Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22

The recent serious race conflict in
Wilmington, North Carolina, which
has assumed national phase by
are likely to figure In the public de-
alterations of the next session OF the
national house OF representatives,
may not be thoroughly understood by
people OF the north. The narrator Is
in receipt OF a very interesting state
ment regarding the matter from a
man of marked intelligence, recog-
nized position, a native of the Quaker
city, and born and bred in the polit-
ical faith OF republioanism. Listen to
what he has to say:
Il am Philadelphia. as were my
father and grandfather. Until left
Philadelphia, few years ago, was
an ardent republican. have lived
for several years in and near Will
mington, North Carolina. and know
ing rs do from actual experience
all the circumstances which led up
TO the recent race trouble | want to
give YOU the facts OF the case. The
populist party in this state was a
split from the democratic party. 1t
was poweTless by itself but by form
ing an alliance with the negroes has
controlled several elections. Tho
negroes soon realized their value in
this combination, and demanded
their share of the Offices. What,
said they, do we care II Paul plants
Apollos waters II we get noae of the
increase. So they crept from minor
offices to more important ones accord
.ng to the votes they polled, and
many Of The Federal appointments
being also filled by negroes, the ma
Carolina were negroes, and the beg
gars being set on horseback. so to
speak, proceeded to ride to the devil
across lots. Thinking they had The
world by the tail with "A down-hlll
pull, they made themselves more Of
fensive in manner and actions, both
In private and official life, than any
white mam ever dared to do.
White women of high station
were arrested by negro policemen and
brought before negro magistrates on
some tTumped up complaint OF a
negro servant White children were
abused in the streets going TO and
from school by negroes. Burglaries
were of nightly occurrence and the
guilty could rarely be arrested, or II
arrested convicted, because the ma
chinery Of the law was In the hands
of those who were not only compelled
to shield them, but were glad of the
chance to do so. Negro women col
iected on the street corners and called
passing white women foul names and
;rowded them off the sidewalks. In
word, life was made burden to all
white people. their property and lives
were In constant danger from these
ignorant negroes, who are but little
removed from sayages and OF whom
Notwithstanding that there are ample
public school facilities for them, not
one can read or write his name.
Northern people argue from wrong
premises altogether, and must there
ore, draw false conclusion. They
think the negro OF the south is the
same as, for instance, the negro OF
philadelphia, but The latter Is miles
above the southern brother In the So
cial scale, intelligent principles and
and | am thoroughly sat
isfed that III northern negroes had
been here on the ground and lived
under the conditions which have
existed In eastern Carolina the past
two years they would have been far
swifter TO put down such a state OF
affairs than our white people. The
average negro OF the south Is fgno-
rant. will not learn, brutal, lazy and
In the towns vicious, unless he Is In
the fear OF the law OF the white man.
Take away his fear OF the law by
putting his brothers In authority and
he becomes menace TO life, virtue
and property. This condition OF
chaos under negro rule has existed
Tor several years, not only in Will
mington but In Newburn, Greenyille
and other cities OF eastern Carolina,
and was not 70 be borne any longer.
The negroes before the election
openly boosted that they were going
% win this election by fair means or
'oul and that then they would drive
he white people out, and they pro-
1ided themselves with arms and am
nunition. The gurest way TO avoid |
conflict IL to show yourself thorough
y prepared TO meet Ii. This the |
whites did. They were armed and
organized, and as result the whole
.rouble focused and was over In |
orty-efght hours with very small loss
u life. and the city OF Wilmington
$ today In the hands OF legally
elected government Of white men I'M