The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07
CURRENT COMMENT.

although IL Is q course ~exaggera-
ton TO trace any pms act OF violence.
whether BY negroes or
mobs. To Nr. Roosevelt. Z Is the dread
full truth that his behsssior has IN
creased The deprayfty Of the negroes
and the unreason OF the whites In
n situation requiring tact and patti
ence-virtues brought TO this task by
Lincoln and Mckinley-Mr. Roose-
velt has used that narrow. one-sided
intensity with which presidents and
their advisers 81 cursed the south.
from Andrew johnson TO Henry Ca
bot Lodge. One OF Mr.. RoossveltI
virtues. however. Is his ability to
learn. He spoke useful words recent
ly In refusing 10 pardon a negro GRIM
inal. and We hope that. II he Is re-
elected. he will. during his second
term. be a better president OF the
soath.-Colliers Weekly
Yesterday we called attention to
the care with which the New York.
Tribune (rep.) referred to the presi-
dents age-pension. erder as the
Ware pension order" Or course. the
order is not Mr.. Wares. though he
= executes II. In his official capacity. as
commissioner of pensions. The very
day when The Tribune sas calling
the order Wares the commissioner OF
pensions himself made n public state
nent about the order and called IL
1.-THE presidents" By the way. Mr..
R~oosevelts pension order looks par
ticular strange when We consider
the following passage from his life or
Benton" which was written in 1855
or 1887: "Renton's Speech against
the French Spoliation Cfaims) would
not be bad reading for SOME of the
pension-grabbing congressman OF the
present day and their supporters: but
as concerns these French claims he
could have been easily answered. In
regar TO the pension matter. Benton
showed that he would NOT let HIM
self. by any specious plea OF excep-
tfonaf suffering or need for charity.
be led into vicious legislation. sura
in he end to bring about the break
ing down of some OF the most impor.
tant principles of government"-
Norfolk Landmark.
1t has been suggested to The Post
that in commenting upon the visit OF
the Hon. Thomas E. Watson and the
speech ne made in Houston. a due re-
garJ for his distinction and charac-
ter as a public man was not observed.
TRANCE to- say. our shortcomings IN
this respect have been challenged by
one claiming to be n democrat, who
finds no fault with our conclusions.
but with the proprieties involved.
SC-"e ieet CofiJciieu 10 ~ITake SOT1e
furtheZ mention or Mr.. Watson. In
idental to a discussion Of the ethics
of the situation. Otherwise. we
should not think of mentioning him
or his speech again. We are con-
fronted at the outset by the statement
that whatever our views may be.
however much we may disagree with
Mr.. Watson's principles and ideals.
We are compelled to recognize his
pure character. his. splendid attain
ments and unsullied patriotism"
Tha is putting IL to us in uumistak-
able terms. isn't 1t? In thai view
of the case we shall submit. a few re-
marks. We do not accord TO Mr..
Watson any superiority. mentally or
morally. over thousands os able and
conscientious men, On the contrary.
We say now We haven't said be-
fore. He Is a soreheaded politician.
with mental gifts OF n high order con-
siderably distorted. not more honest
than the average run 90 humanity
and patriotic only I'm a questionable
degree.-Houston Post