The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-18

and their Easy tools of oppression.
1t is needless, however, to review the
grievances of the last several years,
or to go over the events Of the last ten
days. We have felt sure for several
weeks that a race collision here was
inevitable. We have so expressed our
selves to our neighbors and friends
when it was brought up. We did not
vary, but told those who lived near us
our steady conviction. IT came, but in
a degree so comparatively small that
we are both amazed and gratiied. We
thought a conflict would be p~recipitat-
ed, not by the white men, but by tur-
bulent, ignorant, besotted blacks, and
that where six or sever men were kill
ed there would have been hundreds
and perhaps a thousand wounded. W.
thought 1000 or 1,400 whites might
have to fight 1900 black men and 1000
negro women, who are more infiamma-
tory and dangerous and threatening to
the peace n order of the city than
the blacks. Instead of this, for we an
ticipated a general fight, with the ex-
ception of a few whites, sick and de-
crepit, and some we'll disposed blacks
who would find protection, there were
but six or seven negroes killed-the
fight provoked by themselves, they
opening the fire-and six or eight
wounded, and three whites wounded,
one very seriously.
The Star tells what is not true-that
the whites wished to p~recipitate a
deadly conflict by batting the ne
groes." That is calumnious and false.
Perhaps it calls the expulsion of the
s~cOundrel Manly batting the negroes"
1t looks that way. Is The Star in SYM
pathy with the maligner and villain?
He not only ought to have been for
ever banished, but if he had lived in
any other town in the south he would
have been lynched the morning after
his foul and slanderOus editorial ap-
peared. Hear this republican Wash
ington oracle:
They took immediate opportunity
to order the expulsion of a libelous ne
gro editor and to demand the resigna-
tons of the mayor and the chief of po-
lice. They thus overturned a republi-
can form of government in their pre-
election proceedings, and then DELHI
erately created a condition after cleo
ton which was no less than anarchy.
The descent on the newspaper Of
flee which was the focus of their rage
was useless and it's burning was 4
crime. The mob, for the committee and
it's cohorts can be truthfully called by
no other name, fired pistols in the air,
tn fvi Or tnr fh@ n1~Aa 1-
Nothing seems to have been left un-
done which would tend to further de-
mOralize the blacks. who, naturally,
suspicious, had good reason to fear a
general massacre"
He calls it anarchy to burn a |
scoundrel's office and fixtures, and to
ask, not command as stated by it, |
the republican negro city government |
to step down and out. The city had |
no government worth the name for |
months All was chaos and Outrages |
were of daily occurrence A policeman |
on duty in many parts of the city was 4
an absolute curiosity. AS soon as the
republican officials resigned a gov
eminent of white men was established. |
The Star misapprehends, or wilfully mis-
the facts, when it "asserts that
the white men of this city escorted to
the most radical measures without ne
and bloodshed has been the
logical consequence the responsibility
for which rests squarely upon them and
them alone" That is not a fair or
rue statement. 1t is born of malice or
stupidity. The whites are serene and
composed. They have not done too
undr greatest trials and tempta-
lions, but have perhaps done too lit
lie. They ave expelled a libeller and
enemy of all the pure women of the
state and the south, when hanging or
burning would have been deemed too
for him in many communities.
They have caused some very few OBJ
1oxiOus white men to shake the dust
their shoes and go out from
lmOng US, but they have stopped short
rs many think of doing all that should
done. They are in possession of this
,ity, and will never again so long as
Cape Fear runs, submit to. an
lsurped government, to the rule of the
and to all the unremitting dis
,rders and robberies that have afflicted
The Star condemns squarelX the
of the negro printing office
is we'll as the building. 1t is pleased
TO say, after intimating it was design
I'd, that the fighting which happen
I'd as a consequence of yesterdays pro-
ceedings at the newspaper office was
the result of this Incorporate
spirit on the part Of the dominant par
1t is just such ~long-range accusation
and such maudlin sympathy as that
paper fires off that makes the south
"hot in the collar" and defiant of all
opinion. The south has ex-
conditions, altogether un-
like those of the north. 1t knows Sam
DO and Josh and Bill as no yankee yer |
knew him. 1t is determined, come what |
may. to preserve its civilization, to |