The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-27


been termed the Revolutionary Govern
lanent commenced when the campaign
committee called upon to make a speech
stating my views; and / would like to
say, i'll this connection, that some of the
daily press representatives who have
given an account of my speech selected
two paragraphs for quotation, sent them
out to the country, and the people at
large necessarily formed an erroneous
opinion of what | said from those two
paragraphs standing alone. They came
to the conclusion that | was a violent
revolutionist
l said i'll my speech:
If there should be race conflict
(Which God forbid, the first men who
should be held TO strict accountability
are the white leaders, who would be
chiefly responsible, and the work should
begin at the top of the list. | scorn 10
leave any doubt as to whom | mean by
that phrase | mean the Governor of
this State, who is the engineer of all the
deviltry and meanness.'
That is one part of the speech. | also
said:
I'VE will not live under these intolera-
bic conditions. No society can stand it.
We intend to change it, if we have to
choke the current of the Cape Fear river
with carcasSes."
That is the other paragraph which
some of the press representatives took
out. All the rest of the speech, which
was chiefly a statement of facts, was
omitted. Those paragraphs disconnect-
ed from the text, were sent out as my
speech.
When the crisis came, there was a uni
versal demand that | should take charge
Last week. at the mass meeting. they
made me chairman by acclamation, and
also chairman of the Citizens Commit
tee Of Twenty-Five.
Demand was made for the negroes to
reply to our ultimatum to them, and
their reply was delayed or sent astray
whether purposely or not. l do not
know, and that caused all the trouble
The people came to me. Although two
other men were in command, they de-
manded that | should lead them.
i took my Winchester rifle, assumed
my position at the head Of the process
sion, and marched to the Record office.
We designed merely 10 destroy the press.
/ took couple OF men to the door, when
our demand to open was not answered.
and burst it in. Not l personally, for l
have not the strength, but those with
me did it.
We wrecked the house believe that
the fire which occurred was purely acct
dental: it certainly was unintentional on
our part. / saw smoke issuing from the
top story. Some one said the house was
afre. / could not believe it. There
were a number of kerosene oil lamps
hanging round. They were thrown down
and smashed, and the kerosene ran over
the floor. 1t is possible that some fellow
set it afire with a match. Immediately
there were shouts when the fire occurred.
''Stop that fire. Put it out. This
won't do at all.'
at once had the fire alarm bell rang.
We saved the wooden buildings next TO
the Record office, and soon had the
fire out.
/ then marched the column back
through the streets down to the armory,
lined them up, and stood on the stoop
and made a speech to them. | said:
Nov you have performed the duty
which you called on me to lead you to
perform. Now let us 20 quietly to our
homes. and about our business, and obey
the law unless we are forced, in self
.
In about an hour. or less time, the
trouble commenced over in the other
end of the town, by the negroes starting
to come over here. / was not there ut
the time. / was here in this part of
town. But we began Immediately to
turn out and prepare. And right here
/ want to say this about my part: |
never dreamed the time would come
when | would lead mob. But | want
to say, too, a United States army Off
Ger, prominent man. was here, and saw
the whole performance. He said
II never witnessed anything like this
before. 1t is the most orderly perform
ance / ever Witnessed"
Then they got seven of the negro lead
ers, brought them downtown, and put
them in jail. | had been elected mayor
by that time. 1t was certainly the
strangest performance in American his
tory, though we literally followed the
law, as the Flisionists made it them
selves There has not been single ille-
gal act committed III the change Of gov
eminent. Simply the old board went
out. and the new board came in-strictly
according to law. In regard to those
who had been brought to the Jail a crowd
said that they intended to destroE them;
IndL tney were the IcducFs, anu lildC IhN y
We're going to take the men out of the
jail.
/ ordered Il force Of military around
the Jail. | said to the people:
MY position has been radically chang
ed. | am now sworn officer Of the
law. That jail and those people must
have protection"
l went out and appealed TO the people
in different parts of the town. They re-
allied the situation and told me | was
right. and that they would stand by rae.
] stayed up the whole night myself,
and the forces stayed w all night and
we saved those wretched creatures
lives.
| waited until the next morning at 9
O'Clock, and then made the troops