The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-11-16
"GO AND GO At ONCE.
DO NOT STAND UPON THE ORDER
OF YOUR GOING, BUT co.,
That Was the Message E. J. Jordan, the
Radical, no Inspired the Burning OF
G. b. Green's House Received.


currence in Durham by which one Eldridge
}. Jordan was made to leave that town
and so where the climate would be more
suitable to his health. Jordan was great
hand to stir up trouble between the races
and between the poor and the rich. He
had never lived anywhere long, and had
been driven out of more than one town
before coming to Durham because OF his
conduct. 1t has been known to all we'll
Informed North Caroinians since cleo
ton day that the people of Durham
have been in great state of anxiety
and that the town has been guarded every
night. On the day of the election large
number of negroes were not allowed to
vote, some because they were eX cOnvicts,
some because they were under age, some
because they had not lived in the town
the time required by laval of them for
one legal impeachment or another. This in
censed the negroes, and they were melted
by white Radicals on that very night 30
first saturate in kerosene oil and then set
fire to the residence Of Mr.. Caleb B. Green
Chairman of the Democratic Executive
Committee of Durham county. Mr.. Ell
bridge J Jordan, the Republican candl-
date for Constable had great deal to say,
and suspicion pointed to him as the insti
gator of this hellish deed. The people
hourly feared the town would be burned
Excitement ran up to the highest pitch.
committee went to Mr. Jordan and notified
him that he must leave Durham at a GER
tain hour He did not leave, and was
again notified At 10 o'clock that day he
was taken from Mr.. A. NJ. Riggsbee's store
in a carriage and was carried rapidly out
of town What was the object of those
who took him Is not known. The CHRON-
ICLE has it from gentleman who was con
nected with the affair that no harm was
intended. 1t was merely intended to get
rid OF 50 undesirable citizen. Capt. t. j.
Parrish feared that they would injure the
man and he galloped after the carriage
and at his suggestion the man was brought
back to Durham, Jordan agreeing to leave
town if the money was furnished him, and
Capt Parrish and Mr.. J. S. Carr promis-
ing to furnish it. The next day, tickets
were bought for Jordan and his family to
Boston. and he went away shaking OFF the
dust OF his feet as testimony against
Durham.
We repeat that We deprecate this occur
renee But we most deprecate that which
caused it The people of Durham were
doubtless unduly excited perhaps, they
used measures rather severe. But who
blames them? Threatened nightly that
the town would be burned by negroes, in
stigated thereto by unprincipled white
men. it was but natural that they should
be wrought up to a high pitch of excite
ment If Jordan had to pay the penalty,
he has only his own conduct to thank for
it His inteuperate and incendiary utter
ances, his suspicious conduct, his willing
ness to see his white neighbora burned
alive and their property destroyed these
caused the people TO give him a summary
| ejectment from their town. 1t was not
| because of his politics that caused the peO-
! pie to tell him to go, because quiet, law
abiding Republicans can live as securely
| and safely in Durham as in Boston. Bat
| it was his incendiaIism. 1t would, per
| haps, have been better to have put watch
| over Jordan's actions and to have allowed
him quietly to pursue his daily occupation
unmoested. But who can do the wi9es1
thing and be most discreet when the dan
| ger of a negro massacre and incendiary
fire and the burning Of wives and children
are impending and imminent?
The CHRONICLE is glad that the people
of Durham restrained their passion enough
to content themselves with dismissing the
instigator of the burning Of Mr.. Green:
| house. Think of it, The negroes ano
their abettors knew when they set fire t.
the house that Mrs. Green and her chil
dren were asleep alone in the house. The,
barely escaped with their lives. The mai
who would suggest such a helish crime
to ignorant and excited negroes is uufi t'
live with honest people and for him hang
ing is too good.
If Jordan did not incte the negroes t.
the crime if he was innocent, and if tn
suspicion strongly resting upon him ha'
not good foundation, the people of >ur
ham are to be severely censured, The
have done great wrOn, But if his con
duct and his conversation warranted theI
in supposing that Jordan was the inst
gator Of the burning of Mr.. Green's ious
and if mis- own guilty conscience made hr
fear the violence of the outraged peOpl
of Durham, then the people of Durhar
did quite right in giving him his passports
paying his fare, and telling him to git
t He ought to be thankful that he saved h
, neck. We think we know the people {
Durham and we do not believe that Jol
, dan was sent away for naught If +
/ had behaved himself and not been an il
: cendary, he would be living in Durhal
quietly in undisturbed peace to day. n
, town can harbor a man who plots to secul
, its burning, or instigates killing its cit
e zens.
THE SEQUEL.
Jordan is now in Boston posing as
Martyr, and trying to work on the preJ1
dices of the people to the South. II
4 following from Tuesdays New York "or
: gives Jordan's theory and his whereabout
r "BOsTON, Nov. PA family of ten pc
4 sons arrived in Boston Yesterday fro