The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-26
The Governors
Slump Sp88oh

If the Governor had desired peace
rather than partisan advantage, his pro
clamation would have read somewhat
after this line:
THE PROCLAMATION AS II
OUGHT TO READ.
Whereas, The people of North Caro-
lima are suffering from the most corrupt
government the State has known since
1S6S-'69; and
Whereas, every branch Of government
is in the hands of negroes or men who
do the bidding of the negroes who elect
them; and
Whereas, There are over 300 incompe
tent negro magistrates in the State;
Whereas, There are more than 300
negro office-holders in the State, every
one elected or appointed since the
Democrats were defeated in 1894:
Whereas, the President has filled the
post offices of Eastern towns with ne
gro officials, some of whom have sig
nalized their official life by robbing the
mails and stealing the cash committed
to them:
Whereas, Many of the officials elected
since 1896 are fugitives from justice,
and many others would be in the peni-
Tertiary if partisan judges had not per-
mitted them to plead nolo cOntendere;
Whereas. Three physicians employed
by the penitentiary have been dismissed
for immortality and other penitentiary of
ficialS would be wearing stripes if they
had their Just deserts;
Whereas. the two General Assemblies
run by the Fusionists cost $14, 032.7 20,
or 700 bales of cotton. more than the
last Legislatures conducted by the
Democrats;
Whereas. the expenses Of the State
government have been 1886. 7S426 more
during the last three years of Fusion
rule than during the last three years Of
Democratic rule;
Whereas, 3,647 new offices have been
created since the Democrats were de-
feated in 1894:
Whereas The salaries and wages at
the penitentiary have been S9,644.6S
more for one year under Fusion rule
than under Democratic rule.
Whereas, the public printing cost S1G.-
1000 more under the three years of
Fusion than under the three years of
Democratic rule;
Whereas, While the Democrats spent
S2.2o6.91 year for lawyears fees which
resulted in defeating the special tax
bonds and putting two great railroad
properties on the tax list, this admins
tration has spent S7,S1S.92 in twenty
months, from which the State has recev-
ed no return whatever.
Whereas, We have given or traded
away the States right of appeal. and
confirmed the North Carolina Ralroa d
lease, after swearing to fight it to the
end;
Whereas, After promising reduction of
railroad rates, we have violated this us
well as other promises;
Whereas, When a Republican Official
shows himself incompetent or dishonest.
this administration gives him a better
place lnsteau of dismissing him or send
ing him to the penitentiary;
Whereas, it has been declared by one
of our judges that seduction is a smaller
crime than rape, and base men thus
encouraged to outrage white women;
Whereas, Twenty outrages have been
committed or attempted upon white wo-
men in North Carolina within the past
three years, and in every instance in a
county in which the Republican party
is in control:
Whereas. Residents of rural districts
are afraid to leave their wives and
daughters unprotected, and a reign of
terror has been caused by the conduct
of Republican brutes who think they
have license because they are in power:
Whereas, An organized bureau is i'm
porting negroes from South Carolina 70
vote Illegally in this election, thus cor
rupting the ballot, and threatening the
public peace:
Whereas, Many ex-convcts, boys under
age, and other illegal electors, have
been registered by corrupt registrars
and declare their purpose to vote;
Whereas, In some counties partisan
and corrupt election officers have been
appointed, who violate the law and prac-
tice fraud in order to defeat the will of
the people:
Whereas, Leaders of the Republican
party have advised negroes to go to the
polls armed with guns, rocks and sticks,
and urged negro women to intimidate
negro voters;
Whereas. White men "of the baser
sort" have in public speeches advised ne
gro drivers to put their arms about the
young ladies when employed to drive
their fathers carriage;
have forced themselves at places of pub
lie amusement into seats reserved for
the white people;
Whereas, A United States Senator
from North Carolna-the first i'm the
history of the State to hold a seat by
corruption and bribery-(See Cauca sian
and Progressive Farmer)-has, for par.
tisan ends, called upon the President tc
be in readiness to send Federal troops
to North Carolina to overawe the people
and control purely local elections, an
offense which can never be forgotten OF
forgiven by men who love the State OF
revere the constitution.
Whereas, BY reason of these and 9th
er crimes and outrages and wrongs, tn.
respectable people appeal for protection
, to their person and property; and
Whereas, The grievous and intOlerablt
burdens under which they suffer have
been made know to me by the public
| press, by numerous letters, by the ora
! statement of divers citizens Of the Stat,
and by formal written statements, b,
great public meetings of the leading citi
zens Of the State, by the letters of hun
dreds of Populists and Republicans, a!
well as thousands of Democrats:
Now, therefore, |, Danny Blowhard
Governor of the State of North Carolina