The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-11-17
STRAIGHT-OUT DECLARATION.
Resolutions Adopted by the White
Men Of Wilmington Setting Forth
Their Position.


Men Of Wilmington Setting Forth
Their Position.
, Following is the full text of the
resolutions adopted by the great
mass meeting of white men held at
the court house in Wilmington, N.
c., Wednesday, Nov. 10th:
'.Believing that the constitu-
ton of the United States contem-
plated q Government to be carried on
| by an enlightened people: believing
that its trainers did not anticipate
the nfranchisement of an ignorant
population OF African origin. and be-
lieving that those men of the State of
North Carolina who joined in form
ing the Union did not contemplate
for their descendants subsection to
an inferior race:
I'VE, the undersigned, citizens of
the city OF Wilmington and county
OF New Hanover, do hereby declare
that we will no longer be ruled, and
will never again be ruled by men of
African origin.
This condition we have in part
| endured because we felt that the
consequences of the war of secession
were such as to deprive us of the
fair consideration of many of our
countrvmen. We believe that after
more than thirty years this is no
| longer the case.
THE stand to which we now
! L.
suddenly by crisis, and our eyes
are open to the fact that we must act
now or leave our defendants to a
fate too gloomy to be borne.
'.While we recognize the authority
of the United States, and will yield
to it if cxerted, we would not for a
moment believe that it is the purpose
Of more than $1,000, 900 of our own
race to subject us permanently to a
fate to which no Anglo-Saxon has
ever been forced to submit.
I'VE therefore, believing that we
represent unequivocally the senti-
ments of the white people of this
county and city, hereby for ourselves,
and as representing them, proclaim:
Il. That the time has passed for
the intelligent citizens Of this COM
munity owning 95 per cent. of the
property and paying taxes in like
proportion, to be ruled by negroes.
-. That we will not tolerate the
action of INSCRIPTIONS white men in
at1iiating with the negroes so that
by means of their votes they can
dominate the intelligent and thrifty
element in the community, thus
causing business to stagnate and
progress to be out Of the question.
%. That the negro has demon
strated by antagonizing our interest
in every way, and especially by his
ballot, that he is incapable of realiz-
ing that his interests are and should
be identical with those of the com
munity.
81. That the progressive element
in any community is the white popu-
lation, and that the giving. of nearly
all the employment to negro laborers
has been against the best interests OF
this county and city, and is a
sufficient reason why the city of Will
mington, with its natural advantages,
has not become a city Of at least so
900 inhabitants.
IS. That we propose in future to
give to white men large part of the
employment heretofore given to ne
grOes because we realize that white
families cannot thrive here unless
there are more opportunities for the
employment of the different n em bers
of said families.
sc. That the white men expect to
live in this community peaceably; to
have and provide absolute protection
for their families, who shall be safe
from insult and in Jury from all
persons. whomsoever We are pre-
pared to treat the negroes with
Justice and consideration in all mat
tiers which do not involve sacrifices
of the interests Of the intelligent and
progressive portion of the com
munity. But we are equally prepared
now and Immediately to enforce
what we know to be our rights.
II. That we have been, in our
desire for harmony and peace, blind
ed both to our interests and our
rights. A climax was reached when
the negro paper of this city published
an article so vile and slanderous that
it would in most communities have
resulted in the lynching of the edito.,
We deprecate lynching and yet there
is no punishment provided by the
courts adequate for this otfense. We
therefore owe it to the people of this
community and of this city, as a
protection against such license in
the future, that the paper known as
The Record cease to be published and
that its editor be banished from this
community.
I'VE demand that he leave this
city forever within twentyfour hours
after the issuance Of this proclama-
ton. Second, that the printing press
from which The Record has been
issued be packed and shipped from
the city without delay: that we be
notified within twelve hours of the
acceptance or rejection of this de-
mand.
IF the demand is agreed to within
twelve hours we counsel forbearance
on the part of all white men. If the
demand is refused or if no answer is
given within the time mentioned.
then the editor. Manlev, will be ex-
PEELED by force