The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-10-02

New York delegation to the national
convention; but there IS little likeli-
hood that he and Tammany will con-
tinue to train together. Without Tam
many he could not have been nomi-
mated for governor, and without Tam
many he cannot capture the national
convention delegation. Should Mr.,
Hearst be defeated in November. the
incident of his nomination will have
been forgotten In 1908.
Developments in Cuba, Of course.
have been the chief things OF interest
this week, eve overshadowing the New
York conventions. Senator Is
ridges declaration that if the American
flag goes up in Cuba it will not come
down has been severely criticised in
administration circles, not because tn
truth of the prophecy IS doubted but
because It was a bad time TO tell the
truth. No one denies that Mr.. Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft have tried sincerely
TO settle the Cuban muddle without
violating the sovereignty of the re-
public, but it is not generally believed
their hearts were in the task. There
Is in Washington Il overwhelming
sentiment that Cuba would make a
desirable possession of the United
States. but that she will never be a
desirable neighbor.
Should the United States
its purpose TO annex the island repub-
lie, the Cubans would have to be
perhaps, but it is not doubted that
eventually they would become loya.
on6 6nCtroh1n ofY;0npr Tho raDrl1 -f
Spanish descent in New Mexico and
the Southwest, though clinging tena-
ciously to their old customs and the
mother tongue, leave nothing to be de-
sired in the matter Of their American
ism. In many OF the parishes of Lou
isiana, after a hundred years under
the American flag, French is still the
dominant language, but no n doubts
the Americanism Of these French de-
~scendants. If there is any reason why
the Cubans should not do as well, it
is not apparent at this time.
The political effect Of Intervention,
with prospective ann XatiOn, furnishes
ar interesting theme for speculation.
The prevailing opinion in Washington
is that the country favors a~nnexatio
IL I L al NC uoI1C lIlIouL u
that it would not tolerate anything
that smacked of a breach of faith. So
far there have been only words of COM
mendation for the manner in which
Secretary Taft has managed the Cuban
affair, but his job is a mighty tickliSh
one and there is ever present the pos
sibility that he may DO something that
will blast his political prospects. If
the American flag goes up in Cuba the
ann Of its going, of course, will be
made the subject of debate in congress
next winter, and Mr.. Taft Will Fave to
show mighty clean hands if they es-
cape democratic denunciation.
Washington will be mighty glad to
See President Roosevelt when he re-
turns to the White house next week.
The return Of the president from his
summer vacation always marks the
beginning of the busy season, political
ly, socially and in a business way.
Free American citizens may not like
to think SO, but there is in this re-
spect very little difference between the
president Of the United States and the
ruler OF an European monarchy. The
old adage that where the king is there
is his capital holds very true in the
case of the American president. The
fact that Washington is the capital is
it's chief, and almost it's only, asset,
and when the seat of government is
transferred to Oyster Bay Washington
is jealous. There have been a good
E; many democratic statesmen in Wash
ington this summer, because the head
; quarters of the democratic congress
! siOnal committee are here, but repub-
! lican statesmen have been scarce.
/ With the return of the president they
will begin to flock to Washington. The
bars were up at Oyster Bay, except to
| specially invited guests, and only a
favored few have had the presidential
ear since the adjournment Of congress
There is never any embargo on politi-
cal. visitors at the White house, and
during the next month Washington
| will Ia an aspect very much like the
one it wear when congress is in ses-
| sion.
The death in this city on Tuesday OF
Colonel Isaac r. Hill, of Ohio, re-
moves one Of the most interesting
characters the capitol has eve shell
tered. He was a democrat but was
kept on the pay roll of the house OF
representatives as a special employee
and had been known and liked by
| every man who had served in either
house Of congress for nearly a quar-
| ter OF a century. AS a story teller he
had few equals, and many an ane
dote that won the reputation as a wit
for some senator or representative was
borrowed from the inexhaustib1e
toe of Colonel ike" Hill.
W~ashington's commercial Doom real
ly begins to look as if it might amoun'
to something. With the return OF
prominent residents from their sum
mer vacations the Greater Washing.
tom movement has taken on new life
and at the present time a party OF
business representatives is on a tour
of the south for the purpose Of adver.
Using the national capital ard its at
fractions. Negotiations are on with q
number Of manufacturers for the loca.
ton Of plants in the suburbs. and sew.
eral jobbing houses are soon to be es-
tablished. For many years the inf1u.
entail people Of Washington have
fought against concentrating the
-