Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-05-01

of their property for the benefit of un.
known strangers and interlopers who ap-
plaud the most incendiary language OF
their malicious speakers who are foment-
ing discord and disturbance, and who are
prepared to resort to any measures to pun
ish and degrade the property-owners OF
this city, are now waxing strong and rlcn'
by the friendship of the very men Whom
they are attempting to ruin and degrade
Let our people answer. Let the scenes
occurring daily and nightly on our streets
bear witness. Let the officials under whom
they have placed the welfare OF the coun-
ty proclaim.
While it may be respectable excuse for
the negroes to say that their ignorance and
preiudices have been imposed upon by
wicked and designing men, it is but poor
consolation to those who are being de-
graded and ruined by this very means
But why do the negroes act so differently
with us than in Georgia Are they moro
ignorant d? Are their prejudices against the
whites greater? Are Radicals here more
cunning and INSCRIPTIONS The facts are
that in many places in Georgia the blacks
have not aleniated themselves from their
white employers. In Savannah, where the
negroes have registered majority OF three
to one, General GORDON, the Democratic
candidate for Governor, and one of the
most distinguished officers OF the late Con-
federate States, loses that city by less tLan
two hundred votes out of q total OF nearly
six thousand, and although the whites
have but two OF three thousand majority
of registered voters in the State, and there
are as many greedy carpet-baggers and
scallawags there as with us, the chances
are that the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor has been elected, and the result
achieved by the aid of the negro votes.
The cause is apparent. The laborer is
made to feel that he cannot make war
upon the capital from which he derives his
support that in separating himself from
his white friend he is quarreling with his
meat and bread. A like policy would
achieve the same result here
We have no prejudices against the col
ored people. To-day. those who were for
merly connected to us by the relation OF
master and slaves, are yet attached to us
by the warmest sympathies of mutual good
feeling and kindness. They have been
indebted to us since their emancipation for
acts of material assistance. And this is
but the repetition of the history of nearly
every master towards his former slaves.
To-day, if they were the contented. in
dustrious and vell-behaved laborers they
once were, nothing could ALLEVIATE our
people from them. But We cannot close
our eyes to the change, and we cannot
sacrifice our peace and happiness and prop
erty to sentiment. If we are compelled,
for mutual protection, social and political,
to combine against them, while they may
not be absolutely to blame, still our action
becomes necessary and must be applauded.
And whether we have not reached that
point is the question every citizen should
ask himself.
But our duty towards the unemployed
whites of this community is unmistakable
A longer overlooking of their claims will
be criminal, and will and should result to
our detriment. In their behalf we appeal,
for no community can prosper when, be-
tween its capital and labor, there is not
only want of sympathy, but bitter and
dire conflict.