The commonwealth., 1898-09-15
U,ILMINGTON'S DUSKY RULE.
How CoLoRED BOYS INSULT WHITE
PEOPLE.

j Mr.. H. E. C. Bryant, the Charlotte
Observers correspondent who is giving
that paper an account OF the condition
of affairs in Eastern Carolina, wrote
from Wilmington a few days ago a
letter that tells tale of horror for that
city.
Among other things he states that
Of the "a policemen IL are negroes
the city has four health officers, all
colored six deputy sheriffs, four OF
whom are colored and 40 negro mag
lstrates. There are Sc negro officers In
the county.
From some particular instances OF
negro insolence we give the following
clipping from Mr.. Bryant's letter
"Negro boys insult decent people as
they walk along the streets. | saw a
white gentleman, a farmer, his wife
and little girl, going along the main
street of this town Friday night, On
their way from the boat on the river to
the depot, where they were to take the
train for home. They came here along
with train full of excurslonists from
some rural district. At his heels three
half-grow negro boys trotted along
and cried out "Give my love to little
Slssie, little Bettie," etc. This was
kept up for some distance. They pass
ed by negro policeman, but be took
no notice OF it.
ga few days ago two of Wilmington 's
most prominent and respected business
men were out driving, and dozen lit
tie negro boys chased them and made
vulgar remarks about the horse and
the men. Two young ladies OF the
town were out shopping Friday nigh
and three negro boys, about Is years
old each, lined up across the sidewalk
and told the ladies to go around it the,
| wished to get by. 1 saw three little
negro girls lock hands going dow1
street, taking up two-thirds of the sid'
walk. They met two gentlemen. Th'
little chap in the middle said to th'
other two: Don't give them whit
folks any road. Dat's what pa say
do
tThese are insignificant incidents
but they go to show the disposition o
the negro here. Every hour during tn
day such things happen. The decen
people of the town just take the who'll
thing as matter of course and do no
protest.
"No city has ever had a more worth
less police force than Wilmington nov
has. John 4. Melton, man from on
IN the country near here, is the chic
He is nothing more than mass Q
clay. His actions from day to da
prove him totally incompetent. Ever
night, every day, almost every hour
for some months thefts, robberie'
burgIaries and various other crime
have been committed in the town. Th
people haye no security whatever.
"But one thing seems to fill th
minds of the officers: They look fol
ward to pay day. That is all.
Saturday went to the city hall
see Mr.. John Cowan, one OF the bes
citizens of the town. After looking i
at several doors was met In the pas
age by little negro. I asked if M
Cowan was in. The boy answered
mo Cowan is not in and don't kno
where he Is. If you want te see HIN
you might go out and hunt him
This said, the lmpudent boy scampere
out to the front steps OF the buildln
to pat white policeman on the shou
der. I left him hugging the office
However, the officer did not seem
) relish the embrace very much. Th
boy closed the conversation that b
had drawn the cop Into by dlsputin
his word"