The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-13
CLIPPINGS FROM OUR EXCHANGES.
CURRENT COM MENT.

1t is still a far cry to the presidential
battle Of the ballots, but history is
making. Hill has been and is hard at
work. .Advices Indicate that Hill has
come to an understanding with Muir
ply of Tammany Hall and Hugh Nc
Laughlin of Willoughby street. They
also furnish reason for believing that
he has contracted an alliance offensive
and defensive with those who dominate
the democracy of Indiana.-Brooklyn
Eagle
It is unQuestionably true that Great
Britain and Germany combined could
at the present time defy the Monroe
doctrine, and conquer parts Of South
America. Nor would Germany have
anything to lose. The whole cost Of
the coalition would be borne by Great
Britain But not only would that power
lose Canada, but she would quickly be
starevd To death. Germany, which can
scarcely feed herself. could not rescue
her ally from famine-New York Sun.
A sarcastic French pubf1cist has de-
clared that the American congress was
"a diet in which every interest is rep
resented save the general interest"
The democratic minority in the closing
hours of congress has done what it
could to render this sarcastic tribute
wholly inadequate. 1t has not merely
given UP any pretense of serving the
general interest; it has cast aside devo-
ton to any interest whatsoever. Moth
ing animated it for an entire week,
save an nglorious resentment.-MaiI
and Express.
Emperor William, of Germany, is
generally regarded as an astute dirlo-
mat, and certainly the British foreign
office hasn't had the reputation of fall
ing behind in that line since Disraell's
triumphant manipulation of the con-
gress of Berlin, and yet it seems
strange if the combined attack UPON
Venezuela was really a masked move
at undermining the Monroe doctrine,
that both kaiser and British cabinet
should not have had the foresight to
realize that their program would re-
suit in rendering hat principle far
stronger today than it was six months
ago. Yet so it has worked out. 1t had
been the intention of the naval board
of construction to ask of the Fifty
seventh congress no additions to our
fighting fleets. The demonstration
against Venezuela has changed all that.
however, and five new battleshipS-
which after all the the main line of
defense-have been authorized and are
to be rushed on to the stocks.-Augusta
Chronicle.
Certain democratic leaders and news
papers have conducted for some time a
vigorous canvass in advocacy of the
election of United States senators d.
rectly by the people and it is claimed
that the plan is growing in favor. A
resolution calling for an amendment to
the constitution has passed the legisla-
lures or Oregon, California, Minnesota,
Arkansas, Nevada, North Dakota. Ken
lucky Missouri, Montana, Idaho and
Kansas. 1t has been adopted by the
senate Of Illinois and by the houses Of
Texas, Delaware and Nebraska. 1t is
pending in One OF both houses in twelve
other states. The constitution provides
that congress by a vote Of tWo-thirds
OF each house may propose amend
ments; or on the application of the leg
iSlatures of two-thirds of the states
shall call a convention for proposing
amendments. which in either case shall
be valid az part Of the constitution
when ratified by the legislatures or
conventions Of three-fourths Of the
states. Thirty states constitute two
thirds, and thirty-four states, three
fourths of the several states in the
union. The reform is, therefore, still a
long way from success. and indications
are that many years will elapse before
the amendment will be secured.-Co-
lumbia State.
AT last Pennsylvania is going to have
ballot reform, and we are bound to adj
nit hat Quay should have the credit
of it. 1t goes by the name of the Quay
Ballot Reform bill, as it ought. for
when he decided that only high-SOuled
statesmen should hold public office, he
made enough of an exception to keep
control of the legislature. 1t is only
fair to record that Quay's new friends
feel hat the bill which is about to be-
come law is not quite all that they
would have it. Its principal feature is
that it changes the voting space from
a circle to a square. Quay is "%squaring
the circle irreverent persons are say
ing in Pennsylvania. But every enc
must healiZe that reforms come but
slowly, especially in the Keystone
state. And, of course there are other
changes. The names on the ticket are
re-arranged, and the sheet made small
Ter. To be sure, independent voting is
rendered more difficult than before, out
doubtless Quay did not think of that.
While disappointing to a great many"
says the Philadelphia Press. lit can be
accepted as a step in the right direc-
ton. There are various influences to
be taken into account Of course
there are. That is one of the advant-
age of ~consorting with a man like
Quay. You no longer go out into the
dark and stumble over various in
fiuences.' You nav them right at
hand.-New York Post.
\ Printer Greatly Surprised.
Il never was so much surprised in
my life, as 1 was with the results OF