The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-15
CURRENT COMMENT.

Governor Jelks, Of Alabama, does
think the newspapers should have
published the facts with respect to
peonage cases in that state, holding
that the good name of Alabama has
been hurt by such publications. But
has the governor not observed that
the publicity given the matter has
wrought y quick reformation? There
is nothing like publicity to correct
illegal actions and reform abuses
Savannah News.
Secretary Hay says hat the reports
of the United States governments in
terest in the possible secession of Pan
anna from Colombia are too trivial for
consideration. Yet. if the threat Of Sc
cesslon. or its accomplishment. results
in a new treaty for the building of the
Panama canal n the c~onsummation
of that project. we shall, doubtless. see
it hailed as another diplomatic tri-
umph of our ate department.-Char-
lesion Post.
There are counties in Mississippi"
saws the Boston Herald. producing in
the ~neghborhood of 100. 600 bales of
cotton almost every bale of which is
produced by negroes. On every bale.
q local tax of 81 is laid to maintain
the levees. This enormous tax of $780,
600. more or less. as the case may be.
is in. fact paid by the negroes" And
paid "out of their poverty and toll "
il fearful adds. This is interesting.
il true. Do we understand The Herald
to hold that the holy republican states
men Of its state and section imposed
the unlawful and b%urdensome special
tax on cotton just after freeing the
negroes. as a device to grind some
demnitiOn revenue out of their poverty
and toil?-News and Courier.
The country needs the democratic
party 1t has always needed it. and
there was never q time when it needed
it more than it does now. But it does
not need, and it will not have. the
| populist ~arty. and there was never
j time when that party was so little
likely to gain power. or so certain to
damage any man or party affiliated
with - There is far more in common
between the populist and the republi-
can than between the populist and the
democratic parties. P~aternarisr in
| government is the ideal of both repub-
dican and populist; hardly anything is
more repugnant to the democrat.
Greenbackjsm and silverism originated
in republican states. The democratic
! part" in the days of its power was pre-
eminently the party of hard money
| anu 81 SOuIlu lllldIlCldl SN SjtIll. DOln DIS
to paper and as to Snecie. Populism.
which has Town out OF crude notions
of the currency, fostered by the re-
| publican legal tender policy. was de
| VelOped in Kansas, Nebraska and Colo
rado-republican states.-PhiladeIphia
Record.
The condition Of Turkey is a hopeless
one Distrusted by the great powers
who have assumed a sort of guardian
ship over it, discredited by fianciers
| distressed by the Macedonian revolt
and face to face almost with war with
its vassal Bulgaria, it knows not
whittier to turn for help and sympathy
1t has no real friends and doesn't de-
serve any. 1t is a blot upon the age
and times. 1t was a sorry admission
that it had to make when it said il
could not guarantee the safety Of the
embassies in Constantinople, and wher
it virtually invited the nations to lane
marines to protect the lives and prop
erty of their representatives there
And his some have already done Blu
with its accustomed willingness, Tur
key is believed to have done his witt
a view to casting doubt upon the gooC
intentions of the Macedonians and But
garians resident in Constantinople. Oh
the other hand those very same resi-
dents are covering with fear and dreaC
lest they should be massacred in al
outbreak which is liable to occur a
any moment within sight of the palac,
of the Sublime Porte. But no matte
what was the Interior purpOse of tn
sultan in warning the legations to tax,
care of themselves. it was a humiliat
ing thing to do.-Times-Dispatch.
Once upon a time the people of tn,
United States woke to the knowledge
that many of their representative
We're unable to see the wrono of max
ing money on Val street on the stock
which rose and fell with their votes
just as Walpole said there was no in
fanny in taking brides from France t.
do what the English Ministry woul,
do without the brides. Biblical in
dorsement to the opinion is found il
the obligation TO spoil the Egyptians.
The whole subject has It's being in tn,
realm of conscience which our statute
do not invade, n the peOple at larS,
seem to have acquieSced in the Wash
ingtOn opinion. But following alOn;
that line, we have now the view O
Hon. Tams Bixby, chairman of tn
Dawes commission, a leading republ
can, the trusted friend Of the presi
dent, n a Puritan of 40 Puritans
Says Mr.. BiXby: 4 do not see why
should not invest my money the sam
as anv private citizen. I do not knoN
that being = federal official bars a ma
from private investment To &c
closer 70 the view. let US suppose tina
the guardian appointed to administe
the estate of orphan children had bee
ullt yof specializing in the funds er
trusted to him-that he had engage
in business which made his interest
directly OnnOSed Z those of his ware
what would be the judgment? {
course any court unOn proof of sue
facts. would dismiss such a fduciar
FLORIDA Times-UniOn.
Fearful Odds Against Him.