The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-02
Letter From w. r.. Fountain.

Esq, a prominent business man vi
Rocky Mount, and a staunch democrat
wrote w. E. Fountain, late candidate
for in the Second district,
a letter congratulating him on his es-
pOusa1 of the OF white suprem-
acy. Mr.. Fountains reply to this let
| ter is published below:
Tarboro, N. c., October 80. 1898.
| Ny Dear Mr.. Arlington:
Your thoughtful and much appre-
| ciated letter received. 1t is so much
! like you in your goodness Of heart that
1 appreciate and esteem it above the
ordinary expressions of men. / feel
that have been doing my simple,
conscientious duty in the past. | have
| taken in the drama of life. We are
| all in this life for some higher and
| nobler purpose than mere selfshness.
One who cannot rise above worldly
| ambition or avarice cannot, as L
| conceive, live properly for the glory
of God and the betterment of his crea-
| lures. In ether words some one must
be self-sacrificing in order that great
purposes may be accomplished, and a
higher civilization attained. In tne
great m%ultitudes of this world, with
varied interest and endorsement each
is given a talent and placed in a po-
| sition. and if each has a proper con-
ception Of duty and a will to act or
perform it the great problems are
worught out either for better or worse.
It is because of an improper concep-
ton or performance of duty that af-
| fairs become disordered or tangled, on
account of conditions in governmental
affairs, the third party movement was
| inaugurated-new scenes and new
! actors were brought upon the stage,
| until the play evolved new thoughts
and efforts in the direction of reform
| such as would meet the changed con-
ditiOns in the worlds progress, read
lust matters and benefit mankind.
In this change | was thrown upon the
stage in an active part. My concep-
ton of the whole led me into a COM
prehensive understanding of my duty.
| was impressCd-yes impelled to a
performance of that duty. | consid-
| GTcu ven TIRE IOICeS ~ De CIlpIOyCu
| knew that brain force must, and
would control physical force. That
the multitudes would be swayed by ig-
norance and blind passion and pre-
judice, that designing, ambitious men
upon the stage would seek to control
the forces, that without some in
fuence, (Which sought the highest
life,) to direct and at the proper time
to lead, the drama would end in trag-
edy. With these conditions | entered
the arena of political stratagems, not
that | had any ambition for fame o
office, but simply to get IN touch with
the forces so that the talents given
me might be used in the performance
of a duty at the right time. l realized
at the beginning the difficulties in the
way and the cost to me in a worldly
sense. | knew full well our social
structure and Influences. | intended
we'll that it required humiliation
degradation and personal sacrifice In
a worldly sense to perform my part
of the work, | cOmprehended it all,
thence | have been instrumental large
ly in forcing an issue paramount in
our state to all others, that is the ne
COR problem. No one has known bet
ter than | hat the negro as a factor
or elemnt in our political as we'll as
social order mas been and will continue
to be a great disturbing element until
settled and it is one that has retarded
our material development and adj
vancement and prevented that stabil-
ity il our affairs, which alone will Sc
cure for us investment Of capital in the
development of our many resources.
With my efforts on the line of devel-
opment to benefit my state and com
munity affording employment to many
giving prosperity and happiness to all
and which has been and is nearer my
heart than all politics. l saw it was
absolutely necessary to eliminate the
negro from politics, and in this cam
paign my part has been to keep in
touch with SO as to exercise an in
f1uence over the populists and negroes
so that at the Opportune time my in
f1uence could b exercised to lea them
to a realization of true conditions and
an intelligent acceptance Of the same
My motives n purposes were as be-
fore stated for the best results. l gave
resistance in the face OF abuse and
threatened personal danger for the
purpose of testing the sincerity of my
white brethren upon the issue. NJ
plan then was to line up my white
populist friends on the side of white
supremacy and thereby make it ar
easy matter of accomplishment an(
prevent the threatened tragedy. Al
that moment seeing all else was ready
l appeared upon the stage with other
actors in Goldsboro and defined my
true position and gave my strongest
influence for effect throughout thu
state, relying upon my Make for for
giveness for error and the approval o.
my race, knowing full we'll that thu
intelligence of our people would theI
fully comprehend and appreciate m.
part in the drama which l feel the &C
tive part was ended at the momen1
and the sad and deplorable tragedy
ayerted. In the providence of God
feel that my part has been performed