The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-04-08
CURRENT COMMENT.


Former United States Senator Petit
grew, OF South Dakota, will go to the
national democratic convention at ST.
Louis at the head of the delegation from
that state. He was placed at the head
or >the delegation in spite OF his an
nouncement that he would bolt the con-
ventfon If Grover Cleveland or any
democrat like him should be nominated
for president. That is another reason
why the convention ought to nominate
Mr.. Cleveland The democratic party
will never be able to win as long as il
harbors Pettigrew and men like him.
News and Courier.
There seems to be progress on the
isthmus-American progress-even be-
fore We appear to take charge OF the
canal zone. Observe that the railroad
hands threaten to strike unless their
hours are shortened and their wages
raised. 1t would be a mistake, nowev-
er. for labor in Panama to assume too
much Work is certain to increase and
money to be more plentiful as the re-
suit of the canal enterprise. but there
will be an increase also in the number
OF that class OF people who work with
their hands. and this will prevent any
corner in the labor market. So far as
We are concerned, we shall be able and
willing to pay living wages for what
ed against hold-ups. We are pledged
to dig the canal as soon as possible.
and OF course at a reasonable figure
Washington Star.
Representative Overstreet is getting
into water that is both hot and deep.
Postmaster-General Payne declares
that he originally sent to Mr.. Over
street. chairman of the house commit
tee on postoffice and post roads. a list
of leases" without the names OF con-
gressmen attached. Mr.. Overstreet
was not content, and in writing de-
manded names, which were accordingly
furnished. And finally, Mr.. Payne
charges that the dates of two letters
have been changed so as to make it
appear that the postoffice department,
and not Mr.. Overstreets committee. is
responsible for dragging statesmen into
undesired publicity. In short, accord
ing to Mr.. PayneS testimony, Mr.
Overstreet, or some wicked partner, is
the cause of all the woe since the
Charges Against Members" was pub
lished to a scoffing World. This new
development in the scandal only makes
it the more evident that a suppression
Of investigation by the republican ma
jority will put terrible weapon into
the hands of the deTnocrats.-New York
Post
IHeTe SeeUlS 10 ue no QOuDl lIdl the
sound and sane democracy of the coun-
try is turning more and more to Judge
Alton b. Parker as the most available
candidate for the presidecy. There is
no whoop and hurrah but of the DEM
ocratic newspapers whose opinions are
worthy of consideration, nine out of ten
that come to this office either openly
or qualifiedly endorse Judge Parker a.
the most likely man. This is an en-
couraging omen. More than a month
ago The Virginian-Pilet ventured the
opinion that the contest had narrowed
down to a choice of either Parker or
Hearst, unless a last minute dark horse
should appear. The chances or that
are rather remote and as matters now
stand it looks like the democracy must
take the one or the other Of these.
Disavowing again all sympathy with
the vicious, malicious and unjuStifable
personal attacks made upon Mr.. Hearst
attacks that are essentially coward
ly because Mr.. Hearst cannot even at
tempt to answer them and remain
gentleman in eyes Of gentlemen-we say
that in all the reasonable probabilities
of the situation Judge Parker is a far
more available candidate. By nothing
less than a political miracle could we
elect Mr. Hearst. And what Is the use
of naming a man who will lead us to
another ter?-Virginian-Pilot.
1T must be admitted, says Ihe
Yorkville Enquirer, that justice is ad-
ministered more evenly and fearlessly
in United States courts than in state
courts. The reason is plain. AS rule
local influence and sentiment over
shadows justice. and it is rarely the
case that a jury that will do its simple
duty can be found. This thing has
been demonstrated in South Carolina
until there is little reason to dispute
it. II it is justice we want, it would
be a good idea to modei our system fo-
the trial of capital and other highly
important cases after the United States
court sysem. For instance, IL we
should provide that all such cases be
tried at special court to be held at
Columbia, with jurors drawn from the
state at large. we could come nearer
to infiicting just punishment wherever
1t is due. and at the same time we
could get rid of the hollow mockery
involved in change of venue" The
state said something on this subject
the other day when Senator Burton
was convicted. 1t is q subject that
should be given careful and statesman
like considera ton. We are not bound
to hold to any system because Of its
antiquity if it fails to meet the ends
for which it was designed. We are
more bound to remedy evils. and the
greatest evil that could befall US as a
civilized neople would he the failure of