The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-09

pondent Republican" takes the
position that majority of the
populist voters of '92 were
former republicans, quoting the
election returns in support of
his theory. To a casual observer
this seems PLAUSIBLE, but to one
familiar with facts, it's a ridic.
ulous attempt to deceive, or an
exhibition Of positive ignorance.
The United States Census for
1890 is good authority. 1t shows
that in eleven Southern states
there was an increase of 1870
per cent in colored population
over the Census of 1880. North
Carolina's increase for the de-
cade was only 6.73 per cent.
This small c. imperative increase
in North. Carolina is accounted
for by the fact that there was a
large exodus of negroes from
our borders in 1889 and 1890,
who migrated to other South
ern States, Arkansas and
Texas mainly. These states
show an abnormal increase in
celored population Of 47.73 and
25.28 per cent respectively, thus
proving that emigration and not
detection of the colored republi.
can voter accounts for the fall
ing off in the republican vote of
1892. Perhaps 10 per cent of
the populist voters were former
republicans. A greater per cent
age of republicans went to the
democracy on accout of the un-
popularity of the National Re
publican ticket. This is eyi-
denced by the vote, not only in
North Carolina but throughout
the Union, many ofthe most re-
liable republican states casting
their vote for the democratic
ticket for the first time in their
history. Reverting to the emf
grafton of the negro. 1t is a fact
that in 1889 a whole train load
of negroes left Durham for Ar.
kansas and other Southern
States. There were at least $50,
voters in the crowd-among
them the best political workers
the party ever had. Through
efforts of "Peg Leg" Williams,
an emigration agent, middle
and eastern Carolina was nearly
depopulated of colored labor.
About 10000 cciorei people left
the state during the emigration
excitement.
The menace became so great,
the legislature Of 81 enacted a
law taxing emigration agents
81, 900, for each county in which
they operated. This tax was pro-
hibitiye, and the wholesale emi.
grafton ceased. No Mr.. "Repu-
blican" your lost voters are to be
found mainly in the rice and cot.
ton plantations of the far south.
As TO Durham county-every
anti-democratic victory ever Sc
cured has been through a union
Of forces opposed To democratic
rule and in disregard OF old party
dictation and restraint. In 1886
this county was first carried by an
amalgamation Of farmers and la
borers, upon an independent
platform adopted in mass conven-
tion, the first resolution Of which
read as follows:
"That we absolve ourselves
from the restraints Of present
party organizations and hence,
forth affiliate with no party or
faction that seeks TO circumscribe
our rights as freemen in the least
particular Every man elected
TO Office in Durham county in
1886 stood committed and pledg-
ed to the patriotic sentiment
therein expressed. The victory
in '94 was through a union Of
populists, republicans and men Of
no particular party afliliation who
were tired Of democratic machine
methods, who wanted an honest
election law, an impartial judici-
ary and local self government.