Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-01
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.
History of the TroubIe-What is Mt
Stake.
Especial Correspondence.)


Especial Correspondence
RALEIGH, N. c., october 31.-There are
no more solemn-visaged people In North
| Carolina now than the managers of Re-
publican headquarters. They content
! themselves with generalitles are singu-
larly reticent in regard to the race ques-
tion in politics. and yet they know all
the phases of the situation. They know
that Governor Russell received a warn
ing notice by mail from Wilmington;
they know that within q hours after
wards he left here under the personal
escort of Revenue-Collector Carl Dun
can, the representative of Senator Prit-
chard in the eastern half OF the State
and went TO Morganton, where there was
night meeting with Senator Pritchard;
that Governor and the Senator. thus
thrown together for the first time in
nearly two years, talked over the entire
situation in Eastern and Southern North
Carolina; that the Governor told the
Senator Of the absolutely plain warning
that, if there was race riot the white
Republicans who lead the negroes would
French, one of the big Six" at Whining
ton, had said he intended to cast his vote
and leave on the early morning train for
Maine; that the businessmen of VIII
mington had bought Calling gun, and
"A full supply of ammunition, an&laid in
a great supply of small arms and ammu-
milton. II is also known to the Repub-
licans that Senator Prtchard's letter 10
the President in which the possible use
of Federal troops was hlnted at. closely
followed that interview. They know,
too. that Senator Pritchard came here
and that there was a consultation with
the Governor, and also one at headquar-
ters. and that, at the latter, Pritchard
was mCst earnestly advised against go
ing to Wilmington, and making speech
there. Republicans at headquarters told
Pritchard he was not responsible for the
condition of affairs at Wilmington, but
that Governor Russell and Senator But
Ter were. and that ii was these two who
had made an appointment for Pritchard
TO speak there. The appointment was
then and there cancelled.
WENT TO SEE M'KINLEY.
Within "a hours after Prtchard's depart
ure from here he was at Washington, to
see the President. He did not give the
slightest intmation that he was going
there, but told your correspondent he
had to speak at Murphy, in Cherokee
county, limiting that for this reason he
could not be at Wilmington Saturday.
In q hours after Pritchard left here
delegation Of Wimington's business
men arrived to see the Governor. They
came on their own motion, as business |
men, and not as politicians. They had |
a long conference with the Governor |
and the laid before him the immnence |
of a race riot at Wilmington, If he Re-
publican legislative ticket was not with |
drawn. The Governor gave all these |
facts to James f. Boyd, and they were |
given out by the latter in a Washington |
interview. The Governor agreed to the |
Withdrawal OF the Republican ticket, If |
the businessmen could secure the put
ting In the field of Disbursements |
ticket the Democratic nominees with |
drawing to make way for it. While this |
was under consideration the |
Populist nominees withdrew. But the |
POpulists are very weak in New Hanover. |
They cut but little figure there. Satur-
day the Republican ticket was with !
drawn. Now the Democrats withdraw.
The businessmen have the field.
MERE BLUSTER.
An attache of the Republican State !
headquarters here yesterday spoke of
the eastern Republicans and more par
ticularly those at Wilmington. as cow
ards, and Postmaster Bailey (Repubn-
cam said: 1.-The Lord always hates a
gutter" But this is mere buster. They
simply do not know the desperate ear
nestness of purpose of the Democrats
nay, not the Democrats alone but the
great mass OF white men in the east.
1t is no secret that Senator Pritchard,
IL n |
would not have been permitted to speak
at Wilmington. They would have been
politely. but plainly. warned not to do
so. and as much was told Senator Prit-
chard by his party managers here
Senator Pritchard has. at heart little |
regard for the negro. That characteriZes
all the mountain men. The negroes in
his city have a dread of the mountain
men who are in the Second Regiment.
now on the point of being mustered out.
II is only eleven years since Senator
Pritchard was full of the idea of organ
zing the 'white-Republican party" His
argument in its favor was that If the
negro were only eliminated, thousands of
white men-Democrats-would join the
lew party. because they liked the Repub-
lean policy.
Two white men Republicans). one a
State official, and one candidate on the
uslon ticket, have said TO me within the
,ast week that unless their party freed
tself from the negro ii was ruined in
North Carolina.
THE NEGRO PREACHER.
In most of the talk about Republican
politics In North Carolina but little ac-
count has been taken OF the negro
preacher as a political factor. yet he is
. power. Notices OF political meetings
ire given from the pulpit. and Republi-
,anism has for the past thirty years
,een preached. Negro preachers not in
requently actively engage in the can
ASS. Another force In holding the black
,ote together Is the womankind The
,oycott OF a Democratic niger" is
harp and remorseless. AS has been
tated. II is the Legislature which is the
7CoNcLUpED ON THIRD PACED ]