The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-09-20
CURRENT COMMENT.

Mr.. Roosevelt's letter OF acceptance
Is a characteristic specimen of Roose-
welt literature. That is to say. Ii Is
a breezy and interesting document
artfully constructed In many respects.
and reeking with erros OF statement
from which unsound deductions are
made. 1t is not practicable to review
this lengthy production in one article.
but IL viii afford the press many top
les for discussion during the next two
weeks. 1t Is fair to say however. tha-
the presidents opinions on nearly ev-
challenged. Subjected to rigid ana,y-
sis. they disclose not single reason
why he should be elected--Houston
Post.
In his address of welcome to the In
terparliamentary Union at St. Louis
yesterday the assistant secretary of
state did we'll to refer TO the great part
America has played in the promotion
Of peaceful means of settling interna-
tionai disputes. 1t Is quite true, as he
said. that for more than a century
this country has cherished a growing
sentiment in favor Of some form of al
bitration rather than the harsher
measures of war. 1t is also true,
though il may be a revelation to some.
that of the two hundred or more cases
of arbitration in the whole world dur
has been party to about seventy.
That is a record of which the country
may we'll be Droud.-New York Tri-
bune.
Senator Tillman. of pyrotechnic and
pitchfork fame is a democratic spell
binder. He has been given, at times
prominence as speaker for the par
ty in the northern states, which excited
surprise among its conservative adher-
ents. With ignorant, prejudiced, hide
bound. sectional partisans, the South
Carolinian is popular enough as a
speaker. But with audiences Of a mix
ed character and in fact, with aud
fences outside the zone Of the grand
father exclusion generally, the Send
tor is always received with mistrust
His attempts in 1895 and 1900 to con-
vince northern voters that the shotgun
and tissue ballots are legitimate weap-
ons Of party warfare left fiery trail
! that time has not ooliterated.-Louis-
Vile Herald.
There seems to be a mania in Geor-
gia for discovering Before Day" clubs
since the terrible affair at States boz }
reVealed-or is said to have revealed
the existence of an organization of
negroes Of that section banded togeth-
| er for the purposes of murder and rob-
berry. Not only from Georgia but also
| reports of these associations. But
| there is probably no foundation for
the reports. Does anybody believe that
| there is a great secret organization
among the blacks to wreak crime? 1t
| is preposterous in it's very conception
The negroes are vicious and criminal
by natural tendency and unwholeSonla
| encouragement but they are SO indi-
Vidually and not in organization
| or any sort of concert The Before
Day. clubs are dreams of the night
| Charleston Post.
The state troops returning from
Manassas NAV be somewhat. footsore
| and weary and little disgruntled with
| the commanding officers that made
| them trot so fast and trot so far on
| rations that were not remarkable eth
| er for quality or quantity, but they
have doubtless learned a few things
| The tasks imposed upon the citizen
| soldiers in the encampment appear, by
! all accounts, to have been exceedingly
| hard ones as if it were the intentior
| of the war department to convey to
them some idea of the ftiguinfi nature
Of the quick hikes and rapid maneu
! vers necessary in the face of rea
| enemy. 1t was probably the intention
of Corbin. ct al. to try out the variou:
commands to the limit of theil
| strength and endurance, that the com
manding officers might get line
upon the kickers and incompetents
with the ultimate idea of wedding then
| out.-Atlanta Journal.
1t was almost indecent of the Maine
democrats TO make gains in yesterday:
| election. Had they not been tolC
| plainly that the republican majorit!
| would be unprecedented in any case
| that their own canvass was absolute
| ~ dead and that it was CT no Us
| for them to so to the polls? Yet tht
shameless fellows have actually in
creased their vote thirty per cent. O ye
that of 1900, and in a total poll mucl
greater, have cut down the republican
majority by three thousand OR moro
The marked democratic gains in Port
land, Lewiston and other cities seen
to us peculiarly reprehensible, comin
| as they do on the very day of the pres
dents careful explanation that al
good Americans" should vote the re
publican ticket. He will be panied to
day to learn how many bad American
there are in Maine. Meanwhile, impair
| tial> political observers will set dow
| the result for just what it is wort
"a clear sign, namely, that the demo
| Gratis are not the diSorganized and dis
pirited crew their opponents like t
make them out; that the presidentia
campaign is vet to be fought; and tha
no man can tell what the decision O
14,000,O 900 electors will be in Novembe:
New York Post.