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

oiutF prominent aWyer, h e. White
hurst, was chairman Of the committee
ed from the shoulder. to use his W
words. He did not mince matters
J Other communities" he said, speak
ing deliberately, ARE risking their lives
n property to rescue our state from
its down-trodden n degraded condi-
ton Where do We stand? Are we
towards? Where is the blood of the
brave men who went from this town TO
hight against British tyranny for their
native state? Has none of il been
transmitted to Us that We sit Idly ard
wait in our c~owardice, while others
seek TO set US free?"
Mo-" shouted the excited crowd.
Let somebody lead" exclaimed Mr..
WhItehurst. n the white men OF Cra-
ven county will show that the blood OF
white men flows in their veins. (This
sentiment led to other demonstrations
VIII You show it; will you dare it?'
ne asked the crowd. and the afirma-
tive answer was d~efeaning.
Mr.. Whitehurst's speech. while IL
aroused the audience TO white heat.
was as cold as marble to the
volcanic utterances of James A. Bryan,
the democratic candidate for the state
senate Mr.. Bryan stood on the
Judges bench. still wearing the over
coat in which he had been campaign
ing through the county during the daY.
He is a banker here. but the conserIN-
tlsm which is popularity supposed to
attach 10 ~financiers was decidedly
lacking.
We will not bear the yoke of the
African" he exclaimed, speaking with
great heat and earnestness. Il believe
IN peace and order" he said, and in
giving the negroes everything that the
laws give him. but never am 1 willing
Tor them TO rule me or rule my race.
They may as we'll understand that
now as at n other time. When the
white mans civilization is at stake we
are going to stand together for the
white mans government and the white
mans rule until the last one of US is
put in a box ten feet under ground"
WIN PEACEABLY, IF POSSIBLE,
BUT WIN.
Mr.. Bryan did not fail to picture in
language that famed the growing sem
timent the clash that was coming be-
tween the races when he asserted the
white women would be in peril.
"When that time comes" said he,
let the consequences be with the mis-
cradle w~hite-skinned scoundrels that
have led h negroes. Let the white
men go to the polls next Tuesday, he
continued, and run this election. You
have got to run it: you have got TO
run it," he Numbered. pounding the
judges desk. Il tell you, you have got
to win it; peaceably if you cam, but if
You fail that way, win it any way you
can"
Once more the vast audience shout
ed and yelled and stamped the floor,
While the aides seated within the bar
clapped their gloved hands with vigor.
other speeches We're made, all of the
same strain, he speakers insisting
that Craven county must follow other
counties to the EXTREMIST extent in Sc
curing a white majority at any cost.
1t seems that the white people here
have hitherto lacked a leader, but the
flame which is blazing all over the
state has at last touched here, and the
meeting tonight was the result. The
conditions in the county are such that
with an absolutely fair election the
whites, even if they voted solidly
against the blacks on the sole basis of
color, would be outnumbered a thou
sand majority. Notwithstanding this,
the democrats openly assert that they
will carry the county. Telegraph mes
sages were sent out of town today to
secure a sufficient quantity of arms.
only a few of the citizens being now
provided with rifles.
A NEGRO-RIDDEN COUNTY.
There is no question that this is a
negrO-ridden county. The list of negro
office-holders includes the register of
deeds, two deputy registers of deeds.
four deputy sheriffs, coroner, four con-
stables, tW~enty-seven magistrates,
county commissioner, one member of
the board of education, thirteen school
committeeman, three road overseers,
citx- aftor-oox- 80 o;+1- o1lorroa, n-I
four policemen. The present represen-
tative Of the county in the Legislature
is a negro, who has been convicted of
forgery, and who is again a candidate
for the same place, while a majority
Of the other officers on the ticket are
also negroes.
/ There is no probability that thist tick
ct will be taken down, as has been
done at Wilmington. SO the negroes
ave every incentive to go to- the polls.
If the threats of the democrats to pre-
| vent their voting are carried into exc
cution, as it is emphatically asserted
tonight they will be, it is difficult to see
how a conflict at the polls is to be
avoided.
The negroes. on their part, are de-
termined to win. They know that they
are in a majority, and their leaders are
urging them not to surrender. They
nave a little campaign daily here,
which has a large circulation among
them. It's editor has a fiery editorial
in this afternoons edition, calling upon
the negroes to vote against white SUI
premacy.
INCITING THE NEGROES.
Every negro who loves his father
and mother, his wife and children, and
is opposed to democratic slavery" says
the editor, must bury white suprem-
acy face downward or next Tuesday
in order that it may never rise again
to vilify the negro, lie against their
own homes, and call white men black"
The negroes are told that the whites
intend to disfranchise them; that the
bloody Red Shirts will try to bulldoze
| and intimidate them, but that we
| poor defenceless creatures will cast
our ballots just the same. We must
| win the election" eXclaims the editor.
The line between whites and blacks
is sharply drawn. There are said to
be only sixty white men in the entire
| $500 republican voters registered in the
| county. The 200 other white men,
however. propose to win at the polls.