The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-13
CURRENT COMMENT.

During Seth Lows visit to Chicago
he was greeted by DR.. Harper as a
presidential possibility. This was all
right as a delicate compliment from the
president Of one great university to
the ex-president of another. but as a
serious incursiOn into politics and
prophecy it leaves much to be desired.
The plain fact is that Low could not
hold down his jub as mayor of New
York and has shown himself to be dis
tinctly a weak brother. a presidential
possibility? Not much!-Virginian- Pi-
lot.
The final batch of indictments brought
by the grand jury for the District Of
Columbie against the conspirators of
the postoffice department reveal yet
more clearly the systematic plan of rob-
berry in which many men, from ordinary
clerks TO heads Of departments, con-
spired. 1t is pitiful that James N.
Tyner. late assistant attorney general
for the postOffice, and at once time post
master general OF the United States,
should be marked as one Of the gang
of thieves. Nearly four score years and
partially paralyZed, he may be provi-
dentially relieved from this earthly
trial.-Columbia State.
The confident, determined stand that
John Shelton Williams has taken in
the face OF the temporary trouble that
has befallen his firm is but character
istic of the man. Relying as implicitly
in Mr.. Williams as he does himself in
his ability to tide over the embarrass-
ment, his friends and the many peo-
Mo IN tho SnI1th who loouy HIN nov
sonally or by reputation feel gratifica-
ton in the knowledge that the Seaboard
Air Lin is in such competent hands.
They recognize that the stability of the
Seaboard has never been threatened,
and they feel sure of the fact that Mr.
| Williams and Mr.. Middendorf OF Bal
timore are fully able to take care Of
their firmS.-SaVannah News.
The presidents flat reputation of Ad-
dicks, in the appointment of a successor
to his tool, District Attorney Byrne. is
| most welcome. He has now selected
the man who was SO strongly urged
upon him a year ago by the bar and
judiciary of Delaware. but whom he
then. in a rash moment, put aside in
favor of an abiect trucker to the great
Delaware corruptiOnist. Mr.. Roosevelt
has learned something Nnce then. He
has discovered, what he should have
foreseen, that the country considered
Addicks the cry type and crown of po-
Iitical debauchery, and could but look
with astonished Indignation upon the
association of Theodore Roosevelt with
that tainted purchaser of votes. That
| the president has now seen the error
| of his ways and has resolutely turned
! his back upon the man at whom the
| decent citizens of this country draw the
! line, is matter for general rejoicing
| New York Post.
Out in Lincoln. Nebraska-and by the
way is not that the home of a gentle
! man who once ran for the presidency
the pastors of the larger churches have
combined to crush out the smaller re-
: ligious congregations. The idea is to
prevent the establishment of any more
churches and to squeeze out some. of
those now open, so that the larger con-
gregatiouS may be better supported.
They hold that the field is already toe
crowded and they don't want any fur
Their surplus of labor in the vineyard,
One Of the ministers who is prominent
in the movement to restrict the relig-
ious institutions, according to q dis
patch to The Washington Pest, admits
frankly that the organization has a!
the features and aims of the big com
mercial trusts Incorporated under the
New Jersey laws. Too many minis
tiers are working for small salaries.
he declared. congregations are toe
small. The salaries OF the best minis
tiers are too small. a remedy is the alb
clifton of the small churches and con
gregations together. unite the churches
Contributions resulting will enable min
listers to be paid better salaries. Oul
plan is to allot territory to each church
and consider that the work of the
church shall be within the confines set
tied upon. Not a minister in Lincoln
doubts that the plan Will succeed
We don't think this is just the time
for Colonel Bryan to leave for Europe
He ought to bust that religious trust be-
fore he takes ship for the shores of Eu,
ropes effete Observation-Disclosures
4 D~-+