The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-06
STATE PRESS.

STATE RES.
The union depot may be a burning
question in Durham. but it is a freez-
ing reality, when you desire to take a
train in this weather, at the cramped
and crowded thing they call a respecta-
bic depot for Durham.-Durham Sun
The arrest here of two men for pass
ing counterfeit half dollars calls to
mind the alleged fact that there are mil
ions of counterfeit silver dollars in cir
culation, but as these spurious dollars
are as good as the genuine they are not
detected. When it comes to redeeming
them in gold, if that time ever comes,
somebody will be out Of pocket.-Ashe-
vile Gazette.
Nothing looks surer than that the
whiskey traffic in North Carolina must
soon become a thing Of the past. AL
ready half the counties in the state are
free of this evil, and whenever it is
now sold public sentiment is increasing
rapidly against. it. From all sections
where the saloon now exists such strong
petitions will go before the coming leg
lSlature as to force that body to recog-
nize them and enact laws to stamp out
the evil.-Greenville Reflector.
The refusal of President Roosevelt to
act as arbitrator in the Venezuelan
matter, meets the APPROVAL of all Ameri-
cal citizens. 1t places the president in
higher public estimation, and il leaves
the United States free from any en-
tanglement, and in position, as before to
assert and maintain the Monroe doc
trine. And with this refusal of the
presidents there is secured the better
method more reasonable and diplomatic,
to have the issues set before and deter
mined by The Hague tribunal.-New
Bern Journal.
The terrible story of the murder of
800 children last ear at a baby farm"
in Osaka, Japan, coming just at this
time when the birth of the Christ Child
is uppermost in mind, recalls the
slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem
soon after the Nativity. The Osaka
tragedy is Herodian in its cruelty; in
deed it is almost a Sadder than the one
first mentioned, for then was heard the
voice of Rachel weeping for her chill
dreli and would not be comforted be-
cause they were not; but for the moth
er-forsaken baby waits of Osaka there
was none to shed a tear.-Charlotte OBJ
server.
The president mas very properly de-
clined the invitation of Great Britain
and Germany 10 take the responsibility
Of a~rbitrating the dispute between those
countries and Venezuela. He has thus
not only relieved the government of the
moral obligation, as assumed by many
commentators, Of seeing that the award,
if against Venezuela, should be made
good, but, what in an international
sense is more important, he has saved
The Hague bun 1t is generally
conceded that the shifting of the bur-
den of settling the first case which mas
arisen within the scope of that trl0u-
nails powers from it to the decision of
another arbitrator, would practically
have sounded it's death knell.-Fayette-
Vile Observer.
Users of the cup which cheers but
not inebriates ought to be glad of the
fact that after Thursday the duty ON
tea will be removed and that beverage
can be imported into this country free.
There has been a duty of ten cents a
pound on tea and with the duty remov-
the retail price of the beverage to the
purchaser ought to be ten cents less.
That remains to be seen. The removal
Of h duty on tea is a practical object
lesson On the workings of the tariff.
The duty thus obtained has not been
needed for revenue and the policy of
protection could cut little figure in the
duty as the small experimental stunts
in domestic tea culture never justified
thus far a cents duty on a staple house
hold beverage. A large quantity of tea
has accumulated in bond pending the
termination of the duty, which means
that the market will be glutted and low
er prices should prevail.-Charlotte
News.
The opinion is freely expressed in
HEREFORD that Wilsox will be acquitted,
A year ago hardly any n could be
found who would voice belief in his in
%nocence. but the sentiment has changed
somewhat now, principally owing to the
fact that many people believe that the
state failed to make out a case at the
former trial. 1t is not likely thar many
citizens of Hartford will be on the jury,
as nearly everyone has been heard tc
express decided opinions upon the sub
ject. The coming trial Is exciting con-
siderable interest In the town where II
is to be held, and the general senti-
ment is that WilSoX must have a fail
Inc impartial trial at any cost, and
that the reputation of the county mus
be upheld. An influx of lawyers. news
paper correspondents, etc, is looked
forward to and preparations are being
made for their accommodation. The
trial will commence Monday, January
| 18th. at 10 o'clock.-GreenVille Reflector