The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-25
CURRENT COMMENT.

President Roosevelt in the Panama
business has discarded all his ideals |
has violated the principles and preCe-
dents Of the republic. Preaching ex-
allied justice. constantly declaring with
the utmost emphasis or all occasions
that the ideals Of justice and morality
are" Just as closely applicable to the
conduct Of governments as 10 private
conduct. he has approved despcliation
Of a friendly republican attack
which, in its elements and results, was
strictly piratical-and in the attempt
cd justification for the act has in e.
feet cited our great need OF the sto en-
goods thus informing the world that
our national virtue is NOT strong
enough to resist a very high price
Philadelphia Ledger.
Some people are of the OPT. Mon that
the United States may consent TO 4
reference TO The Hague tribunal for
determination the issue between the
United states and the republic Of Co.
lombia. That is out of the question:.
II the United States could acknowledge
any responsibility for the secession of
Panama it would thereby condemn it
self in full according to the comfy Of
nations and there would be no nects-
sity for a decision of h Hague tribu-
nal. If this government did not pro
mote isthnian revolution We have no
quarrel with Colombia. Besides we are
going to keep Panama free and dig the
canal according TO our own devices.
whether anybody likes it or not, and
hat is an attitude that may not De
taken into an arbitration conference
Charleston Post
The whole country is Interested il
the case of General Leonard Wood.
The whole country pays the salary of
General Wood and supports the army
of whic hhe is part. 1t is entitled 20
know and see that the service is not
imposed upon through favoriteism or
impaired through the promotion of I'M
fit or inefficient men to hig ank It's
safety in time of war may be endan-
gered by the incompetenCy of such Off
GERS and the low morale of the army
consequent upon the prOnnition of off,
GERS for personal or political reasons.
This was precisely the issue in the
Wood case. which has been under in
v~estigation by a committee Of the SEN
| ate. Here was a man without military
training or military experience. worth
the name, boosted from the position Of
a surgeon to that of a majOr-genCra!
in four years. 1t was charged hat he
had misconducted himself in a civil
office in the meanwhile and that h
had inspired attacks in the meantime
l upon his superiOrs in the army to bet
] Ter MS W chances Oh prOIlOtlOll
These We're the charges. They were
made against a public servant and he
public was certainly entitled to judge
as TO the truth or falsity Of the charge:
upon the evidence. But the senate
committee sat behind closed doors. rep
re~sentatives Of the press were eXciud
ed, and only the most meagre and gar
bled accounts Of the evidence againS
General Wood We're given out, Wherea
| ~ 4H-;la,1A j., I;~ 20 Ir11 1r-n- dot sICy
in all essentials.-Virginian-Pllot.
Why is there all this great racke
ove Smoot? Who is SmoOt, anyhow
From out of the din made by clergy
men, mothers congresses. w. c. 7
Us and other alleged reform partiCi
pants in the melee, we take it Sn1oo
is d United States senator from Utah
an apostle of the Mormon church an
and an alleged polygamist. Therefore
it is demanded that the senate shall
unseat MIN as amenace to the safes,
of the country n the good morals o
the nation! We also note that SmCot'
prosecutors are from the ranks of tn.
republican party. hic was the rea
agency in admitting Utah into tn
union. with full knowledge that !
would be dominated by the MOr1norS
1t is hard. therefore. to understaE'
why all this hullabaloo is being raise,
Tow over the foreSeen inevitable con
sequences OF their insistence that VA
should become a state and the republi
can party in the senate gain two nev
members. The only real point IN tn
case is whether SmOOt is a ~polygaInls
and. therefore. a law-breaker. If r
is. his prosecutors should be able I
prove it quickly. IF ne Is not, and \
sUears he IS not, he ough to be an!
to make that plain promptly. But Al
1 tb.s tinon lnt the country nor Forge
that whatever Smoot may be. or ma,
not be. he 81 undoubtedly a republican
Atlanta Constitution.
A certain severity towards wa
street throughout the country Shout
change TO sympathy wherever III
Ste1le's testimony before. the Shipbulld
mig inquiry is really pondered. An
the more it is considered the more in
defenSible will seem the general I'm
preston that our great hnanclers ar
monsters Of cunning and dupicit3
Take the sale OF the bethlehem lro
Works, for example. for which,
part. stock of the Sh.pyard trust wa
paid. Mr.. steele being asked what n
as seller kneW abOuC that stock, an
swered. Nothing" Being pressed t
say why. then. he had been willing I
accept 1t in payment for a Valudb'
going concern, he remarked that +
> InOuSnL It was SOou SlOIh- pt'PlC ~
old him so; he had even expected div
idends. and expressed some regret thu
!. these had never been forthcoming.
is this wholly ~trustful attitude whic
brings great banking houses very nee
, To average human, nature. The ives
: ern farmer who has a gold nrick in a
past or the YANKEE who has take
stock in a get-rich-quick concern. vi
! see that he and the great nnanCicrs 8
y KNIT together by a common liability
: error and a common p~rOcllVity to D
! neve whatever tney are told. Such d
= closures of the human heartbeat u
! der the Impressive waiStcOat OF hts
finance are MIST salut:Gry.-Ncw 70!
Post.
n
8 Knox is gcCtins in some knocks t h
d ought to MAKE the Northern Securit