The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
Tht Wessenger.


nI. 2. u. WC0b, DIAL AiNcpOAoShS
of the Washington Post, perhaps the
best political newspaper now publish
ed in the United States, arrived in our
city Friday night last, and is here at
this writing. He sent off a long dis
patch Saturday night, from here that
fills a column and a half of the ample
pages of the Post. He describes Will
mington as a city under arms. He
says the blacks are to be prevented
from voting. He says:
wilmington might be preparing for
a siege instead Of an election. The
citizens are armed and make no secret
of the fact. There is a new Calling
gun in the local armory, and 1000
Winchester rifles are said, o n <reliable
authority, to be distributed among
private residences. In each block of
the city is a lieutenant, while every
six blocks Is in charge Of a captain.
Each block has its place OF refuge al
ready selected, to which the women
and children can flee for safety when
the race war breaks out, and when
they will be protected by the men Of
their vicinity"
He says that both races are prepared
for war-that the property holding
classes are determined upon ending ne
gro domination here-that two demo-
cratic candidates for the legisla-
ture have withdrawn under an
agreement with the republicans,
by which the latter will endeavor to
keep negroes away from the polls. He
does not, however, state that the two
democrats coming down will be fol-
lowed by two democrats nominated or
selected to fill their places. Russell
did not demand, as reported, that this
change should be made, but suggested
it as remedial and better.
The Post gives an account Of negro
rule in Wilmington and how the very
remarkable and unfortunate legisla-
Iure-most diabOlical and ruinous we
say-had given the negroes practical
control. This was done by the viola
ton of the great basic, primal law OF
liberty, and prosperity, local eslf-goV-
ern ment, by which no election was held
for city officials and the people were
deprived of their rights. and the rule OF
Sambo and Cuffee and Pomp began
with all of it's outrage and ignominy.
Understand that this is the Messenger
talking.
Mr.. West discusses the outlook here,
tells of the business mems movement
for independence, refers to what
Mr.. It. NJ. Emerson said to
him, and gives a long extract from Mr..
C%hadbourn's recent letter that was
published in the Messenger. Extracts
from his interesting letter appear In
another place in today's Messenger.
The sending of Mr.. West was timely
and another instance of the enterprise
of the Post.
Astaff correspondent of the Richmond
Times, Mr.. p. r. Noel, has also been
for two or three days in Wilmington.
He sends a long letter from here all
about the present condition and the
outlook. He says truly that the
white men will rule or fight" but they
nope ito win without b~loodshed.' 1t IS
Il race question, pure and simple, and
the supporters of the government-the
White Men who pay nearly all the
taxes, will not continue their slavery.
That is plainly the long and short OF it
saws the Messenger. He tells OF the ar
rangement 10 which Russell agrees,
and that the republican ticket Will not
be put out, while the business men Will
nominate candidates for the democracy.
The'correspondent states that the repub
licans decided to run only tickets for
Judges, representatives and state sena-
tor. You see the house Is sure for the
democrats and the senate may be III
doubt. In ~surrendering the two house
candidates Russell surrenders but little
as the democrats will hold a good ma
1ority on that house. Why did he hold
ON to the state senator? 10 get MS
man. and with a fusion senate all re-
form legislature will be an Impossible
ity.
OF the purpose and thoughts Of the
negroes themselves here, the CORE
spondent writes:
'The only thing that has saved the
credit of Wilmington is the democratic
finance board like the one proposed
some time ago for Richmond. 1t mas
veto power, and it has saved the trea-
.sury from plumber.
The negroes are terribly worked up
Many OF them are in favor of surren-
dering to the whites, but their leaders
and a few carpet-bagger whites are
whipping them into line. The blacks
hold political meetings at tnelr
churches and the preachers have much