The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-23
STATE PRESS

We think it is safe to say that the
legislature will make provision for sep
arate accommodations for white n
colOred people on railroads. Some ia
vor for each and every train two first
class coaches, one for whites and one
for colored, and two second class
coaches, with the same provisions
Winston Sentinel.
1t is not at all improbable thai North
Carolina will be confronted in the near
future by a labor problem either
through the voluntary emigration Of
colored labor to Cuba, or the substi-
tuition of white for colored laborers
by employers, of their own motion.
In either case it will be the country,
not h cities and towns, that will
have. a labor famine. The town negro
does not go to the country, but to
other towns, and If he cannot secure
employment in this state he goes to
towns in other states. That there will
be a large reduction Of colored popu-
lation in North Carolina within the
next few years is quite possible. Steps
should be taken in time to supply it's
place with desirable white immigrants
who will settle in the state. build
homes here, and swell the numbers of
the thrifty, instead of the shiftless ele-
ment. Wages on the farms are too low
to attract white laborers from the
north or west.-Raleigh News and OBJ
server.
But for all thai we are convinced
that this is a very great question,
bearing a very close relation to the
public welfare, and n which must be
met and grappled with, else it will
gain sufficient strength to say 1.-The
people de damned" if, indeed, it has
not already done so. Under the mon
strous policy of high protection, which
shuts u foreign competition, home
manufacturers have found it neces-
sary to organize these gigantic trusts
which practically moun to .nenopo-
lies, in order to get the full benefit of
the robbery which congress allows
them to perpetrate, until almost every
line of business is practically controll-
ed by one concern, and those which are
not are being rapidly organized. The
situation is really alarming. A respon-
sible dealer told us a few days ago
that plows which were sold at retail
on this market last spring at 80 cents
could not be bought wholesale now
Tor less than s1.25, and the newly or
gained trust offering them were as
saucy as a jaybird when they offered
them at that and coolly informed you
that il you did not want them at that
you could buy them at a still higher
price next spring.-Whiteviile News.
Our esteemed contemporary. The
wilmington Messenger, is mistaken in
saying we favor a constitutional on
vention- The time IS not ripe for IL.
We favor the submission of a constitu-
tional amendment to the people to re-
move the possibility OF negro domino
ton in the future. The objection has
been urged that the people cannot vote
on it till 1900. That is better than 1902.
1904, or any other date in the future.
Ii the present opportunity liz allowed
to pass, there Is no telling when we
will have another legislature by three
hfths majority. Now Is the accepted
time; now is the day of salvation to
the white men Of North Carolina. In
stead of putting il of on account of
national questions engaging the minds
OF the people,. that is just why IL
should be settled at the first opportu-
nifty. National questions will become
more intense n render IL more diff
ficult for the people to act with the
unity of spirit that now animates
them There has never been a time
when the white race was so united
upon this matter, nor when the whole
country ~sympathized with US SO deep
ly in our determination to eliminate
the negro as a political factor. Settle
this question once for all. and the way
will be clear for all other reforms. The
constitutional convention can wait un-
I'll the atmosphere clears up and there
develops a sufficient demand to Justify
a thorough revision of our organic law.
-Websters (Reidsville) Weekly.