New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-28
TROUBLE IN NORTH CAROLINA
POLITICAL SITUATION MORE SERIOUS
THAN HAS BEEN REPORTED.

FEARS THAT RACE WAR MAY BE PREC1PITATED
BY DEMOCRATIC FRAUD AND VIOLENCE
GOVERNOR RUSSELL THREATENED
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington Oct. 27.-Assistant Acknowledgement
Boyd of the Department Of Justice. who returned
to Washington from North Carolina to-day. says
that the situation there is serious than might
be inferred from the dispatches to Northern news
papers. This confirms information received here
from private sources during the last three or four
days. The issue that has been raised within
the last few weeks by the Democratic leaders is
apparently only a pretext for a resort 10 political
budozing and violence. which everybody hoped and
believed had been forever ahapdoned in that State.
The threats that openly made are by no means
solely directed against the negroes On the con-
trary every who is opposed TO such methods
is under the BAN including oliver II. Dockery, who
was the Democratic and Populist candidate for
Lieutenant Go GOVERNOR ct the last election, and Is
now a candidate for Congress ticket sup
ported by combination Of Popusts and Repuo-
Mcans, as well the Governor OF the state
Against the latter the most violent threats are
openly made. For example IN political speech
delivered IN Wilmington Monday evening, A
NJ Waddell. formerly Democratic member OF the
House of Representatives. where he posed as
moderate conservative said:
do not hesitate TO say thus publicly that II
first men that ought to be held 10 account are tho
white leaders OF the negroes. who Will be emery
responsible for Il. and the work ought to begin at
the top Of the list. scorn 10 leave any doubt as
10 whom mean by this phrase. / mean the Gov
error this State. who Is the engineer OF all this
deviltry and meanness
Some idea Of the origin and nature OF the "dev-
itry and meanness" TO which this perfervfd orator
referred may be gathered from the recent corre-
spondence between certain Democratic business
men OF Wilmington and Governor Russell. The
letter TO the Governor bears the date of October a.
and reads follows:
The Hon D. I. Russell. Raleigh. n. c.
Dear Sir: We have been deeply concerned during
habitants, in view Of the approaching election.
which threatens 10 provoke war between the
white and black races. We have frequently OBJ
served during political campaigns in the past
degree OF hostility which at times appeared 70
threaten the public peace, but which passed of
when wiser counses prevailed but the present state
bounds and declare TO you our conviction that
we the brink Of revolution which can
only be averted by the suppression OF Republican
ticket.
The white people and taxpayers generally protes.
that they have been driven to desperation. and
we have no hesitation In saying that even the usual
indiscretion of political parsans the next Elec-
lion will precipitate a conflict which cost
hundreds and perhaps thousands OF lives and the
partial entire destruction of the city
We therefore, on behalf OF the conservative busi-
ness firms Of Wilmington, deeply interested In the
peace and welfare of our community. entreat you.
as the representative OF the Republican party here.
TO meet the emergency and avert calamity by the
means which have indicated or by some other
gratefully recognized ana approved by our
servative and patriotic people who look TO you In
this extremity. Respectfully
ALEXANDER sPRUNT s. SON.
JOHN WILDER ATKINSON
WILLIAM GILCHRIST, ,.