The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-13
CURRENT COMMENT.

Whatever is done III the matter Of.
the Isthmian Canal at this time viii
De bitterly censured With all sorts
OF Hobbies at work, with the people
suspicious, and with . doubtful revO-
luton on hand on the isthmus. the
situation is extremely delicate. L the
president does not wish to get into hot
water or TO have his name unpleasdntly
used. he had better refuse TO accept
| responsibility in the affair and turn
the whole problem Yer 10 congress.
As an Illustration of the difficulties at
tending the attempt of the Isthmus of
Panama 10 set up an independent GOV
eminent, especially in view of thu fact
that American influences are believed
TO be at the bottom of the revolt, OBJ
serve the following provision of the
treaty which has been in force between
the United States Colombia ever
since 1916: The United States guaran-
tee. positively and efficaciously. to New
Granada (now COlOnbia), by the pres
ent stipulation. the perfect neutrality of
the aforementioned iSthmus, with the
view that he free transit from one to
the other sea may not be Interrupted
or embarrassed in any future time while
N-A-~ N-N0NS N--~N"' dA-N- -
the United States also guarantee. in the
same manner the rights of sovereign
ty and property which New Granada
has and possesses over the said terri
tory.'-NOrfOlk Landmark November s.
The organization recently of an an
plOyers' union at Chicago was a logical
step in the progress of the struggle be-
tween labor and capital. The only Won
der is that the step was delayed thus
long. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
a war that has been tC the knife on
the part of labor in not a few battles
will now become to the knife on both
sides. Hitherto the employees Of a fac
tory or mine have been supported In
case of a strike by contributions from
employees of similar industries who
were not on strike, while the employer
had to make his fight unaided. Here
after the employer whose business Is
tied up will also have a union behind
him. Whether or not the new develop
ment BODIES good or i'll for labor, for cap
tai and for the public depends almost
entirely upon the view labor takes of it.
If labor appreciates the significance Of
it. We may find that hereafter diff
ferences between labor and capital will
be settled by mutual concessions on the
part of two organizations that have
mutual respect for and confidence in
each other. If, however, labor chooses
to consider the new movement as j
challenge to battle. the struggle be-
tween labor and capital will probably
be marked by u new virulence that in
the end Will provoke the peremptOry in
tervention of q public, already more or
less weary of playing the role of chief
sufferer in a quarrel to which it is not
a direct party.-Virginian-Pilot.
Friday has been officially recognized
as the day of doom IN Georgia. His ex-
cellency, the governor. announces that
one day in the week has already been
spoiled by executions, aEi, so far as it
lies within his power. he does pot intend
that u similar stigma shall be placed
upOn any other day. This will go
far toward establishing uniformity
throughout the state in the matter of
hangman's day. Repect, for precedent
has put a certain check on the DISPOSE
ton to redeem Friday from the odium
which attaches to it. Judges have oc-
casionally shown a disposition to break
away from that particular day of the
week which has become peculiarly iden-
titled with the extreme penalty of the
law. but the power of custom is strong,
and the departure has never gained
any considerable Roadway. Now and
then some other day has been named.
but it has not been frequent enough to
constitute an effectual revolt. and the
day on which, according to tradition.
the Savior of men was impaled etWeen
two thieves. remainS as the fatal daY
for m~aIefactOrs. The governor ppar-
entity believes that this date III the cal
endar has already been blackened in the
estimation of the people to such an eX-
tent that its purity can never be restor-
ed. That varying measure of supersti-
ton which seems to inhere in every
min is ineradicable- and the governor
decides that it is just as we'll to surren-
der. Whenever he has occasion to re-
| spite a death sentence, therefore, he
Will fix the date to fall upo a Friday.
This decision Will have its effect upon
the judges to a certain extent. n the
day will acquire additional cOntirma-
ton OF its sinister meaning.-Atlanta
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