The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-22

The Views of COlored Mantle Says
They Should Vote with the Party In
Power
Washington Post.)

years have I honestly to
give the best portion OF my thoughts
and actions to the amelioration OF the
ills of my race, especially along such
lines as l considered such help sub
stantial. This help was not admins
tered from afar, but having volunta-
rily taken up my residence in the ex-
IRENE south. where | was in constant
touch and intercourse with all classes
n both races for twenty years, /
speak with some information when L
attempt, through yocr columns, TO pro-
pound some things TO the negroes by
way of advice and counsel, and TO the
white people of America, who stand
with the negroes politically, as we'll as
to those who have always been kept at
war against the negro on account OF
politics alons 1 a " always appre-
ciated very keenly the positions taken
by the Post, cau il has SO accu-
rately defined the temper and feelings
Of the white people toward US and adj
vising as to our course accordingly,
which positions have from time to time
been c~ontradicted in good faith by able
colored men as not being the public
sentiment respecting Us, but which has
never been cOntradicted by the white
p6OpIc lIlSillSCIhtS Is Inc IOSL mas GER
tainly reflected what was public senti-
ment, and that is hat negroes have
made serious mistakes III expecting to
be sustained when their interests or de-
mands FLASHED with those of the white
people.
Referring to the race wars in North
n South Carolina l desire to say that
the negroes nave been victimiZed and
~traduced, and in order that they may
not be further deceived by any belief
that the president or the national gov
m Will come to their relief | de-
sire, through your columns, to suggest
that section 300, United States Re-
vised Statutes, discussed in the cabi-
net on Friday, under which Mr.. Toll
bert wants federal Interference in
South Carolina, was in force when
President Harrison told the negro
bishops that the President had no
power. 1t was in force when the Uni
ted States supreme court gave it's many
decisions covering what they CONSIDER
ed denial by the states of the equal
protection of the laws. 1t was in force
when the white people Of Wilmington
organized, planned, gave timely notice
and did fOrcibly prevent a free cleo
ton, and did eXpel the duly cOnstitu-
ted city government and informally
install another in it's stead.
The existence of the statute in ques-
IlOH II we'll kllOWI IL, anu Is IO new ulS-
covery, but it ought also to be borne
in mind that that statute attempts to
construe the fourteenth amendment,
defines what is meant by denying to
persons the equal protection Of the
laws, and directs the President to in
terfere in the manner therein pointed
out. The supreme court, our tribunal
for constituting the constitution, has
given several decisions saying what is
meant. n the states in question will
not permit the Presidents interference
except in protecting the United States
officers in the discharge of the duties
appertaining to those offices. If these
United States officials are murdered,
the United States courts will exercise
no Jurisdiction in trying their murder
ers, for the threats against their lives
are not made because of their holding
said offices, but ecauS of their course
outside of the duties of such offices.
Mr.. TOlbert, who ppear willing to re-
turn to South Carolina and die with
his friends in case there is no power in
the federal government to protect those
! people, will certainly make a needless
sacrifice, for hope held out by the gen.
eral government is a deluSiOn and a
snare. 1t is foolish to think there was
authority under this statute all these
years. yea, all through these troubles
| The whole world was given notice that
TIE 4NOIlu odIOllld ItpuDllCdHS COH-
ferred with the President, the assist
ant attorney general being a North
! Carolina republican, and the President
sitting by and allowing all these muir
ders, and the popular will to be sup
pressed by violence.
The President has no authority under
that statute, and it is hoped all the au-
thOrities will read what the supreme
court says in the Virginia., West Vir-
| ginia, Delaware, Kentucky and Missis-
sippi jury cases, and in the civil rights
cases, and numerous other cases where
! they went over the ground. Their pO-
sition is uniform that the individual,
who is WrOnged in a right under the
constitution and charged up as a
wrong of omission or commission by the
state, the party complaining must pro-
| coed through his state courts and eX-
haust his remedy there. The cases
where the President may interfere, eX-
cept in enforcing the execution of the
business of the United States, are linn
tied to such conditions where the state
executive shall call upon the President
for help, declaring his inability to exc
cute the laws after proving to the Pres
ident thai ne has exhausted his rene
dies.
1t is safe to say that no state execu-
tive, either republican or democratic,
will call on the President to aid him in
protecting the lives OF the negroes,
and it is just here that I want to ad-
wise southern negroes not to be further
deceived into opposing the political am
billions of the southern white people.
of whom 90 per cent are democrats.
Their aim is white supremacy, such as
we have the country over. Negroes
are taught to fight and fear this when
their only danger and hurt comes from
opposing it, for political opposition by
the negroes has caused all their ills
since freedom.
Mr.. Editor. while the Post and Pro-
fessors Washington and Miller, as well
as DR.. Shadd. were mapping out the
negro's ills and advising him OF great
opportunities in the south, I thought
it strange that all of o failed to ad-
wise him to keep away from politics
and political conventions, and to apply
himself along the lines you pointed out.
If this is done, his rapid redemption
and true emancipation is certain. If
he wants to vote, let him vote with the
people who have the power. The