war. aside from creating a
saiuIary patriotic diversion. reviyss
dropping industry by creating provis-
VA employment and trade England
and Germany sadly need such a revival.
even though the %stimJulant has to be
administered through a hypodemic
syringe in the nam OF Mars.-Atlanta
Constitution.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hay" says the Philadelphia Press.
may be trusted to see that our gov
holds the right attitude with
regard to Venezuela" We are not so
sure about that, however. Does the
Press happen 10 know lat attitude
they hold with regard to the Philip
pines. for inst9nce2 Even the very
wisest and best men make great mis-
takes some times.-News and Courier.
The dealers in fireworks are not buy
ing crackers and bombs for the holi-
day trade this year. The new state law
prohibits the sale Of any firecrakers
over three inches in length or one-half
inch in diameter, under penalty of 30
days on the chain gang or a fine Of
500, and absolutely prohibits the sale
of bombs. This teing the law, and the
merchants observing it, the Christmas
celebration in South Carolina viii
doubtless be very much less noisy
than in the past decade.-Chester Is.
CO Reporter.
has done much good, but it's limitation
has done vastly more. We do not
mean to imply by the use of the word
limitation that America has receded,
even to the smallest extent. from The
position she originally assumed. Vene-
a. -
that the South American countries.
though protected in their territory.
may be held responsible for their acts:
that they must observe the courtesies
of international life; hat they will be
required to meet their obligations. The
lesson was badly needed by Veneznel1 I.
1t was needed to a smaller extent by
some Of the others.-Florida Times
Union.
The Baltimore Sun prints under scare
head lines an interview with Chief JUS
tice Richard H. Alvey. of the District
of Columbia court of appeals, who was
a embe of Mr.. Cleveland's VeneZue-
Ian commission in 1896 in which he
expresses the belief that Great Britain
and Germany have an Interior motive
in the demonstrations against Vere-
zuela. and that they intend if they can
to overthrow the Monroe Doctrine. He
also undertakes to say what Presl-
: dent Roosevelt out to do. 1t is
surprising indeed tina a mar in
Mr.. Alvey's position should express
himself so freely in a serious crisis. Ii
is also surprising that he should I'm
dertake to advise the president when
the president is in full possession of
the facts. Such talk can do no good
and may do a great deal of harm. The
president understands the situation,
and it is presumptuous, to say the
least, for any outsider to be Offering
him gratuitouS advice.-RichmoDd
Times.
In revising the policy of their politi-
cal brethren in the senate in the Phil
ippine tariff matter. the democratic
members of the house of representa-
tives. under the wise leadership of Mr..
Richardson, have displayed a s~oundness
of discretion and a quality of states
manship that we'll for the future
of their party. Incidentally they have
indicated the structures of The Post
On the refusal IF democratic senator's
to come to the relief of the Filipinos
last March by voting for the Foraker
amendment to the Philippine tariff hill.
1t is gratifying to see the same line
of argument wnith The Post employed
in condemning the action Of democratic
senators adopted by the leader of that
party in the house in graceful acquies-
cence in the inevitable, because nothing
ulOTO advantageous 10 the f1llLl1OS
could be secured. The policy of the
senators was TO get free trade or no
concession. The policy Of the represen-
tatives, as manifested last Thursday,
was to get the best obtainable terms
Washington Post.
1t is certainly hard to take any other
view of the proceedings of England
and Germany in the Venezuelan affair
than that they are trying to find out
just how far they may go without d
clash with the United States. And vet
it is quite difficult to understand why
England should make any such trial.
AS we remarked a few days ago., and
| as stated on Wednesday by Lord
Larsdowne, England has almost as
much interest in preserving the Mon
roe doctrine aS the United States has.
With Germany, of course, the situation
is very different. 1t is we'll established
in the minds of the American people,
whether it is a fact OF not, that the
German government looks with dis
pleasure upon the prohibll..e policy OF
his nation to Europe as to eXploita-
ton of the Western Hemisphere and
that the Kaiser has a great desire TO
discredit that policy. 1t is quite a
natural suspicion, therefore, that Ge--
many should in the present instance L,
straining at the Monroe doctrine, just
in a trial of it's tensile strength.-Char-
lesion Post.
Ever since the war with Spain DEM
onstrated the truth of Admiral Mil
hams contention that the wars of the
future will be determined by sea, and
at the same time throw upon this
country the necessity of defending dis
tant possessions in both oceans. the
Virsinian-Pilot has persistently urged
the necessity Of building a navy COM
menSurate with our power n with
the new obligations resting upon the
nation. We have also pointed out that
the force of the Monroe doctrine would
be exactly in proportion to the number
of steel walls and revolving turrets
that should back it up. But despite
the lesson of the Spanish-American
war, congress has pursued a more or
less niggardly and dilatory policy in
authorizing the construction of new
ships. and has not. indeed, even yet
settled upon any definite naval pro-
gramme. The Venezuelan imbrog.io
should bring home to the mind of even
h most stupid congressman the rec