The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-05

Hon. John Sharp Williams, the
democratic leader in the lower house
of congress, lays these down as the
democratic issues in the next ma
tional campaign: Revision OF the
tariff, at least in so far as 1t shelf
ers the great trusts; larger powers
to the interstate com
mission to deal with transportation
rates, colonialism, as recently in
augurated by this government; cor
ruption in office, recklessness in our
dealings with other nations-these,
in my opinion, will be the great is
sues of the national campaign OF
1904 to be forced 10 the front by
the democratic party And on them
the democracy, united and
ious, will be willing to rest its claim
to power. Others may develop as
the present session of congress pro-
crosses, but these will be the main
questions to be decided" And they
are all right, barring one. There Is
no use to fan the air about colonial
ism" That is a year before lasts
birds nest. Rome can't be made to
howl over dead ~issues.-Charlotte
Observer.
Perry Heath says that Mr.. McKfn-
ley told him that he wished Hanna
to succeed him as president. The
Washington Post says that M
Roosevelt has appointed many men
to office or the representation that
they had been promised by Mr.. Nc
Kinley, but 1t seems fke pressing
the matter too far when he is asked
to support Mr.. McKinley's prefer
ence for the presidential nomina-
ton" But, when he assumed the
presidency, didn't Mr.. Roosevelt vol
UNFAIRLY promise to carry out 1.-The
plans and policies Of my distin-
guished predecessor" And does
anybody doubt that one Of the plans
was to turn over the presidency to
MI. Hanna? Will Mr.. Roosevelt
violate that sacred pledge, made un-
der the most solemn circumstances?
It looks like he will do that very
thing, thereby FORGETTING the good
opinion of Mr.. Perry Heath. Be-
and the job he now holds. MI.
Roosevelt thinks he can afford to
scufie along without Mr.. Heath's
good opinion.-News and Observer.
hi general demand on the part
of the southern people, and those of
the other sections. for the ratifica-
ton of the Panama treaty does not
mean thai a wrong shall be done to
any people, or that one, if done,
shall be condoned, but rather, in
our Judgment, that the Panama route
is preferred as the better and more
advantageous than the other n
whatever Is done must be with this
in view. There are large interests in
this country hat do not want IN
canal across the isthmus at all.
While they cannot hope to defeat the
construction of one at some point
1-ar-or Iafou 20 n hanoAf or
supposed to be a benefit to them,
and. there are many ways of killing
a dog, ever various and Sundry
methods by which he can be made
very sick for a longer or shorter
period.-Raleigh Post.
Those who travel much in the
state report that there are quantities
Of cotton yet In the fields not picked.
1t is stated that I'm some few fields
the cotton so left would make as
good picking as at any time during
the season. This would seem to in
dictate a scarcity of labor In the
country to pick the crop, whatever
1t may be-, ten million bales or more.
In the face of what would appear TO
be a rare opportunity to prosper
on the farm the country people. born
black and white. continue to leave
the country and go to the towns and
cities. The white people are impell-
ed to this movement party to escape
the isolation of country life, and
partly to get better educational ad-
vantages flor their children. The
negroes are impelled by various mo-
tives. One Of these Is their desire to
live where white people live. Some
by the opportunity to get better
wages in cash and freedom for any
a--~,ryHgf- Now hnoa,an fnny
can pick up a living IN cities with
out work or responsibility. II con-
straint could be brought upon this
latter class to make them work in
the city or return to the country
where work would be necessary, It
would be to the advantage of coun-
try and city alike.-Charfotte Chron-
icle.
The democratic outlook brightens.
Everybody who comes in contact
with the business world in the great
cities of the north say it is in the air
that there will be a change in the
occupant of the White house. The
rashness of Mr.. Roosevelt scares
prudent business men. His usurpa-
ton of power in the Panama incl
dent. the blacklist page Of our inter-
national history, shows that he at
any moment la plunge this coun-
try into war. He seems to think
that he is a Napoleon. able to act
without awaiting or seeking the con-
currence Of congress. In other mat
tiers his u%surpation of power and his
| recklessness have alarmed conser-
vative men who would prefer a safer
man at the helm. If the democrats
| are wise they will get the bulk OF
| this vote.-News and Observer.
) One reason why Judge Alton B.
Parker has been considered an avail
| able candidate for the presidency on
| the democratic ticket of 1904 is his
carrying New York by a big major
ity for chief justice OF the court OF
| annaalS in 1877 His nlurality then