The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-28
THREATENED NEGRO REVOLT
IN OHIO.

1t is not surprising that in Ohio the
negroes are stirred just now as to the
question of party recognition in the
distribution of favors and places at the
pie counter They have been voting in
that state to help the republicans to
carry the state and have been an i'm
portant ally in this very responsible
work. Upon principle We regard it as
bad business to help elect republicans
to office n where. Their principles
are absolutely vicious, and their prac-
tice bad. So when Sambo in any state
jumps on the republican side and shouts
for victory and votes with that gang he
is helping to injure his country and op-
press the people. Historic facts au-
thorize that plain statement. But now
there are murmurings and threats of
revolt, and the bosses are put on the
anxious stool, and we doubt not that
Hanna is making prom ises with rapid
ity. One negro, a leader among his
people, named Richardson, has been
making speeches, and has done some
Of the plainest kind of talking. He
appeals to his race to cease to be slaves
and to stand up for their rights. He re-
minds them that they are free now n
do not belong to the white bosses. He
tells them that the bosses urge upon
them "to stand up for principle" which
only means that old party, but he adds
by way of training and instruction:
you can't eat principles; you can't a
your rent and car far with principle"
Richardson Indirectly has his eye fixed
on the grub question-getting fat places
for votes. The rent and car fare must
come to Sambo as it comes to the white
boss-from office. And so there is talk
of boiling and so on. But the bosses
mise we'll and conciliate Richardson n
other black leaders with pledges and a
few will get to the pie-counter while
the thousands will still be out in the
cold and have to pay their own
rents and car fare and so on. 1t is a
melancholy case.
You see now the idea of party fealty
is not really principle at all. 1t is how
much can be made. Men like Hanna,
get into big fat offices, and own con-
gress, and have rastic and oppressive
taxes laid for their benefit. They call
it by way Of a pleasant joke, standing
up for principle" but it is only a round
about way of saying it is for self, to fill
IL. -.z1- ~, o~-~o1c;-r thu h1in6od
and infatuated others. The Ohio white
bosses will carry their point, quiet Sam
DO, make him vote as ordered, just as it
is lone in North Carolina by Russell
and his gang. They may dispise him
at heart n call him a savage but
he will be used to the end of the chap
ter. This thing will continue until the
whites finally unite heartily in a strong
| effort to overcome the fateful combine
and save the state from turmoil and
ruin. The talk Of self-assertiOn and re-
| volt against white bossing on the part
| of the negroes is fanciful and meaning
less. It is just what has been heard for
| decades and yet when election times
| come and campaigning begins the same
black crowds do the %hurrahing at the
experimenting places and howl and
| below every time a wicked white dem
| agogue abuses the democratic party,
that has one really so much for the
| negroes, and misrepresents the plain
facts with the elaboration of an owl
and the satisfaction Of a successful pie
hunter. To use the negro in a cam
paign and forget them in the free dis
tribution of patronage is common prac-
tice among the white RAIDS. A few bad
negroes like Jim Young may by i'm
pudence as we'll as serviceableness get
office, but the negroes generally, with
a few exceptions, are kept in mental
places, if any, while the bosses cushion
their carnal man On velvet seats.