The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-30

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M act Of usurpation OF power as cx-
/ cuse for another. The first may posi-
| big be due to a mistake: the second.
/ being based on the first cannot be-
! In explanation, however. IL should be
| said hat the order relied on simply
| provided that the age of seventy-ive
/ years should be regarded az the g o.
I inability to perform manual Dor Few
men are able to perform manual labor
! at that age, but nearly all men are 1T
l eixty-two. The first order Is based o m
| a fact that experience teaches. the 9TH
er Is based on the assertion of hat
which is not true as a General rule.
The old inquiry, What are you GO
| ing to do about it," is now stated in a
new form. It is said by the admins
tration. in reply to the public criticism
OF this order. that 1T Is easy TO test
our opponents sincerity in his mai
ter. The order in question is revocabla
at the pleasure of the executive. II
our opponents come into power they
| can revoke this order and
that they will treat the veterans of six
ty-two and seventy Is presumably in
full bodily vigor and not entitled II
pension. Will they authorittvely state
that they intend to do this? II so. we
accept the issue"
h suggests the suspicion, at least.
that the order was made TO create All
issue-that ii was supposed to present
a strong strategic position in the bat
tie OF the ballots. On the assumption
that the order as steted by the admin
istration, is revocable at the pleasure
Of the executive. it having been an at
| tempted. though perhaps unwilling en-
croachment upon the legislative power
| and, therefore, u~nwarranted by the
constitution, I accept the challenge and
declare that If elected / will revoke
that order. But I go further and say
that that being done, / will contribute
L my effort toward the enactment nf a
law to be passed by both houses of
congress n approved by the executive
that VIII give an age pension withouI
! reference to disability to surviving he
roes OF the Civil war; and under the
provisions OF which a pension may be
accepted with dignity because
of the consciousness that it
comes OF a just due from the people
through their chosen representatives.
and not as largess distributed by tho
chief executive.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The foreign relations of the govern
ment have in late years assumed spe-
sition of the Philippines. we were prac-
IticaIly Vulnerable against attacks by
foreign states. Those tropical Posses
sfOns, however, seven thousand miles
from u shores. have changed all this
and have in effect put us under bonds
f>N~> AN AS"
call for a management OF foreign af-
fairs the more circumspect in that the
recent American invasion Of foreign
markets in all parts of the world has
excited the serious apprehension of al!
great industrial peoples. 1t is es-
%sentia1, therefore. more than ever, to
adhere strictly to the traditional policy
OF the n a. formulated by its
first President and never, in my judg-
ment, wisely departed from-to invite
riendly relations with all nations while
avoiding entangling alliaceS with any.
Such a policy mean the cultivation of
peace instead of the glorifcation o.:
war, n m1nding our own business in
lieu of spectacular intermeddling with
the affairs of other nations. 1t means
strict observance of the principles of
international law and condemns the
doctrine that a great state, by reason
Of its strength, may rightfully appro-
pirate the sovereignty or territory Of
a small state on account of it's weak
ness. 1t means for other American
states that we claim no rights and viii
assume no functions save those Of 4
friend and of an ally and defender IS
gains European aggressions. l.
means that we repudiate the role OF
the American continental policeman;
that we refuse to act as a debt collector
for foreign states or their citizens tina
We respect the independent sovereignty
OF each American state and it's right ID
preserve order and otherwise regulate
its own lnternal affairs in it's own way;
n that any Intervention in it's affairs
is limited to the single office OF esnab-
ling its people-to work out Their own
political and national destiny for theIR-
selves free from the coercion of any
European state.
REFORM IN GOVERNMENTAL EX-
PENDITURES.
H..zx
the democratic party Of the state OF
New York, in convention assembled,
recommended to the national democracy
the nomination of Samuel J. Tilden "a
its candidate for the presidency. anu
declared it to be their settled convic-
ton that a return to the constitutional
principles. frugal expenses and admin
istrative purity of the founders of the
republic is the first and most imperious
t duty Of the times.-the commanding is
sue now before the people of the un-
ron.' This strong expression was cali
ed forth by the national expenditures
for the year 1875 which u e
s274,O 0O.C O0.-a situation which, in the
? opinion of a majority OF our people
justified an imperative demand for re-
; form in the administration OF pubic
affairs. AS the expenditures of the
last fscal year amounted to the enor-
> nous total of $5S2, 900, 0C0, it is evidant
$ that a thorough investigation of the
! public service and the immediate aban.
ment OF useless and extravagant ex-
) pendltures are more necessary now
1 than they were then. h astound!n-
increase is out of all proportion to tins
increase Of our population. and find;
. no excuse from whatever aspect W.
/, View the situation. The national demo.
r cratic platform declares that largs
, reductions can easily be made in tn;
annual expenditures of the government
without impairing the efficiency o. an,
branch OF the public service" Car
there be any doubt of the accuracy O
this statement? Between the expendi
: lures OF the year 1856, amounting T.
s242, 0c0, 900, and those of the last isca
year-the seventh after Grover Cleye
: land ceased to be president--aggregat
: ing $3.50. 600, 900, there is a difference 3,
!. great as to excite alar min the breast.