The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-12
Tm Messerwer.
COMMENTS ON THE MESSAGE.

In order to show how the presidents
message struck the democratic mind
we give below some extracts from he
editorials Of the leading state demo-
cratic papers on the message.
To show that the presidents position
on the question of federal control of
interstate freight rates is good demo
cratic doctrine we take the following
from the Raleigh News and Observer:
Failure to enact such legislation as
is demanded in the democratic nation
al platform and in the presidents mes
g would be failure to do the press
ing duty Of the hour.
Then that sterling democratic
paper, the Charlotte News, which is al
ways ready TO battle for the rights of
the people against the encroachment
of the big corporations and the MEM
bers of plutocracy, That paper has
this TO say Of the message:
There are many things Of vital in
terest to the south embodied in the
message. In fact by far too many to
receive special notice in oar editorial
space.
We heartily approve of the presi-
dents views on the attention that
should be paid confederate veterans
who died under northern skies. Much
money has been spent in cOmnlemOr-
ating the deeds of federal soldiers and
vast amounts have been paid out in
pensions to federal soldiers. hills it
has always been apparent that con-
a-,~
sighted. So We hail with delight the
presidents Injunction to ongre in
this respect.
mother part of the message thai is
of particular interest to the sOuth is
his attitude on the immigration Ques-
ton. Mr.. Roosevelt is right IN his
warming to the i~mprecautious a5n,fs-
sion of immigrants who are unfit for
citizenship. He is also right in his
statement that we are seriously in need
of immigrants of the right kind.
In his message. the president point
ed out the need the south has today
for the better class of immigrants who
will settle in. her midst and aid in the
DEVELOPMENT of our country. We well
come the best and most industrious
classes of immigrants to our borders.
The entire message is of vital inter-
est and should be read carefully.
Then we find the following comment
ON the message in that sound demo-
cratic paper the Charlotte Chronicle:
President Roosevelt's message to
the present congress is perhaps the
longest document ever sent to that
body. yet it will be more generally
read. perhaps, than anV previous mes
sage, on account of the importance OF
the questions discussed and the gen
eral interest Of the people to learn the
presidents views on them. The Ques-
ton of rate legislation heads the list
and Is the feature of the message. The
president. it will be observed. consid-
ers this one of the graVest Derils of
the country and urges congress to
take action on it. The tariff he side
tracks until after the railroad rate
matter is disposed of, which indicates
a hope on part of the republicans that
the tariff question NAV not bother
them much. after all.
Nc doubt haG we the time we could
find III many otle: democratic papers
of tie state equally as cOmmendatory
comments on the message.
These concentrations Of the message
to on@resS of a republican president
appearing i'll the democratic papers of
the south show a change as wonderful
as it is ~c0mmendabIe in the sentiments
Of the people Of the south toward the
republican party. it shows that our
people rave ut last come to lOok upon
the issues which divide the parties as
political and not sectional or PERSONAL:
that when the opposing party adj
vances any theory or principle which
has merit in it II people can recog-
niZe hat merit and give that party
credit for its good intentions; that the
day has passed when party fealty de-
mands that all democrats shall look
upon every proposition advanced by
the republicans as wrong and pernici-
u just because it is a republican,
measure and that the south feels that
it is false TO its traditions whenever it
admits that any good to the country
can come from any other source than
the Headquarters of the democratic
party.
We do not endorse all of Mr.. Roose-
velt's message. There are many things
in it of which we do not approve; still
we are glad to see that southern dem
Ocratic papers do not reject it in toto
just because it is the declaration of u
president who is the leader of the re-
publican party. This shows that we
are getting back on the old political
lines where difference of opinion as to
government policy and not geographic
cal lines divided the people politically.
Women love a clear, healthy COM
pleXiOn. Pure blood makes it. Bur-
dock Blood Bitters makes pure blood.