The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08
(Manufacturer's Record.)

In the bitter political contest now
waging in North Carolina-a contest
upon which hangs white supremacy or
negro domination-it is gratifying TO
know that the thousands of white re-
publicans from other states. who have
Of late years settled in North carolina
are standing by the democrats. BY the
side of possible negro control all other
questions, be they finance, tarif or ex-
pansion, sink into significance. Men
can live and do business under protec-
ton or free trade. gold or silver but the
white mantle Anglo ~Saxon-cannot
live in peace and safety with his fam
lily in a country where negro DONNA
ton is even threatened. h people
who love the negro-while at a dis
tance-soon learn TO appreciate these
facts whenever they are brought into
close contact with them. The negro is
! a good workman in his place, and when
in the minority he is generally tract
able. well-behaved and TO some extent
moral, but given any power or promi-
hence he becames his own worst en-
envy and the worst enemy of the COM
munity. knowing neither legal nor
moral restraints. The Anglo Saxon
race cannot and it will not suffer the
F.. negro to rule. Theorist may pirate TO
their hearts content against the dogg-
ed determination, but their theories
avail nothing. The white people OF
the south are going TO control and rule
| that section, and n political party
which seeks to uphold the negro
! against the whites is knowingly doing
the negro a great injustice, and is do
ing it for the purpose Of creating
trouble. 1t may be we'll that this issue
is TO be fought out in North Carolina.
That grand old state, conservative and
yet progressive. with a reputation well
earned for the l~aw-abiding qualities of
its people and for the protection of life,
is probably in a better position to
make this final fight than any other
state. It's established reputation will
convince the world that it's people are
moved by some imminent peril, and
it's industrial progress has been SO
great that outsiders will be less in
f1uenced against the state by the heat of
this contest thar they might be as to
some other states. Moreover, North
Carolina has probably received more
settlers from other states than any of
its n~eighbors. and the fact that they
have Joined the local whites against
the combination of negroes and those
who are making tools of the negroes
will prove to the world the righteous
ness of the white mans cause.
The conservatism, intelligence and
prOgressiveness Of the country await
with some anxiety the outcome of the
present campaign. For the past two
years the Old North State has been at
the mercy of reckless, if not criminal,
demagOgiSm, carried into power and
supported by the ignorance and ire
spOnsibility of negroes. These condi-
tons have their prototype in the hor-
rible days of reconstruction. Fortu-
nately, the earlier ills nave not been
duplicated in all their intensity. The
evil, however, has been sufficient to
give the state a setback and to mass
in opposition to a continuance Of the
curse the best people of all parties,
democrats, republicans and populists
alike. White men of all parties have
determined TO make impossible the cor
tinuance or extension OF this evil. That
they will do it no one who knows North
Carolina character doubts. In the
solution of the problem it is to be hop.
ed that no respect to the final defense
of civilization may be necessary. and II
! should be remembered that the negro
is less responsible for his own misdo.
ings in this case than are the few white
men, who, for the sake of power, are
leading the negro against the whites
They are the ones upon whom the
greatest blame should rest.