Evening star., 1898-10-31
DEMOCRATS ARMtNG
Impending Rage 3 Conflict { in the Old
North State.
PLAN TO FERR0RlZR COLORED VOTERS
Prominent Politician in Neighbor-
ing State Tenders Assistance.
VIEWS OF GOV. RUSSELL


Carolina for their party at the ensuing
election and leaders are doing things in a
strange way in the old north state this
year. For weeks past, as l am Informed
on authority whose correctness would not
be questioned if the names of the parties
were printed. guns and ammunition have
been pouring into the state at such rapid
rate that 1t is said the stocks of most of
the wholesale dealers in Baltimore, Phila-
delph1a and New York have been material
ly depleted These weapons have, it is
SAID, been stored in convenient places for
use II needed, and it is freely alleged that
they Will be found in the hands of the
rougher element among the democrats the
Sth of November, or perhaps day or two
sooner.
1t should not be understood that it is a
part OF a carefully devised plan to shoot
down colored men who may try to exercise
the right of voting on election day but it
may be stated without the fear of success
full contradiction that the wholesale arming
Whlch has been arranged for is to intimi-
date republicans, both white and black,
and thus cause them to stay away from
the polls on election day.
There is no Disgusting the fact that in
many places throughout the state the re-
pubhcans are seriously worried the
outlook. for they know that effort will
be left untried in many of the larger places
in eastern North Carolina where the great
majority of the colored voters live, to pro-
woke them to acts of violence on election
day. Even now it is difficult in some of
the cities and towns to get white repub-
licans to admit, except to each other, that
they belong to that party or that they pro-
pose to vote for the republican nominees
the Sth of next month.
Ruffiuns at Work.
AS a matter of fact, the ruffianly ele
ment CT the democratic has alreadv
endeavored in number of instances to
bring on riot between the whites and
the blacks. One of the most notable Of
these instances related to me by an
eminent judge, who said he personally
aware that the facts related occurred in
Bladen county. He said: Shortly after
court met for the day big democratic
bully commenced to parade up and down
the main street of the town, and as he
walked he insulted every colored person.
whether man or woman. No attention was
paid to the rowdy for a long time. even
after he had. without the slightest provo
cation, knocked a coored woman into the
gutter by striking her the head with his
fist. Finding that even this act did not pro-
duce the result he was seeking-a fight
he went to store, where he purchased
whip. Then, gathering few spirits like
himself, ne placed himself at their head
and the party marched back and forth on
the street, the bully slashing with the whip
was more than those assaulted could stand,
and a number of them with some Of their
friends gave the rowdies severe beating"
The Governor Warned.
Even Governor Russell has been warned
that it will be unsafe for him to attempt
to vote at the election, and more than one
public speaker has urged from the stump
that the governor be assassinated, and
thus remove the man who, some of the
democrats claim, is the head and front of
all their political troubles.
In conversation yesterday with The Star
correspondent, Governor Russell said that
there is d perfect reign of terror in some
parts of North Carolina, and he feared
there would be trouble especially in VIII
mington, on election dayi if the colored repub-
licauS attempt to vote. When asked II, being
aware that the state was powerless to give
its people fair election because of threats
and the expected presence at the polls OF
armed men, he, as the chief magistrate,
would call on President Mckinley for
troops with which TO preserve order, Gov
Russell replied that he would not; that if
he did SO his motive would be misreore-
sented, and if anything serious grew out
of the presence of the troops, that would
be greatly exaggerated.
AS The Star correspondent arose to leave
the governor said:
Il am convinced that the democrats in
tend to carry the coming election, peace
ably if possible, but If they cannot do
in that way they will do it forcibly."
1t is the opinion of many well-informed
persons that the democrats do not intend
to confine their lawless operations cleo
ton day to the cities and towns, but will
also have squads of armed men at the
smaller places in the country.
Expert "Rough Rider"
Recently a democratic politician of ma
ticnal reputation, who is credited with be-
ing an expert in rough riding in the man
agement of elections in another state
and in securing victory for the democrats,
was here. Since his return home there
have been daily parades in some of the
counties in South Carolina bordering on
the north state of more than hundred
men in each of the several squads, whose
avoWed intention is to assist the democrats
of North Carolina in carrying the election
If their services shall be needed
Each of these interlopers is arrayed in a
fiery red shirt and is known as member
of the red shirt brigade.
In New Hanover county the democrats
have gone so far as to Eotify the republi-
cans not to put up ticket, and up to this
time this insolent demand mas been COM
Piled with. All through the state the order
has been given by democrats who have col
ored men in their employ that if they vote
the republican ticket they will forfeit their
positions and these threats have undoubt-
edly had the influence of keeping many col
ored men from registering.
AS a matter of course the republican lead
ers have done and are doing all in their
poWer to counteract the work of the demo-
Gratis and are telling the colored voters to
go to the polls on election day and vote, no
matter if they do get a few knocks over
the head. But it does not require prophet
, to foretell that ifebnce the cutting and kick
ing begin, 1t will soon afford TN excuse for
the man with a weapon to PIT a ball into
his antagonist. -
without Foundation.
TO the unprejudcedi outsider the hullaba-
loo made by theidenrocrats about turning
the state over to .'ntgger" rule seems to
be supremely ridiculous. Al 1parently the
whites and the blacks are on the most
friendly terms with each other. and in
every place in the state visited by The
Star correspondent the men of the two
races acted as though they were on the
same level. 1t is certain the colored people
are not trying to put themselv IS on a social
equality with the, whites. and 1t is believed
that the cry Of niger has teen raised to
draw the votes of the white republicans to
the support of the democratic party 1t
was seen some time ago thai the cry did
not frighten white men, and then the shot
gun and bulldezing policy was determined
gt1nnF