The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-31
CURRENT COMMENT.


The reported purchase by western
capitalists Of several hundred thou
sapc acres of land in Florida and
southern Alabama to be devoted to
cattle raising will probably serve the
double purpose Of dispeIling some
popular misconceptions concerning
the character Of the land In the
southern states and of arousing
southern farmers TO a.. realization
tie raising a remuneratiye business.
The latter is of more importance
to the farmer OF the south for once
he realizes these possibilities another
source OF income will be opened up TO
him. It Is best, of course. that the
profits to accrue from the develop
ment of any new industry should
come primarily to the farmers them
selves. But IL is Of great value. too.
TO have the outside world UNDER
stand the manifold agricultural pos
sibilities of the southern states, for
such understanding will bring not
only desirable immigrants but what
Is Of no little importance, capital for
Observation-Disclosures Constitution.
Faithful among the faithless stands
F~luvanna. n county In Virginia
bearing this musical name is not to
be stampeded by the Parker, the Cor
man, the Cleveland or any other
boom. 1t wants harmony. and is
willing to cooperate to that end,
but not to the extent Of deriding cid
issue or abusing old friends. Yes
terday the democrats of Fluvanna
met, and after selecting delegates to
the state convention adopted resolu-
tons declaring the platforms of 1896
and 1900 to have been the c1earest
enunciation of human rights since
the days of Jefferson, and w. j. Bry-
an the ableSt exponent" Now,
whether that act be wise or expedi-
emf, 1T cannot be denied that 1t is
brave. It passes into history, and
enable the democrats of the country
In future, when discussing the nicer
titude or instability of the counties
in Virginia in this day of unrest, to
point proudly to the fact that F1uvan-
ma was not among those that FLEW
h coop."-Washington Star.
Joseph w. Folk has put aside In
the most emphatic terms the sugges-
ton that he may be nominated for
the presidency. His duty, he AYERS.
is to the people of Missouri; he will
not be turned aside from his contest
Doodle" platform. Undeniably, Mr..
Folk is sincere. For the sake of
himself. of Missouri, and of the
country at large. an experience in the
governors chair ought to precede a
campaign for the presidency. And
yet it cannot be denied h a the cam
didacy of Mr.. Folk would appeal
powerfully to everyday men who
would like to see the government
honestly administered. The postal
scandals have convinced thousands
of voters that affairs at Washington
are loosely, ~extravagantly and dis
honestly conducted; hat the public
offices are stuffed with ~sinecures; and
that a thorough housekeeping -
some one as relentless as Mr.. Folk
would be wholesome. Such watch
words as honesty and efficiency"
could not fail to attract not only wa
vering voters. but others who, though
puzzled by intricacies Of currency and
tariff. grasp the meaning of Thou
shalt not steal" Shout h forces
at ST. Louis become deadlocked, and
the nomination be unanimously
pressed on Folk. he might find it
practically impossible to refuse
New York Post.
Several things connected with his
campaign are worrying the president.
One is hat there will be no enthusi-
aSm IN Chicago on the occasion of his
nomination. From present indica-
tions very few people outside Of Chi
cago will be at the nominating con-
cIlllOH HNS CIltiluSldSliS iCpuDb-
cans do not feel there is need for
going to Chicago when the convention
will be little more than a meeting for
the ratification of the nomination Of
the president. AS far as known not
a. single vote will be cast against him.
All of the delegates but $50 are in
structed to vote for his nomination.
and it is understood that these unin-
structed delegates favor his nomina-
ton. Their is really no use. there
fore. for a convention Of more than
one day. The Chicago hotel keepers.
who were expecting a great crowd
OF visitors, are very much discour-
aged over the outlook for business.
It is doubtful if they will get back
as much as they subscribe to get
the convention to meet in their city.
Naturally the president would like
to be nominated by an enthusiastic
Conventions convention that would
make so much noise that it woul ar
rest the attention of the whole coun-
try. Another thing that is worrying
him are the fights which have. Broken
out in the ranks of the renubiicars
in Wisconsin and Illinois. 1t will he
recalled that in 1892 MI. Cleveland
carried both of these states by sub
stantial majorities. and 1T wouldn't
In at all remarkable If the democrats
should carry them this year.-Sa-
wanna News.