Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-08-21
VOL. 80.
sssE Ng:ssEs0 QUESTION.

cities net alone tho Radical partizan
press, but somc who claim to be in
dependent in all political issues
should show such = genuine and la
mentable Ignorance OF the relative po-
eitions occupied towards each ether
hy the whites and blacks in the South
crn States. It is but two days travel
from Wilmington to New York, and less
than three to Boston, and yet some Of
the papers Of those two cities betray
lust about as intimate n conception OF
the state Of feeling in North Caroline,
between the two races here, as they
nrc supposed to know regarding the
British in India and the natives of that
country, Jlven the New York Ncr0{d,
which is, to all interests and purposes,
the great metropolitan paper OF North
America, evinces q decided ignorance
Of the state of affairs. In its editorial
leader Of Thursday Last, that paper
seems to take the ground, to start
with, that there is not only 81 antgon-
ism Of color and q prejudice Of race
existing between the two people, but
that there is a bitter and direct con-
flict of interests. Ii talks very pathet-
ically of the .'forbearance" and fidelity
Of the negroes during the war and
tenders some very safe advice to the
whites IN their intercourse with the
blacks, looking to the establishment
of direct community OF interest be-
tween tie two. And yet none of the
advice given by the Hcrald, but has
been acted upon already by the white
people III the South.
II saws There IS only ono method
bv which it can be rescued from this
malign influence, and that is by inspir-
ing the negroes with confidence in the
friendly intentions and sincere good
Will Of their white fellow citizens of
the South The whites must not seek
II olstrjlct and hUmiliatc, but to en-
ccurgc and assist them. Their ambi-
tion to improve their condition, and
rise in the social scale ought to be fos-
tered by all reasonable methods.
Now We respectfully submit to the
IferGld, that this "oniy one method"
Of which it speaks, has been tried to
lie utmost, os we'll IS several other
"only ore methods" which have not
occurred TO the IIcJa'd, and every one
Of them has proved a disastrous fail
nre. The white men in the South, (and
We can speak of our own personal
knowledge. so far as North Carolina is
concerned,) have used eycry enGeavor
OF time, money and patience, to induce
the negro to look upon them with at
least as much confidence as lie 1estOws
on the adventurous strangers who
Layc personal ambition and individual
greed 10 be promoted through the IN
ffuence Of their ballots. Previous to
the war the utmost good feeling cX-
listed between the whites and the blacks
Of this section. The war came and
closed and the negroes were made free
1T the expense Of their white owner5,
Il great many Of whom were made to-
tally bankrupt hy the enfranchisement
Of their slaves. They emerged from
ihe war without a dollar, yet, at the
same time, without one particle OF i'll
viii towards those who, whiiom their
slaves. were sOOr to be made their po-
Iitical equals. If they cherished any
hard feelings at all, il was against
those who had robbed them of their
means, without paving them dollar
Of remuneration. As for the negroes
Themselves, there was 30 evidence
T. show that they then felt any
IL that hatred and distrust Ct
the white race which have since be-
come such distinguishing traits intheir
character: on the contrary, instances
can be multiplied where the newly
manulnittcd slaves refused TO leave
tile protection cf their late masters
and were not willing to break UP the
trustful and confidential relations
which had SO long existed between
them. But following close III the foot
steps Of the closing shadows OF the
war, there came down upon us horde
of greedy locusts from the northern
cities and fields. thirsting for power,
greedy Of gain, INSCRIPTIONS as to the
means hy which their ends might be
attained and totally regardless Of con
sequences to others than themselves.
The result which was SO soon foi G.
shadowed was not long in accomplish
mept and the negrorace fell away from
those whom they had known for life
time rs mon Of probity and trust and
gave in their ready adherence to their
new found friends, falsely sO-called.
II was in vain that the whites attempt
el to stem the tide. They reasoned
aud demonstrated with the blacks anG
assisted them in every way possible
bat all IN vain so strenuously and in
s!diously had the carpet -baggers and
their allies, apostato Southerners, in.
stilled their teachings into the minds
Of the negroes that it was almost as
much as hislife was worth if one dared
70 vote the Democratic ticket. This
WAS III 1868 and ever since have the
whites in vain labored to make friends
with the negroes, until the recent cam
palgns when their efforts were giver