The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-06-12
"FOLL0W Me-" SAID HE.
BUT THE NEGROES COUI.nNyr
SEE 1T In THAT LIGHT.

SEE 1T In THAT LIGHT.
The Qualification Meetfns,, Last
Night Republican Row,
Veritably.
1t was republican plit,veritably the
so-called ratification meeting, called a,
the court house last night. The chair
man, 1. P. Devereux, had hardly fin
lshed his speech, stating the object o.
the meeting, eulogizing the National
ticket, etc., when j. C. L. Harris read
series of resolutions, among which
was one advising "no State ticket this
year." This raised confusion and
shouts of "n0' from the colored part
of the assemblage; he proceeded, how.
ever, to explain the positions of the
parties, claiming that the only hope Of
success for Harrison electors was the
adoption of this course. The evident
opposition among the RAIDS of color
only enthused him in his advocacy OF
the plan and he reviewed at length
the ''fnternal fight" as he called it,
among the democracy, in consequence
OF the third party element, and said
that State republican ticket would
serve to unite them-a thing to be
averted. One aged negro in the audi.
ence couldn't see it that way and
yelled, "Mr. Chairman" with an evil
dent purpose of differing, but Mr.. Har-
rls waited fer nothing and pursued his
course. He finished aud the floor was
occupied by colored "Mr. JONES'" as
the chairman recognized him, who was
opposed to that "third resolution" and
wanted the house to kill it. A Mr..
Keith demanded that this body edo ad,
journ" i'll respect to Col. L. L. Polk,
but it struck weak cord and the
question was not further noticed,
save in an amendment offered by
MIR. Lehman rendering coincidence
to the bereaved family. Mr.. Powells
favored the entire resolutions; he be-
lieved that the fight in the democratic
party meant death to it and he could
see the way clear for republican cleo.
tors this year if a State ticket was
not named. Again the negroes yelled
"We won't do it, and an occasional
"set-down" was heard from the rear.
James Hamlin had something to say to
his "fellow countrymen" and he, too,
opposed the particular resolution. Con-
fusion at this jucture, was intense
among the blacks, and when, with a
sophomore GESTURE the speaker ex.
claimed 81 raise my voice against it,
81 do too yelled a dozen or more.
And they did. 1t was evidently the
time tor the negro hearing and one old
man, who had been selling lemonade
through the hall demanded recogni-
ton. He said something about "dese
democrats and was hissed down be-
cause he wasn't following the line
of argument in question. An occasional
rap OF the gavel meant "order," but
little order was kept. 1t was "hot
times" as one of them expressed it,
and when Stewart Ellison, a govern.
ment official, addressed the chair. he
was listened to with considerable at.
tention until he favored ''the resolu.
tion'-that settled it. Cries of "office-
holder went up and "set down" was
the only applause. Pope, clerk in
the collectors office, was rather quiet
in his remarks, but he thought, never.
theless, that it was unreasonable to
mention State affairs. He closed un.
expectedly and half dozen men
anxious to speak realized at the same
time that he was through. The chair
recognized Mr.. Harriss evidently
"wound up" for business. "Foi.
low me" said he. and some
negro retorted "we'r tired of following
you" He continued: "Listen to me,
fellow-citizens. | have always been
your friend and when you wanted ad
vice you have always found me in
One negro who had unquestionably
been following him yelled ego ahead
Loge," and he went ahead. He rolled
up his sleeves, paced the platform and
preached for twenty minutes. The
negroes wearied and disorder began,
MIR. Powell rose to "point of order
and said if the chairman couldn' 4
manage it the law could. The negroes
little afraid of that word la,v
silenced for brief period and Mr.
Harriss made time, enjoining them to
"follow him." but it was breath in
vain-they didn't "follow." Yells fo,
a estate ticket" resounded through the
hall and when Lane, long
black school teacher walked upon
the stage, they hushed. He spoke
at length about the "bosses" and ad.
vised them to stand to their principles
and submit not an inch. Yells went
up. Hamlin again spoke and said il
was already the object of the bosses tc
have the negro affiliate with the third
party and he wanted it understood thai
if he had to follow one wing of the
democracy, for God sake give him the
ib1o n;n~t - NJ