The semi-weekly messenger., 1903-05-19
CURRENT COMMENT.

Postmaster General Payne no doubt
has learned from the old sailors how
a tub is sometimes thrown out to
a pursuing whale and keep it
from attacking the ship. He is endeaV-
oring to amuse the popular whale by ey-
plotting an unimpOrtant incident that
occurred near Gallatin for the evident
purpose of withdrawing attention from
the disgraceful scandals being unearth-
ed in the pOstoffice department and Of
which he possessed knowledge. on his
own admission, many months ago.
Memphis Appeal
a '13-year-old'' writes to The News
and Courier, asking: rs there any
misfortune in the number 13. and IS
that the reason the confederacy OF 13
states failed?' No, gentle reader. 13 IS
as innocuous as 4, II, a, despite the
fancies and fears Of many superstitious
people In the case Of the confederacy
It was 13 against the world. There
were entire regiments of the federal
army which could not speak English,
and the G. a. r. includes many con-
tingents from the Liffey and the Clyde
and the RhOne and the Rhine.-News
and Courier.
The three powers which are particu-
sia, Austria and France, have given
very specific warning to Turkey of
their attitude toward the Porte's Mac
edOnian policy. The sultan will have
to reform things promptly and stop his
Juggling with the situation and trying
to make Bulgaria bear all the burden
of the disturbance. Still the solution
of the Turkish question is not yet at
hand, nor will be until Russia finally
determines to strike fO' 80
and possession Of the Bosphorus Char
lesion Post.
There is an old story of a man Who
set out to hunt d bear and was thereby
hunted. \ few weeks ago it was an
nounced with an air Of triumph. that
Uncle Billy Allison had undertaken
to modify the zea Of the principal
champions of the Iowa idea concern
ing the tariff-Governor Cummins
among them. After a silence that
could almost be cut the news comes
that Senator Allison has been convert
ed by Governor Cummins. The ia
naticism" is spreading. Land
mark.
when the Pennsylvania railroad
unnel is completed and the station con-
structed, Philadelphia will be practical
Cj
fectly feasible to carry people from the
heart of New York to the heart of Phil
adelphia in 80 minutes. 1t will thee
fore, be equally feasible for Philadel-
phians to come to New York to attend
the theater and return the same even
ing" Such is the prophecy Of William
H. Baldwin, Jr., president of the Long
Island railroad, in an interview pub
Iished in The New York World.
While all the nations are trying to
get a slice of the Chinese pie, there is
no agreement, while there are many
causes for jealousy. The wolves that
devour the carcass commonly fight des-
perately over the prey and it appears
that some effort has been made to draw
the United States into the sQuabble OH
the ground that every world power
must take part in the. wrecking- and
plundering of nations. Let rs
not interfere in the international affairs
Of the old world while we vindicate our
doctrine as to the new. If there are TO
be two great powers dominating each
q hemisphere, let us accept the edict Of
destiny as 20 our part in it, and not
interfere with the development Of the
Other.-New Orleans Picayune.
Discussing the race question in che
south and the north, the Houston
TeX.), Chronicle-Herald makes the
point that If the south, as argued,
won't let the negro vote. it lets him
work: while the north let's the negro
vote, but won't let him work. The
New York Tribune (RepD quotes and
calls attention to the Texas papers
statement, but it does not attempt to
reply to it. AS a matter of fact, there
is no answer TO be made to it. 1t is
the truth, and shows that the north's
race question is more serious than that
of the south.-Savannah News.
A dispatch from Richmond, Va,
says: "EX-GOVernOr Charles T. Fer
rail- presented a letter from ex-Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland to the J. E. B.
Stuart Monument Association which
contained q gift for the monument to
be erected in Capitol Square. The let
ter contained a tribute to Stuart and a
reference to our reunited country. The
officers declined to- tell the size of the
check. The letter was received with
cheers, and the meeting sang -Four
More Years of Grover" led by Colonel
O'Ferrall." Why have given a contri-
button to so worthy an object a politi-
cal twist? General Stuart was one OF
the most dashing and capable of the
confederate cavalry commanders and
so fine a man ana soldier that even, 4
man like Mr.. Cleveland. who took no
part in the civil war, may we'll feel ad-
miration for him and a desire to SEE a
handsome monument rise in memory
of him. Was the letter requesting a
check for Mr.. Cleveland a political
plant" for orwa1ding the third term
movement in Virginia? The question
grows out of the uses to which the
check has been put-Washngton yTar
-<-$>~
From Cat Scratch
on the arm, to the worst sort 1e bt,rn