The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-29
The Wlessemer.
/: SOUND VIEWS FROM AN ENEMY.

The Washington Star. so severe upon
the South and the white men of this
city, has this comment as to one point,
n writes like it had once more ad-
justed its head that appeared awry
Just low. Referring to the recent dis
turbances in the Carolinas it sees no
cure for these and similar ills by bring
ing down the L. S. Army. If it a in
iect some sense Of propriety and re-
gard for constitutional law into the
heads Of the government in it's city it
may accomplish good. 1t says this,
and we give it credit for n sensible,
lust, timely utterance concerning the
two States and it's affairs:
These crimes cannot be corrected
from without the south. The quarter
ing of federal troops at Phoenix or at
Wilmington would serve no goOd pur-
pose to the end. No useful government
in this country, city, state or national,
could rest upon bayOnets. If the SEN
fiment Of the people at any point pc
comes vitiated and needs correction,
the correction must come through 9TH
er agencies than those Of mere physl-
cal force. Force may be necessary 10
restore order, but when 1t becomes ne
cessary to preserve order, popular gov
nme in such a locality is of course,
out Of the question:
Wilmington has a good, just govern
ment today as Baltimore or Wash
fngtOn has. The white men are in
charge. The usurped government dis
appeared under revolution and in TWEEN
ty-four hours order was restored and
law was enforced. White men now.
guard the city's interests, and police
the streets. There is no violence, no
disorder. Probably since the great war
ended in 1865, has there been such gen.
eral propriety of conduct. a gentle
man told us Tuesday night hat at his
corner the negroes gathered nightly
and curses and oaths ran riot. This
was before the race collision and the
restoration of a white mans govern
lnent. He says he has not heard since
one oath from a negro. The Star must
be approved of in this sentiment, while
it grieVOusly ~misrepresents the cOndi-
tiOns, causes and results of the late
disturbance:
The people of the south have shown
themselves equal to many things, and
should show themselves equal to this
thing. In their best estate they are
both brave and generous, and they owe
it especially to themselves to keep
their roWdies in the background and
control"
But looking at another editorial in
the same issue we find a repetition of
wrong Judgment and a perversion of
the actual facts. Reviewing the situa-
ton in Illinois and the Carolinas it
shows in so far as Wilmington whites
are concerned tina it does not really
understand the case or it deliberately
mistates it. 1t says, and we repudiate
and spurn every suggestion Of crime
and outlaWry:
1T is not a question of section, nor
of policies now, but one of the agen-
cies of law and order against those of
the mOb-Of the protection of life and
property against the passions n pre-
judices of those who raising alOft the
banner of right and justice outrage in
their fury every canon of mpat
and humanity"
1t is strange that men in the north
scannOt comprehend reiterated facts
and abide with truth and candor. Inc
Injustice and unfairness of northern
eWspapers are "a tWice-tOld tale"
and we shall dismiss corrections in
these columns unless there be some in
renious development of lying and some
fresh manifestations of sectional ma
tired and antagOnism beyond silence.