The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-29
CURRENT COMMENT.


1t would seem. indeed, that a scape-
goat is needed by society. and thai the
awowed Mormons are being pursued
vigorously, MOI because they are more
numerous or more re~prehensible than
the unayowed Mormons but because
they are less strong. numerically. So
cially and financially. OF course legal
izeo Mormonism OF this character has
got to go. Society demands tina IL
should 60. 1t is necessary to civiliza-
ton that it sioux go. But how long
viii 1t be, do you suppose, until socie-
ty appeals to the United States senate
to expel one OF its members because
morally he is not immaculate? In the
meantime. the Smoot crusade will go
forward as 1t went before. The public
will be greatly shocked by the details
given Of the witness stand, not because
they are worse than many things of
which the public has good reason TO
know. but because they are done by the
Mormons and not by hat larger public
that is so vastly offended because OF
the presence of-legalized Mormonism in
Its INSTRUMENTATION News and Cou-
rier-
No clearer sign OF demoraliza ton
could be given by the republicans in the
house thai their allowing the judiciary
committee to be controlled by the DEM
ocrats. Mr.. Williams was not slow to
grasp his advantage, n now the at
torney generals failure to prosecute the
coal trust will be debated in congress
in a manne calculated to rob the re-
publicans OF political capital. 1t is an
awkward issue for them to meet. They
are posing on the one hand as the smit-
ers of the a trusts. yet as the faith
full friends of the good. 1t is an atti-
tude that cannot bear much ventilation,
but ventilated it certainly will be. The
majority deserves all it will get. II it
is too weary to attend either the regu-
lar sessions of the committees, it must
inevitably become the prey of such
wakeful privateers as Mr.. Williams. In
defence of congress-. it should be said
that this exceeding staleness is natural
in a body which has been told to pass
only routine legislation, and a beer
taught that it's very presence in the
capitol is a necessary evil, Tx term OF
which should be strictly abridged
New York Post.
The republican party OF Massachu.
sets, having placed itself entirely In
the hands of Senator Lodge and one OIL
two others whom he can trust, has
been compelled to take the back track
SO far as reciprocity is concerned. The
campaign in which delegates were
chosen to the recent state convention
was made very interesting by those re.
publicans who are inclined to TAX sc.
riously the pledges that the leaders OF
their party, from Blaine to Mckinley
lave from time to time made to the
people at large. When the convention
met, one of the men who had been SUI
posing all along that the party meant
what it said in the matter Of reciproci.
ty. made a very interesting speech il
favor of that measure of trade relief
Something" he said. must be done
to save the party" and with this dec
laration, and in the midst of applause
on the part Of the rest Of the delegates
he proposed a resolution calling for
immediate steps to secure reciprocity
with Canada. His remarks were SO ef-
fective and the response of the conven-
ton so hearty that Senator Lodge
representing the administration, had tC
go to the rescue.-Atlanta Constitution