The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-20
STATE PRESS.

Russian officers appear to thInk IL
would be more comfortable to remain
prisoners Of war in Japan than to re-.
turn to their native land on parole. IL
they feel that way about it Russia viii
never win in this war, and ought not
to win. There's something bad the
matter with any nation or country
whose soldiers prefer TO remain prison.
ers in the hands of a hostile army
rather than go back to their homes
Raleigh Post.
The legislature would do well TO
repeal the unjust law that prohibits
the railroad from issuing passes to
newspapers in exchange for advertis
ing. If the newspapers and the rail-
roads make a contract satisfactory to
themselves, what business has a third
PARTY in the matter at all? The pres
ent arrangement is exceedingly cum
bersome and inconvenient and puts
both parties to the contract to no lit
tie trouble n annoyance.-Charity and
Children.
It's plain that this is to be the most
complete law-ridden country upon the
facce of the arth. This will be so of
al III LlC LII -
which our laws are enacted. In En-
gland, for instance. h same law-mak-
ing power Is unchanged from year ID
year. While in this country the legis-
lators are, for the most part, new men
at each session of the legislatures,
and Zach one Of these feels hat the
enxistence of the country depends upon
his contribution to the statute books.
And so the subjects upon which legis-
lation is proposed are growing e
by year.-Raleigh Times.
William Jennings Bryan at Mem
phis and John Temple Graves at Gin
cinnati both pleaded for a democ-
racy that means something and stands
for something, instead Of a democracy
that simply opposes. Instead of a party
of negation both desire a party hat be-
lieves something and that proposes to
do something. w are going" said
Mr.. Graves before the Duckworth cluD
at Cincinnati. ito find and follow real
leaders if we have to smash every slate
and annihilate every politician that a
fattened upon our suffrage for forty
years. We are going to make a plat
form that will be an open opposition
and a bold challenge to the republican
creed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Argus.
There are some folks who base their
ideas of the prosperity of the country
on the fact that there Is more money
in the saving banks. That is prosperity
ali right, and frugality and care for the
future. and the old age that surely
comes. But there is another kind OF
~yo mr. oo;oo- To-
better to his family and himself than
ever before. He has put some money
into the bank, and he is probably plan
ming now for a home of his own instead
Of remaining a renter. And he has pur-
chased more comforts and good things
to eat than ever before. He has put
some of his surplus into good cloth
ing, not only for himself, but for the
wife and chHdren.-Kinston Free Press
Entirely too many men are acciden-
tally shot these days. This thing Of
firing off guns and pistols just to scare
people and killing some one should be
stopped if it takes a hanging to stop it.
Take, for instance, the killing of Mr.
Walter Traywick in Cheraw last Friday
by one Mcintosh. The man who did
the shooting picked up a rifle and say
ing to some by-standers, I'm going to
scare him." shot toward Mr.. Traywick
and killed him. If the man who did the
shooting goes without punishment and
the whole thing passes Off merely as all
accident, what's to hinder the man VINO
has a deadly grudge at another to play
a trick in like manner Cheraw has
had two accidental killings within the
past two weeks.-Monroe Enquirer.
The York, Pa, Evening Press says
"Secretary of the Treasury Shaw is ask
ing for reform at some of the smaller
customs offices of the country. For in
stance: In the last fiscal year it cost
$256.56 to collect $3.50 of customs reve-
nue. at York, Me-; 1878 to collect $3.50
at Nantucket, Mass. and two customs
officers at an expense of 81, 101.SS, to
collect $22.70 at Criseld. Nd: and the
champion achievement was the collec-
ton by two persons, who earned ST.
500 % thereby, of S1.55. at Beaufort. n.
G. secretary Shaw ought to get his
reforms" On their face. these figures
show an apparently ridiculous arrange
ment. There is. however. some reason
for having these officials aside from the
money collected. Their presence tends
to prevent smuggling and they may
therefore be classed with the police
man who seldom makes an arrest. but
whose presence keeps away evil-doers-
Charlotte observer.
SiclSening Shivering Fits
OF Augue and Malaria, can be relieved