The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-01
THE FRUIT OF FUSION
Social Equality in Pamllco
County.
AN AWFUL. EXAMPLE
THE TERRIBLE PRICE PAID BY
A SHERIFF.
HIS NAME is DlsGRACED FOREVER

Allegro Politician the Father Of His Daugh-
ter's ChiId--Neglected His Family
and Trusted the Negro During
the Campaign.
whatsoever man soweth, that
hAall he also reap"
Cruer words than these were never
usken. OF their verify, in politics, North
carolina is to-day an example.
She has sown fusion, she IL reaplng
unnfusion; she has scattered RepuDii-
Anism, she is gathering corruption; she
1as planted negro politicians IN once,
- is harvesting social equality In the
Mne
Not even in 1876 were there 50 many
hnorant, incompetent and vicious negro
Hen in office. They are not the best
s1nSs of negroes, but many OF them are
he worst specimens Of their race.
All over the central and eastern sec
lnns there are hundreds OF negro maglS-
2ates, deputy sheriffs, school committee
men and other officers who are not only
tvtally incompetent to discharge the
vnfies Of the office, but are dangerous
md vicious.
They are on boards Of directors OF
White charitable institutions and many
seunties are almost completely under
Aeir domination This is true OF Wake
the Metropolitan county of the State.
IN offensive negro politician runs
Aaings to suit himself, having the ear
Of the Governor, Of whom he is trusted
aayiser and by whom he is recommended
for nos master for this city.
Cheese things are bad enough; but they
ere nat the worst. We have uescendei
u yet lower depths. Not only the civil
hfe has been polluted, but the social life
has been poisoned.
Never before, in 80 short time, has
The State been shocked py so many out
1ages committed upon white women by
negro men-brutes no better than beasts
Of the field, whose crime is no more en-
aorsed by the respectable colored ele-
nent than by the white people.
But even these crimes are not more
Devolting or more calculated to stir
AngIo-Saxon blood than is the awful
occurrence in Pamlico county, the parti-
eulars of which come from the most
reliable authority.
Ten years ago John Aldridge was an
i1telligent, Woodworking man. He
Drospered and saved, and no doubt lived
happily. His great comfort was little
BESSIE, his bright-eyed daughter, whose
willing feet always ran to meet him and
whose Industrious little hands SO often
brought things needed about the farm.
Bessie attended school when opportu-
nifty afforded or her father felt that he
esuld bear the expense. Years passed
and she had grown up into a handsome
young woman with many admirers
farmers sons from the neighborhood,
who fell in love with her red cheeks,
pretty ways and mischievous eyes.
Just sixteen years of age she was, and
Net prettier country girl in all Pam
Eco county. In her were combined the
freshness and bloom of girlhood with
The charm and grace Of womanhood.
But for several years a change had
been coming over that household. Things
had not gone so well as once-crops
were bad and prices low. The head
Of the family was restless and dissatis-
fed. Once a strong Democrat, he had,
Minded by the hope and promise of an
office, become a Populist and received
AAe nomination for sheriff.
In his new-found honor nobody re-
ieiced more than did little Bessie-nor
did anyone long more or work harder
Tor his success. Little did she dream
that quiet summer afternoon as ner
father came driving home from the con-
yention at Bayboro that he, like Jetha
Of old, was sealing even then his daugn-
fer's doom-a doom worse than deaun,
more disgraceful than the deepest dis
grace.
On Aldridge's plantation, and near TO
The home-house there lived negro man
named Hardy Wood. Hardy in his way
was a politician and exerted quite an
influence among the members OF his
race. Ignorant but naturally very
smart, cunning and plausible, he was
usually able to carry his point.
Now Aldridge had been considerably
troubled in securing the nomination and
soon thereafter there developed strong
opposition to him among the negroes OF
the county. Though a fusion arrange
ment had been entered into between the
Republicans and Populists, there were
many murmurings against Aldridge and
omen threats Of scratching him on the
done or defeat was certain.
Aldridge called in Hardy Wood, his
negro tenant, laid the situation before
him and then sent him out to allay thu
opposition that had arisen among thu
negroes. They had many conferences
together. Aldridge told Wood all hi
plans and made Of him a trusted ad
wiser. The result was that Wood wa
sleeping in room of Aldridge's hous
and later, as the campaign progressed
eating at his table.
At first Bessie had not liked this, blu
her father had told her it must b
endured for a time, as to offend Woo
meant certain defeat. Soon she gre0
accustomed to the negro's presence; an
later, as the intensity Of the campaig
grew and threats were made on eithe
side and her father was away for day
and weeks Bessie began to welcome tn
presence Of the negro and look upo
his as a protector.