The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-08
CONGRESSMEN'S PERIL
NIGHT BE UNSEATED IF RE
PUBLICANS WON HOUSE
BY THE NARRoWEsT MARGIN EVEN
Democrats Given Certificates Of Election Would
have no Defence Against Charges Of
intimidation. How Race Trouble
has Hurt Republicans.
has Hurt Republicans.
IVA shington Post.l


Raleigh, n c., Nov. 6.-The election
to occur in this State next Tuesday is
of national Importance from more than
one point of view. In the first place,
TO this State the Republicans. if they
control the House by a narrow margin
will look for the contests upon which
Democrats can be speedily turned out
and Republicans seated. The Democrats
thoroughly appreciate this situation. If,
for instance, the Democratic candidate
for Congress in the Wilmington district
should be declared elected on the poll
of the returns and his Republican oppo
nent should contest his seat on the
ground of intimidation and threats, the
Democrats would have no defense what
ever The evidence would be overwhelm-
ingly against them. The menacing ut
terances of the stump speakers, the pub
lished letters, the knowledge that citizens
are armed. and the letter of the business
men to Governor Russell admitting that
a reign of terror existed form altogether
IL mass of incontrovertible testimony.
Consequently there is little doubt that
if the Republicans have a majority in the
next House, several of the North Caro-
lima Democrats who will hold prima
facie certificates of election will be made
to walk the political plank in short order.
There has been a rumor current for sew
eral days that Governor Russell will re-
fuse to sign these prima facie certifi-
Gates, but this is hardly Likely. Should
the election of Congressman be so close
however, as to leave the political COM
plexion of the next House in doubt, thus
causing much to depend upon three
or four seats, there is no telling what
might be done. In such an event, North
Carolina would again be focus of pub
lie interest.
In still larger sense, however, the
election i'll this State will be most sig
nificant. The verdict of the polls will
show, from present indications, that the
negro has again been the undoing of the
Republican party in the South. The Dem
ocratic party, after a quarter of a CEN
fury in power, was swept aside by the
concerted action of a large number of
dissatisfied whites, who combined with
the white Republicans and the negroes,
and carried the State by 10000, increas-
600. As a natural result, the negroes,
who formed the largest percentage of
the combination, were rewarded with
many offices. The Southerner's rreju-
dice against the negro holding an admin
istrative, executive, or seIni-judicial posi-
ton was soon aroused. Unfortunately
for the negro, there was even more rea-
son than prejudice in the opposition. As
he afE al
ignorant, inefficient, and much given to
abusing the power placed in their hands.
They made city government farce,
and the administration of justice became
a trayesty.
SOUTHERN NEGROES SHIFTLESS
The negro, as he is known in the North
is Il very different character from his
brother of the Southern town and cot
ton-field. In the North the few negroes
who live in a community very frequently
are energetic, respectable, and property
owning citizens. If intrusted with gov
eminent, which they never are. they
would doubtless make acceptable Off
cials.In the South, however, the negro
is very different. In Wilmington. for
instance. the colored population is from
the negro has been free, getting good
wages and helped by nature to cheap
and easy living. His education has not
been neglected. The State Of North Car
DINA has for many years divided its
school fund equally per capita between
whites and blacks, so that in Whining
ton, where the negro predominates, sixty
five per cent. of the school fund goes to
colored children and thirty-fve per cent.
to the white. With all these advantages,
however, there is not in the city of VIII
mington to-day, a single negro savings
bank or handsome church, or any organi-
Zed negro industry, or any conspicuous
negro physician or lawyer. OF all the
property in the city and county, only
three and one-half per cent. is owned
by negroes. In thirty years of freedom
AM fostering care, little or nothing
has been accomplished by the Whining
ton negroes as race.
When many of the worst examples OF
negro character were placed, by tho
votes of their numerous black brethren
in power, and when maladministratioI
became insufferable, the white men ros'
up en- masse. They naturally objected
to the young white girl teachers being
compelled to receive drunken and igno
rant school committeeman, through whom
the teachers had to obtain their posi-
tions and their pay They resented thu
holding of magisterial courts by negroes
who knew neither law nor morals. Ii
one instance, one Of the largest cottOl
shippers of Wilmington was compelled
to abide the decision Of an ignoran
stevedore in his employ, who had beer
elected a magistrate. Newbern is a pref
ty city of 1900 people. with large ship
ping interests, and yet its State Senate
is a negro, who has thrice been convict
ed of forgery, and its next County Treas
urer, unless the whites actually preven
the blacks from voting, will be the negr,
keeper of a low bar-room, near the rail
road depot Instances like these couI,
be multiplied.
The appointment of negroes to Fedc. a
Offices has intensified the feeling aga,1s
them. The negree Collector of Custom
at Wilmington is Il source of irritatir