Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-07-02

see so few representatives OF the SUD-
stance and property of the county
present. He hoped the time would
come when in Republican Conven-
tions would sit side by side, the rep
resentatives of both races, and a fsir
representation of the substance and
property of the county.
1t became them to look full in the
face the condition of the Republican
party in the South. In North Carolina
for five years it had been in the mi
nority and had been subjected to the
misrule of the Democrats. Last year
it fell into what may be q hopeless
minority. It resulted from the IN
worthiness and corruption of it's lead
ers. The people of this State will not
support dishonesty and corruption.
There were some forty or fifty thous-
and white men in North Carolina who
we're on a balance. waiting to choose
between what they considered two
evils, and determined to select the
lesser. He made no defense of the
Democrats. If there was anything
corrupt or rotten In the Government
Democrat was sure to be about He
told the old joke about some Repub-
lican stealing ham, and the Demo
crat stealing the whole hog. and
Moore and Brewington laughed as if
they had not told it better an humid
red times in the First Ward and from
the top of the Market House. Even
Jesse gave a sickly laugh. but the ap-
plause which greeted Russell sounded
like the tolling of funeral bells.
Jesse looked at Stacey. and Stacey
looked at Jesse, and they both looked
at one another.
Judge Russell continued that it ILL
behooved the Democrats to cry reform
when the leader of the party in New
York was in the penitentiary. Gle
forgot to tell his sable friends that the
corrupt leaders of his own party, whom
he had denounced were in good fat
offices, nor mora}ize on the adverse
fate of Republican and Democratic
thieves). Tweed and Conoley by get
ting the Catholic vote and that of the
mob had controlled matters in New
York. The thieves in South Carolina
had been driven out of Office. (but not
into the penitentiary, Judge). and
now her Chief Executive would
compare favorably with any in the
| Union.
The Republican party had been led
into evil. He had said that if it had
been successful last year he would
have left it. He WAS willing to be in
the minority. (The negroes could not
exactly see the point. and Stacey was
not unanimous in his applause, al
! though he don't wish to make money
ton was not questions of mere party
| kha &c ovak
control of that Convention and the
to nominate candidates. They were
standing o. She brink of the grave
of their rights and political
equality, and nothing would be left
but to throw the turf upon them. But
the negroes had nothing to gain by g
| different result. The whites by theil
numbers, their wealth, their intelli
gence and their power would control
the State. If they could not have
done SO, he would not have supported
the Reconstruction measures in 1868
He did so believing that the "eterna
negro" would drop out of politics
| CThe Judge is a poor statesman evi
dently) The Democrats had gone
back on their platform adopted al
Greensboro. They had promised the
negro much, but nad been false t.
their promises. They had bought VI
few worthless ones and put them OF
the stage and made show of them
but that was all. They professed tina
if they controlled the Convention they
would not disfranchise the negro NJ
interfere with any of his rights
They would disfranchise whites arc
blacks alike that stood III their way
They wanted to establish oligarchie.
in every county. They wanted to ap
point for life, with no responsible,
to the people, those who would set q
Judgment upon their lives and prop
erty; that is the kind of a government
they wanted, and he believed the
whites as well as the blacks would no
accept to it.
He would give them no advice about
candidates. A large majority Of the
delegates had called upon him to be-
come candidate. But he could
not consent. His private affairs
would prevent, and he could
not serve if elected Jesse and
Stacey breathed freer, and looked
ugly at each other with expressions Of
incipient rivalship). There were three
elements in the party, the scalawag,
the carpet-bagger and the n-i-g-g- err.
Seward had said the time had come
| when no man would ever be elected
who spelled negro with two g's. Owe
expect Thurman spells it that way
and Seward and Russell are poor pro-
phets). A candidate ought to be Sc
lected from each. There were colored
men who were capable and honest,
Let the interests of no man but that
the party guide in the selection.
The tragedy Of the occasion being
over, the usual farce begun.
Archy Walker introduced a resolu,
ton nominating Hon. James Heaton,
by reclamation, which was unanimous,
ly adpoted.
The Hon. James thanked the Con.
vention, but could not serve. His
duties as Clerk required all his time.
He could not be absent so long from
the county. He pledged his support
to the nominees.
Joe. Hill, with a bland smile as
only Joe. and Colfax can give, moved
that the resignation" of Hon. Heaton
be accepted which was adopted. (The
Chairman smiled "child-like and
bland.")
Hill then moved that the Convention
proceed to nominate their candidates
by ballot. which was carried.
The usual confusion ensued. Run
ners were busy, circulating printed
tickets for Cassidey and jestiss Moore,
and VanAmringe was as busy as bee
III tar barrel. When everybody was
about ready to vote, a negroe by the
name of Hankins, the Chairman said
from the Fifth Ward-it surely could
not be Hiram, our City Father-well
Hankins rose gravely, yes we are sure
it was gravely. and rubbing his eyes,
as if aroused from a good slumber,
wanted to know what was the ques-
ton and how the vote was to be taken?
"Jestiss' Moore wisely remarked
that he did not onderstan whether the
vote were to be taken. user Verser or
tother way. He was informed "tother
way" The Convention submitted to
the ruling with wonderful equanim-
ity.
Confusion worse confounded fol-
lowed POiptS 0f order M, ,fiopo 70 70