The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-28
CURRENT COMMENT.

We have long boosted of our shirt
sleeve" diplomacy, and We should be
well pleased with the exhibition that
Count Cassini of Russia is giving US Of
the method. But Washington seems
TO be quite restless at the stunts the
Muscovtte representative is doing.
Maybe We shall hear gain from that
mysterious highest official who is
hidden out at Oyster Bay.-Charleston
Post.
The doubtful states are California,
10 electoral votes Colorado, 5; Connec-
ticut. :: Delaware. 3; Idaho, 3: In
diana, 10: Maryland, s; Montana. 3;
New Jersey, II; New York, SO; Oregon,
4; Rhode Island, 4; Utah. 3. and West
Virginia, .. Here is a total of 120 votes.
The surely democratic states cast ia
votes, leaving So votes to be obtained
from the doubtful states in order to
secure a majority."-New Orleans
Item.
order has just been issued it is
reported, promoting thirty-three COL
| onels to the rank Of brigadier general
| for immediate retirement" There are,
| it is added. three or four times as many
| ~brigadiers retired as there are on the
| active list. their number being nearly
| $50. 1t does not seem to be quite right
| to omo a man just before retiring
| him: but, if it is, the rule should in
| fairness apply in all cases. Why not
| make every private a corporal or ser
| geant just before discharging him.
! News and Observer.
| The spectacle of a witness shipped in
| a box by express to insure his delivery
| in court before his assassination was
| probably never witnessed in a civilized
| community until Kentucky furnished
| il in the journey of CAPTAIN Even to
| Jackson. BY this strategem the man
whose property had been burned be-
| cause he told what he had seen of the
murder of Marcum has been enabled
| 70 reach the county seat alive. but even
now it is expected that he will be- shot
between the court house and his home.
New York World.
1t Is to be honed hat the old pro-
verb, at is the UNEXPECTED that hap
pens.' will work out in the case of
Captain 3. ]. Even of Kentucky. AS
will be remembered, he was the chief
witness in the Jett-White case at
Franklin. in Breathitt county, and he
Is COINS back there to testify to the
fact tina he was offered a bride of So
900 not to give testimony against them.
Captin Even say fully expects to
be assassinated. so he has made his
will and arranged all of his worldly
affairs. In the face Of what he believes
to be certain death, he Is going to
Il L " Tx 1dSl " law III
His is the highest order Of bravery.
and the people owe it to
themselves to see that not one hair of
his head is harmed.-Savannah News.
Some of the strongest labor unions
IN New York have returned to work
altar accepting a proposition from their
employers for the settlement of future
differences by arbitration. The agree
ment practically eliminates the walk
L Tno la1a0ata. ca nv tho inHnanna pf fha
latter THE United Board of Building
Trades" Cor walking delegates in con
clave) has expelled the union whose
men have returned to work. These de-
velopments In the metropolis mean
/ simply that the real workmen are get
ting tired of letting the tail wag the
dog. The professional walking dele
gate has been the most serious draw
back to labor unionism. 1t is he who
has precipitated unnecessary strikes
and uttered incendiary counsel, sweep
ing conservative sensible workmen off
their feet by a 1ood Of ~"oratory" and
superior knowledge of parliamentary
tactics-Norfolk Landmark
William Jennings Bryan explained tc
. the country in his speech at Chicago
/ why he was defeated in 1896 and 1906
for the presidency. To sum up his
explanation in a few words he blame
it on Grover Cleveland. Gle"
says MT. Bryan, ruined the democratic
party in 1896. and the four years sue
ceeding that campaign were not suffi
cient to purge the party of the evil
SO again defeat followed for democ-
racy. This explanation by Mr.. Bryan
concerning what beat Bryan is very in
terssting, but in the light of democratic
history it is also very humorous. Fol
a man who sprang into public notice or
a new theory altogether to loudly
claim that he was victimized by a sen,
timent which had prevailed in the
ranks of his party since time imme
moral is something new in the line OF
political explanation. Clevelandism car
ried the democratic party into the
white hOuse twice. Organism. or free
silver. failed to get it anywhere neal
that political goal. Now. we are told
that the element which oroved it's pop
ularity by success at the polls is &c
blame because the new element failed
at the polls. 1t appears that Mr.. Bry-
an is in the position Of one who must
have an explanation, so he goes a long
a oun in order to get up some
thing that will look like an explana-
ton. Why can't he go at once to the
real explanation Of his defeat, as the
majority of the democratic party have
already done, and say at once that
Organism beat Bryan? That Is pre-.
cisely what did beat him.-Atlanta
| Journal.
/ No man or woman in the state will