The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08

U.ichm ond TIrnes)

We referred the other day to the
fact that Senator Butler in his dckpe-
ration had raised the point that for
the populists OF North Carolina TO
vote with the democrats in maintain
ing white supremacy would be To turn
the state government over 20 the cor
poratiOn clique and do the cause Of
free silver mucn harm.
That is a shrewd Flea, int il VIII net
avail in the present crisis. This Is no
time for the people OF North Carolina
to be talking ABOUT trusts and munop-
olies and free silver and other qucS-
ticns of national concern The issue
with them L. white supremacy. The
time has come when there must De a
supreme test between the whites and
blacks of that state, and every man
must show his color. That the state
is negro ridden Is a~bundantly evidenc-
ed by the long LIST of negro office hold
ers hat has been published from time
to time in the newspapers. Negro rule
is q blight. and, apart from all other
considerations, no state can prosper
when it's government is in tho hands
of the negro party. With .pEro fast
ened upon the state of North Carolina
many of it's best citizens would pack
up and leave at any sacrifice. and no
desirable white men from any other
states would ever go there u take their
pi ices.
The White people Of North Carolina
are aroused as chey have not been
since the days of reconstruction. and
they have determined that This year
shall see The end Ct n~cPrOiSrn The
struggle is watched from "Fcry stat"
in the union. and as for Virginia, our
friends not only have our antir" sym
pathy, but they my have our support
if the want it. They cannot make
any 1aTnln1 4vn fhnir Et-tItap IN
Virginia that viii not be readily re-
sponded to. W. have hai a taste Of
negro rule III some cOuntlG; in Nir-
ginia and we know what lt means. W.
submitted to = for a time. but in 1888
the white men got togethe- ana put IL
down once for all.
And as the whites in Virginia did in
1883, SO Will the whites in North Caro-
lima do in 1895. They have not been
thoroughly aroused until now, but they
have practically with one accord
arisen in their might and indignation.
and there is no sort Of doubt AS to the
issue.
Nor do we look for any serious clash
between the races. We DO not expect
to see much blood shed between his
and election DAY, nor IN election day.
The red shirts have been riding the
state and the black men know very
we'll what cnat means. They under
5AdiAb AtlaA AiEF DlFdtl DilDAIlfE-
and they are not going 10 provoke an
engagements We believe tina in most
places the election Nfll pass Off quiet
ly. and wren the returns come in Il
will be TO ud that the state has been
completely redeemed from the iomi-
nation Of Russell and Butler and their
black cofvrJs.
I 1t is most unfortunate that mis- crisis
should have arisens We regr,< il more
than we can say We have no i'll will
toward the black-man. We hate To see
him get into troabie. We are Wiling
that he shall ffve p~eaceauly in the
south and prosper. and IL Is with n.
feeling OF sorrow that we see him led
into divnger anal misfortune by design
ing white men who have no further in
terest in him Than his vote. by which
they can ride into office.
We regret also that the white men
OF North Carolina should have been
forced thus to assert themselves. WI,
! Know that RE women and chiniren OF
the state have suffered and they have
our tenderest sympathy. We know
that the rnen of North Carolina. who
are p~eaceable and laaabiding. reere.
that such n crisis should have arisen.
lr Is bad for the whites and bad ft-
n blacks and bad for the state at
farge. But the CRISIS has arisen-and
me men OF Carolina are equaF 10 II.
They have determined 10 settle this
dispute, and they will settle IL. There
VIII be no negro problem In North.
carolina after the election next Tues
day.