The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-20
STATE PRESS.

The BAPTIST state convention went on
record with the other large religfou
bodies OF the state in opposition TO the
lax divorce law that prevails in North
Carolina With all the churches united
in this matter such force should be
Dug to the coming legislature as
will secure a change OF this very bad
and ~disgraceful Iaw.-Greenville Refiec-
tor.
What nonsense it is to attempt to
| place upon President Roosevelt's mes
| sage the responsibility for a stock gam
bling panic in Wall street" indignant
ly protests the republican press. And
what nonsense it was to impute the
| financial panic of 1898 TO the Cleveland
administration. But the republican
press insisted upon doing this, and does
go TO this day.'-WinsIon Journal.
In spite OF republican charges of ex-
travagance in the management Of state
affairs. the Aycock administration will
close in a few weeks with a comforta-
BILE balance of over three hundred thou
sand dollars in the state treasury. Con-
trast that with the depleted condition
at the close of the Russell administra-
ton, and you will see why the people
of North Carolina prefer to keep demo-
Gratis in power.-Raleigh Post.
We notice a some of the North
Carolina which published
disgraceful cartoons of the President
during the campaign are now criticising
the governor of Mississippi because Of
something harsh he said of Mr.. Roose-
Welt. Well, better tactics should be
practiced by a governor. but we have
all heard about the kettle calling the
pot black.-Reidsville Review. The
point is well taken. Some of our
southern people-and We say it with
regret-constantly conduct themselves
toward the president in a manner that
is neither dignified nor consistent
Statesville Landmark.
The News does not wish to get into
discussion upon Vardaman and Var
damanism. The governor of Missis-
sippi is a ~notoriety seeker, and does
and says many things for effect. To
argue over him at length would be but
to act in accordance with his own
desires. But when it m to the
perplexing question of etiquette as 10
whether he shall be invited to the in
aug we IlOSl CeTldlIlly IQlnh
he should be. 1t is not Vardaman the
man but Vardaman the governor of
a great and sovereign state who should
be requested to represent his common
wealth at the Inauguration ceremonies.
Charlotte News.
We observe in the published report of
the proceedings of the meeting in Sep
tcmber of the New England Cotton
Manufactures Association. held in
New Hampshire, that Mr.. D. A. Temp
kins, of his city, who was one of the
speakers, declared that labor in every
line was better paid in the south thar
in New England, excepting possibly in
cotton manufacturing, and even there
it was On a parity, while the cost and
conditions of living were more favora-
BILE; because more wages can be saved
opportunities to advance are greater
and prosperity more universally
abounGs'. And it is not of record thai
anybody challenged the statement
Charlotte Observer.
1t would greatly simplify things il
some hundreds of Asheville Womer
would meet on Park Squar on Christ
mas day, exchange the greetings o.
n season, swap dollars, ana go nome
This idea is not claimed as original
it was invented by a unitarian theor
list, and a mere man, OF course. Blu
these women will not do it; nothing
could induce them to See it nat way
They will continue to pass in menta
review before them, again and again
the names of people who u be re
membered on Christmas morning, Civ
ing to each these searching inquiries
will she give me a~nything?" VIVA
did she give me last year?' What di
1 give her last year?" What will sh
give me this year, and how much vii
il cost?" Had l better select a s3.4
l present for her and a 76-cents presen
I for So-and-So, or a $3.2S present 70
her and spend IS cents or So-and-So?
They will still skirmish about tn
shops, pricing, ransackins, computing
they will still dream horrible night
mares of receiving something fror
somebody to whom they ave not give
anything.-Asheville Gazette-News.