The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-18

DINA the governor is the most dis
trusted and disliked. No one has a
good word for this man. whose acts
| are condemned as bitterly and as just
iy as were those OF his predecessors In
action-the officials OF the "carpet-bag
regime.
AFTER THE STORM.
From the dispatches in some papers
az the north / might ave expected 20
find Wilmington under martial law.
soldiers and policemen guarding every
corner. the stores closed. business at a
Standstili. terrified inhabitants shun-
ming the street, a race weeping Tor its
dead and. with hatred in their hearts.
plotting death by poison. knife and fire
to those who had slain them. But /
did not look for these things. for |
knew the southern people. From the
Indications upon the Journey | might
have expected 10 find danger and death
rampar "0on the highway. but i IA
felt TIA 4 / had seen was the pass
ing ~ gsyAt waves; that the storm
centre had given place % a calm.
Nor was mistaken. for In the glnri-
Gus sunlight ~ a perfect day a beau
tlful and prosperous city awaited me.
and the persons | saw there were not
the oscillations Of the dreams that dis
torted reports OF the partisan northern
press had called up. \ huNom negro
girl. with laughing face AMI Joyous
tone. was calling to her sweetheart on
the other side OF the street.
Coming over tonight. honey
There Was no excitement in the de-
pot and none on the street Soldiers
| were In evidence. but they did not even
carry Sidtarms. Thu stores were open.
the streets were filled with traffic. ne
Crocs were moving here and there on
business and pleasure. nc on" question
ing and much less molrStinE them.
The city was on the surface In a nor
NAL state. II was a safe. hahitahle city
on whose streets mon. women and
children. whether white or negro. could
! move freely and without insult
GREAT CHANGE IN \ SHORT
TIME.
This state Of affairs j. something cN-
traordinary. \ few days ago race was
! arraytd against race. In the light ~
the blazing ruins Of the s~rurruluus ne
gro Journal. whose dastarllN attacks
on tho fair fame Of the white women
Of the south, the chlNalry or White
manhood removed the stain from the
name OF their state. \ lrW days ago
the negro was afraid NJ Instant death
by bullet and under thu pressure ~ en-
ragged leaders threatened AZ wash his
hands In the blood ~ the White men,
\ few DAYS ago the white race for
lltli liDIttIlbl hal btfl HNlllEtNi I'd
take arms and with ~nrrnWiu- hearts
execute the law that had NOT been
carried out. redeem the pledges that
the government had mad ana left an
fulnlled.
But during 4 few days a publication
had taken place. The incompetent Of
ficials have been persuaded 20 resign
from their Offices ana the administra-
ton had been placed in thu hands ~
4 Gtr,pg and h,r.Ef r,,.r mon sr,.,V
whom both the whites and the negro
| could look for justice, men who were
democratic in spirit as Wei "a IN name.
! In two days the injustice ~ two
years was rcctifed, and the whole mass
| Of dishonest appointments ana iiSgrar-
ed officials We're cast from their places
In two days the business men. the solid
men NJ Wilmington. had brought or
der out Of hao ana had laid the fnun-
dation for the future prosperity ~ the
| city.
ERRORS OF ONERKlNDNESS.
But il would be unwisy d. argue that
all has been accomplished-that moth
ing emains to be done. There il much
that is unaccOmpliShcd. The stern
treatment Of the disturbances here is
but the first lesson in a long course on
which the negro is now rntering-a
! course not Of coercion. not Of abuse.
| libl bl oppression, Out bI ntIIIhl KIND
ness. exact justice, - firm and wise
| control.
The White man realizes that errors
| nave been made In the treatment Of
| the negro problem. The negro admits II.
but these errors are errors ~ over
kindness. Of too much coddling. too
much help ana not Of too much force.
The lesson at Wilmington has come
IN time to prevent n apprehension or
q race war, but 1t has com" none too
soon. If the lesson had been taught
earlier II would not have been accom-
panied by bloOdshed.
The negro admits 70 mo that ne is
sure the white man will not harm him
If h behaves himself. H. admits that
the white man Will protect aud holp
him under like circumstances
To q study Of tn" existaut situation
my letters Of the next f.w DAYS viii
To- devoted.
GUY CARLTTOE LEE.