The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-17
CURRENT COM MENT.

Members of legislatures and of COM
mercial bodies in many states of the
union are adopting resolutions demand
.ng that congress shall make the
promptest possible arrangements 1.r
| .arge additions to the navy. Public
! sentiment on that subject is becoming
thoroughly eroused.-New York Iri-
hune.
So Mr.. Bryan Won't sit at the same
board with former President Cleveland,
| The colonel is too severe. He should
remember that Mr.. Cleveland IS GET
ting to be ar old man and he should
have some consideration for his fael-
ings and not utterly crush his hores.
If Mr.. Cleveland dies of a broka heart
at any time within the next few weeks
| Colonel Bryan will be to blame for it
| Savannah News.
The Washington correspondents as
| sure us that it is the purpose of the
| general board Of the navy to urge upon
the government the policy Of building
yearly four flrst-class battleships, two
armored cruisers and such smaller craft
as are deemed necessary. That would
make all the s%hipyards very busy ard
] would require an increase Of enlisted
men in the navy to the number of
about $500 per annum. That provision
VIVA NC iioSC ~ SOli6 81 " q tdtSC
and steady increase of the navy is / OF
doubted. THE Venezuelan imbroyl.o'
has made sure of that. if any doubt
on that point previously existed.-Rich-
mond Times Dispatch.
II this country really wants to re-, FL
Cuba and to drive her to the embraces
of some other nation, let it frankly say
so, and not complain or buster if it is
taken at its word. But if it wants to
vindicate its own honor and nromota it's
own interests by fulfilling its pledges
to Cuba and establishing with that IS
land the relationship which it has in
sisted upon for so many years. it ought
without further delay to put it's pro-
fession into practice. The administra-
ton has wisely and we'll marked out
the way. 1t only remain for the SEN
ate to follow therein. with a ratifca-
ton Of the pending treaty.-New York
Tribune &,
General Chaffee is a soldier who does
things and rises slowly. General Wood
is a man who does things and has
friends who lift him high in big leaps
The appreciation of the people for such
men as Chaffee means very little-the
help Of friends in a fencing match can
bring Wood many hits. Perhaps Wood
may prove as able as Chaffce-when he
has served as long. Perhaps hafee
may rise as high as Wood-3fter
death. Meantime favoriteism fas.ens
its clutches or army and nav till an
other real war shakes it loose and forces
capacity to the front.-Florida Times
Union.
For a man who has professed such
lofty ideals Theodore Roosevelt can
play as cheap politics a. any Bowery
| heeler. 1t is pretty we'll established
%I@& 1~-1,o ~---oI 49, <o~,, -:,no
to The Associated Press Saturday night
alleging that Mr.. John D. Rockefeller
was trying to dictate the defeat of anti
trust legislation. Fearing the failure
to get the antitrust bills through con-
gress on their merits, with his personal
and official influence properly exerted.
Roosevelt is believed to have adopted
this means Of forcing action-exc:6ing
a prejudice against the opposition
] which would force the MEMBERS of con-
gress to support his pet measures re-
gardless of the principles involved.
This may be considered clever politics
among the small fry but It does SEEM
that the president of the United States
should be above that sort of thing
Columbia State.
A number of republican papers which
: pose as special champions Of President
Roosevelt are perSistently laundering
in their championship. 1t cannot be
for the interest of the president or his
party to represent him or :he repuhli-
can leaders in a false light. and there
is not the slightest reason to suspect
him or them of promoting or favoring
such Misrepresentation. The ideal Sit
uation would be absolute harmony be-
tween the president mo the leaders of
the dominant party in congress-. That
would be quite possible without posi-
tive agreement on all questions of
policy. All that is requisite for Ear-
mony between the executive and leg g.
lative departments is mutual recogni-
ton of their respective duties and re-
sponsibilities. The Post is not ready to
| believe that this does not exist, in spite
OF the continued assertions of a con-
trary tenor by the superServiceable or
gans.-Washington Post
The Chicago Journal is disposed to
speak harshly of Senator Hanna be-
cause of his having introduced a bill
in congress to pension the ex-Slaves.
1T has been calculated" says the
Journal. that h first years outlay
under the measure would amount to
over $500. 900, 0O0," and as the larger
| part of the sum would de distributed
among the colored people of the south
it can very we'll be imagined that some
persons in this part Of the country
would be influenced by selfish consider
ations to favor the measure. OF course
we ought to take a broader view of the
subject than any local or sectional ben
eft that would accrue from the passage
OF such n bill. and are free TO say hat
there would be as much justice in the
payment of pensions to the ex-s,aves
as there is in paying pensions to q very
large majority Of the soldiers of the
union armies, who have been pansioned
for fighting for the freedom of the
| slaveS.-News and Courier.