The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-24
NORTH CAROLINA.
Party Strength and the
Civil Rights Bill.
COLORED MEN THINK
The Condition of the Republican
Party in the State.
RALEIGH, July IS, 1875.

The republican estimate or voters here in Raleigh
Is that OF a total voting population IN the State
or about 100000 between 10000 and $4,000 are
coored. the state was heavily republican in 1868.
This means. or course that considerable part OF
the white population supported the republican
ticket. But In TWO years tals majority was so far
FILTERED away by the peoples disgust and alarm
at the corruption and maladministrat1on OF the
republican rulers that the democrats in 1870 car
rled the Legislature, and they have held It ever
since But the Governor has been and remains
republican.
need not recite here the story OF the North
Carolina era OF railroad grants and other oflcial
and party corruption and INSTRUMENTATION. Its
results Sill remain In State debt the interest of
which Is NOT paid, and which the rulers OF the
state evidently 90 not know how TO manage. The
total State debt amounted, last November, to
very nearly $4,000, 600, which includes heavy
rears OF interest The state debt In 1860 was only
$sS72 9OO in addition which ST., l2s 900 or bonds
were issued during the war for internal improve
ment purposes. The past due interest on all the
State debt has been funaed several times, and the
interest on that Is not paid. The republican ru-
lers between 1865 and 1870 managed to issue over
$4,000 900 OF bonds for railroad and other pur-
poses, the greater part or which was wasted or
lost in stock gambling in Wall street; and It was
this which caused their overthrow.
THE COURSE OF POLITICS.
In1s72 Caldwell. the republican candidate for Gov
ernor, elected by about 800 majority. The Gov
ernor In this State holds ONCE four years. In 1874
q state superintendent OF Pubic instruction was
chosen, and the democrats In this vote carried
the election by about 5000 majority. The agita-
ton OF that stupid republican blunder the Civil
Rights Dill caused the greater part Of this change
in the two years; but it is confessed by the re-
pubcans that they lose strength constantly, the
fact being that no new white voters Join their
ranks while, OF course, they lose constantly by
DEATH removal ana desertton.
When the democratic Legislature OF 1870 came
into power 1t carefully gerrymandered the senate
and House districts, so as 10 secure permanent
though not large democratic majority in the Gen.
eral Assembly. There mas been some complaints
among the republicans on TINS head; but the
leading men OF that party who are mostly candid
men, confess that they cannot complain. because
they set the example OF gsrrymandering in 1868,
when they were IN power; and, no doubt, II they
should carry the Legislature they would DO 1t
again.
NORTH CAROLINA AT PEACE.
North Carolina is at peace. tell you this on
the authority OF the ablest and foremost republt-
cans in the STATE; and, indeed, there is
no pretence here to the contrary. ''The
democrats mean no violence, no wrong 10
there Is political crime in the state; there Ia
no intimidation by the whites; they mean only to
defeat the radicals and keep them down, and
they dislike negro ruler This was said to me by
one OF the foremost republicans in the State,
federal otiice-nolder, and il was confirmed by not
less than dozen others, all jealous ana some
bitter republicans and by leading colored men
also. Those 10 whom l put the question unani-
mously said, too, that the Enforcement acts are
OF no or importance any longer in North Caro-
lima. There is necessity for such laws In the
State. "They were once useful and necessary,
but the Time for them has passed" They are
now only reproaoh to the republican party and
q handle for the democratic politicians
The republican testimony is unanimous on these
heads. II is confirmed by the attitude OF the two
parties toward each other. There are here and
there extreme and bitter men on each side, and,
in the few counties wnere the negroes nave
large majority and where they have been used by
corrupt white and black men to keep In power
wasteiul and corrupt local rulers, there is,
naturally, strong feeling. But even there there Is
no violence and the best men Of both parties
operate together to maintain order. There Is but
little estrangement OF families on account OF
polItics-it is not uncommon to see a democratic
and a republican lawyer partners-and the demo-
Gratis try TO relieve themselves OF the I'M
doubted and, by the republicans generally
acknowledged, evils of negro supremacy
In the few counties where the blacks are FREEDOM
inam, by the exercise Of ingenuity in framing
charters. and gerrymanderlng city wards. OF
this will give you some account hereafter when
describe the conduct OF the negroes IN politics,
which has not been entirely lovely.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
The republicans all assert that tae Civil Rights
bill mas nearly broken up their party in the State.
1t was the predominant issue in the canvass OF
1874, and caused not only their defeat out par
tial disorganiZation. which the democratic
leaders, II they had been wiser than they are,
could, believe, have made entire. The republican
party of North Carolina Is composed OF the great
body OF the negroes, and OF o large mass OF the
poor whites In the western, or mountain, dis
tricts. But these small white farmers dislike the
negro, whom they know little about, and are
easily alarmed ct the thought Of social equality
with him. The democratic politicians very nat
uray worked upon their fears on this point, and
thus found their best argument put into their
hands by those republican leaders In the North
who insisted upon this measure.
Nor was this the worst result, even, OF the civil
rights agitation. There Is no doubt that the
democrats had begun TO make up their minds 10
conciliase and, II possible gain over part OF the
negro vote-to break up the color line. The best
freely that the only permanent political
settlement in the State lies in this drec tiona
formation Of parties with an extinction OF the
color line In politics, and they looked forward to
this as not far on But, said these same men,
"When the Civil Rights bill came up as proml-
nent issue last year we dared not conciliate or
ask for the colored vote. TO do so would have
alienated from US the great mass or the white
vote, for our people were naturally and deeply
excited on this question. Hence. In the canva IS
OF 1874 we addressed ourselves entirely 70 the
whites and were forced TO let the negro vote 90
where 1t would. 1t would have aroused our own
people against US had we made any overtures to
the blacks. Our efforts were all turned TO gain
ing over the white republicans, and we did 80
pretty enectually.u
These men were right, OF course, as politicians
and find that their appeal TO whlte republicans
was strong enough to gain over in Wake county,
for instance. which has negro majority and is
usually republican 400 votes, all whites who In