The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-25
CURRENT COMMENT.

Colonel Bryan's amiability will not
be increased a bit by the rumors that
Mr.. German considers him a negligible
quantity. e friends Of tie Mary
land senator say that even if for any
reason he does not run for the DreSi-
dency next year the democratic ma
tional conventions nominee will be I
German nominee and its platform q
German INSTRUMENTATION Mourant.
Those who find it easy to persuade
themselves that the southern negro is
not getting all that is coming to him.
l will perhaps find food for reflection IN
the following data, gathered at the
1 last official enumeration of the con-
l victs in this state: At that time, out of
| 1892 prisoners, 102 were white men: ,
| white women and 16 colored women.
| The remaining 912 were all colored
| ment.-F1orida Times-Union.
| In the Spanish war the strong point
l developed in the United States navy
was the accurate shooting from our
/ warships. The man behind the gun
was the winner of battles, and the
ability of American gunner to land
| their shells and oun shot Oh he's ships
l of the enemy was the strong point of
superiority in our navy. The value Of
being able to hit the enemy has been
demonstrated in the navy, and there
Is HUE uOuDl lldl IL ODldllS with con-
siderable if not equal force in the
army. 1t Is therefore Important that
our soldiers should be instructed in the
art of using their rides in order to be
able to hit what they shoot at. For
this purpose prize target shooting has
been instituted, and this week there
will be contests between the state
troops on the rifle ranges at Savannah,
and next week there. will be an inter-
state contest. The man behind the
gun has proven his merit in the navy
and when occasion offers the Ameri-
can soldier will be able 10 do the same.
Much interest is felt among the diff
ferent military companies in the con-
test at Savannah, and there will be
some sharp shooting for the prizes
augusta Chronicle.
Georgia's contingent Of the grand
army Of tramps is likely to move on
Immediately. In fact, not only the
tramps, but all other Migrants are
going 20 have many infelicities if they
persist in abiding in that delightful
commonwealth. Get out or go to
work" is the meaning of the new va
grant law. All idlers who have no
visible means of support must go to
work, either in the capacity Of wage
earnerE or as laborecs for the state at
large. Among the various classes of
ptESOilS COilllllS uIlueI the PROVISIONS OF
his statute are "all persons able to
work aid who do not work, hut hire
out their minor children and live on
their wages The intent of his is
good. bat it will not be found easy of
execution. A father has a lawful right
to live on the earnings of his minor
children, no matter how able-bodied
he may be. Thousands of fathers in
manufacturing states are thus sup
ported. 1t may be, and in most in
stances it undoubtedly is, a moral
wrong. but it has legal sanction in all
the states. A father may lawfully hire
out any child whom the Law of d state
permits to be Employed; may collect
and spend such child's wages, no mat
ter whether the of the hild be ten
years or twenty years and eleven
months. This has always been Lawful
in all countries, and we do not believe
1t an be made a crime. But state
legislatures can and ought TO put a
period to child NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
With Justice Brewers belief that one
desirable remedy for lynching is the
abolition of the right of appeal IN
criminal causes, he Evening Post cam
not agree. Take the MolineUX case in
this city. Convicted on his first trial,
this man went free the second time ne
faced a judge and jury. Without the
aid of the wrongfully introduced evil
dence of the first trial, the case against
him collapsed. Yet he would have
been done to death had Justice Brew
er's plan Of no appeal been the law.
Before this change can be made, our
judges of the lower courts must be OF
better stuff and freer from political
influences. A comparison with English
judges does not lie, but even if it did
there should be some provision against
human and judicial fallibility. BY this
we do not mean to say that no reforms
are possible in the procedure OF GU
courts. President Roosevelt vas right
in urging all possible expedition in
criminal trials, but he would not advo-
cate, We are sure. the breaking down
of those safeguards with which our
jurisprudence has been hedged about
through the laws development. Aside
from this, Justice Brewers strong
words on lynchings are most welcome.
Like the utterances of Judges Wood
ward and Lore at C~hautauqua, they
are a fitting close to the public debate
of the last few weeks in which the
Chautauqua speeches have been so
notable and valuable. With the strong
statements of President Roosevelt, and
these judges, on record the mighty
fortress of law and order Is once
more buttressed against its many
enemieS-New York Post