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

correspondence of Baltimore Sum-
Wilmington, n. c., November IA
My article under date of November Ii
traced the history of the negro in
til the end of 1896. will now consider
the inner history of the movements
that eliminated in the great regenera-
ton Of this beautiful city of Whining
ton.
On January /, 1897, Governor Rus
sell, after an election in which the most
outrageous fraud was practiced by the
successful party, took his seat. The
administration that followed has been
marked by the favor shown to the ne
gro and an utter disregard for the in
terests of the white tax payers.
The first occurrence that led to the
present difficulty was the appointment
by Russell, under act OF January,
1897, Of five republican aldermen, three
of whom were negroes, and the conse-
quent election of a republican mayor
for the city of Wilmington. By the
saint Id" liz CCLl vi y ibN AAAicII
followed, and two of them were ne
groes. Three of the wards were demo-
cratic and two republican. The demo-
Gratis resigned, and, therefore, the en-
tire administration was republican.
Under this new order Of affairs a
wholesale removal of whites ensued.
Negroes were put in their places.
The loss of the offices was of little
moment, as this city has so many and
diversified interests, with consequent
activities, that places are not so Oyet-
ed here as in some other sections. The
democrats were willing that r%epubli-
cans should hold the offices to which
they had been elected, and only slight
opposition was made. Every one was
DESTROYS that the city government
should be we'll conducted and awaited
the republicans experiment with inter
est.
SUDDEN POWER MISUSED.
The effect of the change in party
upon the negroes was immediate and
marked. The race seemed intoxicated
with newly given power and manifest
ed citation by increasing insOlence to
the whites. The record of insults is
large. The wives and daughters of
whites were unsafe alone on the streets
after nightfall. Even in the day time
the most aggravated forms of conduct
made white women shun the presence
of a negro.
The proportion of negro criminals to
whites increased, and according to sta
tistics furnished by the clerk of the
criminal court over IS per cent, of the
criminals were negroes. But these
criminals went UNPUBLISHED. The re-
publican courts and negro juries refus-
ed to convict a negro unless the pun
ishment was in the discretion Of the
Judge, in which case the sentences
were farCes.
Straw bail was openly and notorious
~ taken and justice became a travesty.
Under the republican government
the tax rate increased beyond reason
able explanation, and the business OF
the city suffered material damage.
The inha bitants of towns formerly
tributary to Wilmington began to dis
continue coming to the negro-govern-
ed city. as they disliked to do their
trading" here.
WANTED MORE OF THE MONEY.
The negroes began to complain that
they were not getting their share OF
the school fund. This claim was base
less. Though the whites paid over 81
per cent. of the taxes, h negroes re-
ceived Go per cent, Of the collections
The leaders of the negroes sought tC
create friction in the matter OF the
distribution of funds available fol
charitable purposes, claiming that nc
organized charity work was done
among them. This claim was disprov.
ed by the publication of the work OF
the Colored United Charities Associa
ton, by which it was proven that, al
though negores did not contribute &c
the fund, the whites contributed I'VE
two hundred dollars monthly to the
society for relief among the coloret
people. In addition the individual dis
pensation of charity to colored persons
was very large.
BENT ON SOCIAL EQUALITY.
AS the attempts at fermentation or
complaints of inequality in distribu-
ton of charitable funds had failed thu
only remaining ground upon which thu
race could be stirred up was SOcia
eQuility. Despite the proved falsity o
the charges of maldistribution the ne
groes were not convinced, and theil
minds were prepared for the doctrine
of social equality. This vas pressed
to its fullest extent by their eaders.
The effect On the negroes was dis
astrOus. Servants became insOlent al
worthless. Civility from negroes tt
whites became rarer. Disconten
seethed in the bosom of the race. |
was daily becoming more apparent tina
the negro proposed to rule politically
socially and economically.
The state of affairs existing in tn
late summer of 1898 aroused the gray
est ap~prehensions. Thinking peopl'
asked themselves how the matte
would end.
SOME OF THE NEGRO BOSSES.
The organization of the negroes wa
very complete. AS this city is typica
an examination Of the negro society i
valuable in the study of the negro race