The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-22

> In Delaying A Letter on
Which Much Depended
Correspondence Baltimore SUM-
Wilmington, y. c., November Is
For months preceding the recent out
break here, the negroes had been max
ing preparation for the troubles that
they felt would come. The white de-
fensive organization was not only JUS
titled by the criminal disorder that
the law as administered by negroes and
republicans seemed powerless TO sup
press, but by the offensive organiza-
ton of the negroes.
The reports sent north from this
point before the outbreak stated that
armed bands of negroes, numbering
four and five hundred, paraded and
drilled in the streets at midnight. This
is incorrect, not a single instance OF
this character occurred; on the con-
trary, the negro preparations were
made with great secrecy, that present
ed a striking parallel to the wide
spread and concealed preparations
phich preceded the Sepoy rebellion.
The negroes drilled in their society
halls and in unoccupied dwellings. No
drums beat, no bugle calls rang out.
In sombcr silence. with subdued voices,
the squads learned the manual Of arms
and the first lesson in the art of war.
Gathering in grey dawn or the wan
twilight, their dark faces showed an
anxiety that they could not conceal
from their leaders-false, p%erjured, un-
principled leaders-by whose coercion
the mass of negroes were driven to
hateful drill, to preparations that they
loathed.
COERCION BY NEGRO LEADERS.
While the negro was willing to play
soldier, he was rot, as a race, antagO-
nistic to the white race, to which he
looked and now looks, for most that
makes his life happy. 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that the negroes
could be kept in line. The whole ma
chinery of coercion, which the negroes
have perfected to a degree little realiz-
ed by even the southern whites, was
put in motion.
The preparations went on. The
whites learned Of the secret drills, but
they did not learn of the difficulties
under which the negroes labored. They
obtained evidence hat arms were being
collected from the negro families and
were being stored at centers of propos-
ed action. Over three hundred guns
were collected by one Of the negroes,
and the whites have not yet discover
ed their hiding place.
These preparations being known, the
greatest apprehension existed. This
was increased by the talk of poison
and the torch" in which negro women
indulged, and by the advice given by
a leading negro to the family nurses
You have the children in your power;
don't forget it if troubles comes"
To the credit Of TIE negro race let it
be said that such suggestions were
regarded by the mass of its members
with disgust and reputation.
The action of the great bulk Of the
negroes during the whole trouble con-
clusively demonstrated that the lead
ers are those upon whom the stain OF
blood lies. 1t also shows that the ne
gro race is easily susceptible to mis-
guidance.
IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE RIOT
With the two organizations-the de-
~fensive n Of the whites and the Of
fensive of the negroes-ready for &C
ton, it required but little to cause
collision. The occurrence hat led tC
the actual conflict are matters of his
torical episode. but the direct reason
for the outbreak has never been sent
from Wilmington. This reason places
the matter in a new light, and by it the
whole of the bloOdshed becomes direct
ly attributable to a source hitherto IN.
suspected.
One of the sparks hat caused the
explosion was the wanton firing upon
a white man by a half-craZed negro
but the "lovers of the negro race" en-.
deavor to excuse the negro murderer
by the assertion hat the whites were
gathered for a riotous purpose; that
they were on their way without prov
ocation and without warning to the ne.
groes; hat murderous actions were
about to be taken. These statement:
are false.
The Sun gave a full account of the
mass meeting in which one Thousand
citizens met and discussed the ques.
ton of action in the case Of Manly, thu
writer of the foul SANDER agains1
women, that was the first incident il
the recent troubles. At this mas:
meeting, as stated in The Sun, a set o
resolutions was passed and order re
ferred to a committee of representa-,
tive negroes, who were satisfied t
consider such a document in a bust
ness-like way. The resolutions re
quired that Manly should leave anS
that his press and plant should b.
shipped from the city. The resolu
tions. which were published conclud
ed with the clause, IF the demand i
agreed to within twelve hours, W
counsel forbearance on the part Of al
white men. If the demand is refused
Or if no answer is given within TIL
time mentioned. then the editor, Manly
will be expelled by force"