The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-28
TO AVERT A CONFLICT
THAT THREATENS TO BE PRE-
CIPITATED ON NOVEMBER 8.
WHITE PEOPLE DRIVEN TO DESPERATION
They Beg the Governor to Make Some Sacrifice
to Turn Aside impending Calamity that
May Cost Thousands of Lives
and CiYs Ruin.

Washington, n. c., October 27.-,Spe-
cial.)-Col James e. Boyd, Assistant At
torney General, has returned from trip
to North Carolina, and has given out
for publication two letters; one to the
Governor from prominent business men
from Wilmington, the other the Cover
nor's answer The letter from the citi"
zens of Wilmington was addressed to
Russell personally in his capacity as a
local politician, but his letter is in the
shape of an official answer of Govcrncr
to an appeal.
Col. Boyd gave out the letters here in
such q manner as to leave the impression
that the letter from Alexander Sprunt Il
Sons and Others was an official appeal,
but private information from the most
reliable source is to the effect that one
of the parties signing the appeal has
written a friend here about the matter
and mentions the letter as personal one
to the Governor. Such the Governor is
supposed to have understood it since he
did not make the letters public in North
Carolina and only expected them to be
seen in the North, where he wishes to
foil the correct idea of the situation,
which is fast planting itself in the public
minds. This is the correspondence.
APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR.
Wilmington, n. c.. Oct. a, 1898.
''Hon. ID. l.. Russell, Raleigh, n. c.:
Dear Sir: We have been deeply con-
cerned during the past week by the
very excited state of our inhabitants,
in view of the approaching election.
which threatents to provoke war be-
tween the white and black races.
1--WE have frequently observed during
political campaigns in the past degree
of hostility which at times appeared to
threaten the public peace, but which
passed off when wiser counsel prevailed;
but the present state of excitement is
apparently and really beyond bounds,
and we declare to you our conviction
that we are ON the brink of Il revolution,
which can only be averted by the sup
preston of a Republican ticket
1.-THE white people and tax payers
generally protest that they have been
driven to desperation. and we have no
indiscretion of political partisans on the
next election day will precipitate a CON
fict which may cost hundreds and per-
haps thousands of lives, and the partial
or entire destruction of the city.
'We, therefore, on behalf of the con-
scrvative business firms in Wilmington,
deeply interested in the peace and well
fare of our community, entreat you. as
ba uf tho RQnnblican
party here, to meet the emergency and
avert calamity by the means which
we have indicated. or by some other per-
sonal or political sacrifice, which would
be gratefully recognized and approved
by our conservative and patriotic peo-
pie, who look to you in this extremity.
Respectfully,
ALEX SPRUNT & son,
JOHN WILDER ATKINSON,
y. II. SLOAN.
'WILLIAM GILCHRIST,
'CORBETT & GORE
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
Governor Russel's reply was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen: The substance of your
letter is that the Republican ticket of
New Hanover county must be suppress
ed: that is that the Republican voters of
that county shall not vote the ticket of
their party; that if they do so, there
will be revolution and conflict which may
cost hundreds and perhaps thousands OF
lives and the partial or utter destruc-
tion Of the city.
..Who constitute. who are the men on
this Republican ticket? The Republican
convention of New Hanover county has
not nominated a ticket. According tc
my information they propose to nominate
ticket that will be composed, with one