The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-08-21
DIR. GRISSOM'S LATEST.
He Talks About North Carolina in a Dis
graceful Way.
[Denrer (col.) Republican,


days when he played with baby rat
tie in his infancy, ur to space of
time lacking but few years of 60, he
has lived south of the Mason and Dix
on line. A few months ago the Doc
tor came to Denver to locate and, be-
ing member Of the thirty third de-
gree OF Masonry, soon formed an ex
tensive acquaintance in Masonic cir
Giles. Last evening Republican rep
resentative was introduced to DR.. Girls
som in the st. James lobby. A few
moments conversation disclosed that,
notwithstanding the fact that the
Doctor had been born and always re-
sided in the South, he was an enthu-
siastic Republican, and man who
figured extensively in the North Car
DINA legislature during the war. He
was a member of that branch Of the
North Carolina legislature known as
the House of Commons, and was leader
of the anti-Jef Davis wing. The dis
tinguished Southcrner was born near
Raleigh and subsequently removed to
that city, where he has resided ever
since until few months ago.
THE CAUSE OF DEPRESSION.
"North Carslina is one of the old
original thirteen colonies" said the
doctor last evening. cit is practical
ly in state of commercial stagnation,
due largely to the political prejudice
that exists there The depression is
certainly largely attributable to the
conduct of the Democrats there. IF a
Republican goes there with no politi-
cal ambition he is treated decently.
The moment, however, he aspires to
political favor an antagonism to him
self and his business is at once devel-
oped. I do not want to wave the
bloody shirt, but if you desire facts
concerning the mode in which Demo
Gratis carry on politics in North Caro-
lima, can give them to you, because l
have lived there all my life and am
posted. Previous to the war and for
forty years, North Carolina was
Wing State and followed Clay and
Webster's banner. 1t was the only
Southern Wing State. When Lin
coin was elected to the presidency of
the United States, there was immedi-
ately a feeling stirred up in the State.
When other Southern States talked of
secession, North Carolina in June,
1860, decided by a majority of 75,-
600 votes not to secede. A little
while later convention was suddenly
called, and before the people at large
knew what was going on the members
of that convention declared that North
f,ll
example of Virginia and South Caa-
DINA.
THE ACT OF SECESSION.
"The result was a surprise to the
Unionists. With many others Ijoined
the Confederate army, as it was our
only recourse for personal safety. 1 vas
appointed captain of a company and
participated in the famous seven days
battle around Richmond, during
which l was wounded. It was while
lying wounded in the Richmond hos
pital that 1 received word of my cleo
ton to tine House of Commons, then
known as the lower branch of the
North Carolina legislature. When
my wounds permitted, [ returned to
Raleigh and became the leader of the
anti-Davis faction in the legislature.
"The Democrats in North Carolina
no longer use the intimidation of knife
and gun to carry their elections. They
use another method now. What is
known as the State election law was
adopted in 1888. At every election
there are number of ballot boxes, all
labeled to designate ballots of local,
county and congressional candidates.
At State and Presidential elections
every four years, the number of boxes
is necessarily increased.
"The negroes as a rule cannot read,
and the law prescribes that every man
be permitted to cast his own ballot in
the proper box without instructions,
under penalty of fine. The ignorant
classes, in which the negroes there
largely predominant, walk up to the
boxes in a bewildered way, and in
most instances neutralize their ballots
by placing them in the wrong box, in
which event, under the obnoxious law,
the vote is void
"Another fine example of how the
Democrats control the counties is dem
onstrated in the fact that the general
assembly (Democratic) names the
magistrates of each county, and these
magistrates choose the county commits
sioners, frequently in counties that are
Republican. This practically gives
the Democrats control of the polls, the
appointment ofjudges of elections and
control of the affairs Of all the coun
ties throughout the State. No effort
is made to encourage immigration to
the State, and there has in reality
been but little increase in the popula
tion of the State since the war;
IT Is REPUBLICAN,.
For several years after the recon
struction of the State it was Republi-
can, and if fair count was given to-
day it would be Republican State
by good majority. There are $780,
900 whites and 100000 negroes in the
State at present. Very few negroes
vote the Democratic ticket. In 1870
the Democracy gained the State by
series of outrages on political rights,
perpetrated by an order known as the
lnvincible Empires. The result of
this political Excitement was to intim-
idate the negroes by shotgun rule.
Later the present mode of carrying
elections was adopted, and violence
was discarded. Even now the vote is
very close, and if anywhere near a