The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09


'at the peril Of their lives" That was
enough to intensity passion to a white
heat. In nearly every other communi-
ty of the south such conduct would
have precipitated a trouble that would
have ended in lynchings. But instead
this community was long-suffering
forbore to strike, did not raise a hand
in vengeance.
BY the best evidence it can be estab-
lished that when a part of the crowd
that went to Manly's Office soon after
his vile, scandalous article was known
to the public, and was ready for a
rumpus with the whites, were return
ing to the southern part of the city
they were boisterous, cursing the whites
and daring them to do any thing. The
best women of the white race had been
openly, brazenly. defantly traduced
and abused, and while the negr
preachers Endorsed and backed up tn
slanderer and the negro rioters were
ready and anxious for a collision, curs
ing and abusing, the whites stood silent
and composed,
This brings us in the hurried sur
vey to the preparation. It was under
stood that as far back as the trouble
about the smallpox that the negroes
had at least fifty Winchesters. We
have eason to know that this was SO
reported by a negro who was over
heard. Later, it was positively known
that the negroes were trying in several
places to obtain hundreds of rifles. 1t
was heard by a credible white man,
a negro talking, that there were guns
and ammunition in the basement of a
negro Methodist church.
A box of guns were reported to have
ton mar to Castle Haynes, and
coming from the state of Maine. 1t
was known also that negroes had Of
ten been heard threatening the de
| struction of the whites, and negro wo-
men especially were vigorous in threats
while practicing shooting in the woods
on Sundays was a constant exercise of
young negroes. These are some of the
reasons or reports that disturbed the
whites and caused the whites to be-
stir themselves in self-protection.
| They began wisely and resolutely to
arm. This was done fairly we'll, and
the city put in state of discipline, nee
essary and imperative, to meet the
worst promptly and efficiently.
But there was no purpose O" murder'
as the liars say. There was no desire
for a war of races on the part of the
whites. 1t was all for self-protectiOn
Ito defend the houses and save from
destruction the women and children,
and to stamp out a riot as you would
stamp out fire or a pestilence.
What followed showed beyond al
question that the purpose Of the white
l was uOL dSSI0SSlNO Wal UuL uGlcuCt.
With the means at their command
when the wal did commence, if the
whites had meant what the liars and
slanderers affirm, it would have been
easily determination or expulsion I'm
til not a negro would have been left
in the city. Instead of ruthless riot
and ruin and killing the great masses
Of the negroes, the white men under
arms afforded protection to the ne
groes, accompanied men and women
going to or from work from guard to
guard.
This brings us to the election and
what followed of which something
will be said at another time. The war
that came, brief, sharp, decisive. was
caused solely by the brutal negroes
who opened the fight.