New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-25
THE WILMINGTON TROUBLES.
THEIR ORIGIN EXPLAINED BY THE REV
PEYTON II. HOGE.
A PROMINENT PRESBYTERIAN CLERGYMAN OF
THE TOWN PRESENTS THE TOWNS
PEOPLES PREDICAMENr.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune

Sir. The evident spirit or fairness manifested !.
your recent editorial on the troubles In Whining
ton is highly appreciated here and for one ! thank
you for It, The solution which you suggest is the
solution that / have long advocated, but il is one
very difficult TO apply and for this reason: White
men. even when terate. DO 10 certain extent
think for themselves and 10 that extent are quail
fled voters. The negroes have never learned to
think for themselves, II they do they are afraid
to act according TO their convictions. You viii hnd
many men-old men-in the mountains and swamp
regions OF this State who recognized as men OF
good sense and intelligence. whose children ana
grandchildren educated. but who could no,
stand the educational test that servant negro
child could pass But which Is the best qualified
voter?
Again. You are in error I'm supposing that We
have done nothing to fit the negro for the use OF
the ballot. II education VIII fl him In this county
the whites pay over 90 per cent ot the taxes. and
We, e. per cent OF the school fund To the SUP
port OF the negro schools. The state has csiab-
Iished a normal school ana an agricultural and
mechanical college for the negroes, not 10 speak or
the school for the deaf. dumb and blind. and
others that are more on the order or charities.
There are numerous schools for higher education
established among ne by Northern philanthropy.
but welcomed and encouraged 10y our people.
In spite Of all this. the negro Is as far from
being ntted for the ballot as ne was thirty years
ago-that is to say. his ballot is not governed by
his convictions and by the principles that govern
him in other affairs. During the last few months
they have told their employers here by the hundred
that they did not want vote that they preferred
the rule OF the white citizens TO what they had
been having. bu, that they simply could not stand
the pressure Some said that they had been
threatened with shooting, others with having their
houses burned others said their wives would leave
them while still others said they had been threat
ened with being turned out Of the church. \
published resolutions
that no young man who failed to vote for the
continuance Of the recent regime should vis, their
daughters Every Northern Republican who has
attended National convention knows that the
corruptible element OF his party and the constant
menace to the integrity Of Its conventions Is Inc
contingent from the Southern States-scnt there by
the negro vote.
VIII YOU bear with me, then IN view Of the
gravity Of this problem. while endeavor to give
Won a practical illustration OF the problem thrust
upon the Southern people?
THE PROBLEM IN WILMINGTON.
The problem in Wilmington has been FOR 1000
whites to rule 1890 negroes The only escape from
the problem would be either lal for the best ele-
mert Of tho negroes TO Join with the whites in
establishing good government or IN for the whites
TO Weld 10 the rule Of the negro majority. The
first has been found impossible. because the
groes vote as unit. The second is impossible.
TOT no Alelo-NdNo community OH III" lace OF INC
earth has been found that will submit to the rule
Of an Inferior race That Is the fact. whatever
may b. our theories
We come back then to the problem. In Itself II
presents no difficulties There is sufficient inte-
gence and capacity among the whites to govern
the negroes in far larger proportion firm Of two
men with force ~ fifty white clerks and foremen
govern cotton compress employing 80 negroes
with perfect ease and the greatest efficiency. The
II one Of the hcst-manascd railroad
systems I'm the South here. whore there is a
similar disprop1rion between tho white and colorod
force But these institutions arc not conducted on
the princpl" Of universal suffrage There is whore
tn" difficulty comes In.
How then has the problem been soycd-so far as
# has been solved?
First-Ioi il be- remembered that IN thu State n
large tho whites are largely in the majority When
this majority came into possession OF the state
goy ernmcnt-aftcr tn" days Of rrconsiruction-lt
addressed itself TO the relief of the peop'e OF tie
East. where the negroes were In thu majority.
The methods used were two. One involved the
giving mp OF local sclf-governmcnt. the other a
gerrymander For the counties a government was
devised IN which magistrates were appointed by
the Legislature. and these magistrates elected
county commissioners. This government was ell
Client. and IN the main satisfactory But 1t
not self-governmcnt.
The other was less satisfactory IN It's working /
~
central part Of the city WAS divided into three
wards, in which the whites were IN the majority
The outlying belt was divided into two wards
a most soldly negro. Each ward elected two
Aldermen. giving Board Of ten. Of which six wore
elected by the whites. This Board elected the
Mayor
The working Of the system was bad As the
Aldermen were Themselves eligible to tho Mayor
atty. when the six Aldermen representing the
whites met in caucus It WAS only necessary for
one Of them 10 be able to get the votes OF three
others to be elected Mayor. II was too pretty an
content by the better element was met by the fear
or the thrcat-of negro rule as the alternative
suffrage in the South. independent voting the
salutary check on conventions elsew here has been
impossible here. one must either take the nominee
o. me party machine or take negro rule.
Well. four years ago We began 10 take the alter
the Republicans gave them the majority Of the
Legislature. and the Governor OF North Caro-
passed for the government Of Wilmington. continu-
ing in office. without reelection. tho existing
The control Of the police. which was pui in the
hands or "a newly created poIice Board; appointed
Two years later the Fusiorirts again carried tho
State this tim, elccting also the Governor Thu
county government system was abolished and
1copc The charter Of Wilmington was amGpdDI
man and the Governor should APPOINT he o,ir
Jrofessing 10 restore Ioci rf-e5v, -, ,h
county they took '' away from The city This |
Board stood r~Von TO three u favor Of The
and practically everything wi~ LEFT To
the Mayor elected hy them. who fled tine police,
force with negroes and neon potent white men
AN INSTANTANEOUS EFFECT
Tn" effect upon tho behavior OF the negroes Was
Willie there are many respectable
and honest man among thcm. there Is greet mass
hat are idle shif,ess and vicious. Tho sight Of
de uniformed policemen Of their own color stand
ing at the corners omholdsncd them 10 crime
rheY soon found that nothing was done about A.
They became bOd'!. There was scarcely q night
last summer ga when houses were not broken into
Women We're insutod In the streets or pushed from
n sidewalks. Children were beaten Young
girls were addressed with the vllcst language |
Profanity and VA garity wore heard every corner
and in the strectcars. The efforts Of tn, motor-
men and conductors 20 stop il MADE them The |
object Of special hatred. ana s'reotcVs Were stoned
and fred into at n'rht.
The cL-inrlLl I'm -rle E.anr-l-. l....