The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
North Carolina comes near being the

North Carolina comes near being the
of the south which has most an
ti%-southern leanings. The southern
aristocracy Of the ante-war period was
less dominant there than anywhere
else in that section, and during the
rebellion the state was the first 10
speak out through its public men, as
the contest drew toward its close,
against its continuance. There was a
considerable mountain region Of North
Carolina that never had heart in the
rebellion, and when the war was over
the republicans did not depend upon
the suppression of the whites in poll
tics TO carry the elections so much as
they did in most quarters Of the south.
The state at length settled into dem
ocratic hands with her sisters, as the
effect OF negro incapacity to govern
her. but this was later forgotten. When
the populist movement came a few
years ago, it was found easy 10 take
her out of them. The populists of most
Of the southern states continued to be
democrats, and they are going back
into that party at present. In North
Carolina, on the contrary, they seemed
naturally united with the republicans
in opposing the democratic party. and
the two in combination put that party
down, and did it by acting together on
a pOpulist basis. The democrats lost
power in North Carolina by opposing
free silver and other populist heresies;
the republicans came into power by
supporting them.
There is no doubt hat this republi-
c~an-pOpulist combination appealed to
the more ignorant and prejudiced por-
ton of the voters of North Carolina,
and that the democrats we're over
thrown in holding to conservatism as
regards public affairs there. Such a
state of affairs was favorable TO the
prominence Of the cOlOred men in the
politics of the state. The republicans
and their pOpulist associates being in
control, there was little opportunity for
negro suppression. The negro vote was
encouraged, and vas used for all it
was worth. The negro politicians saw
their opportunity, and they made the
most of it. They do not appear to have
tried to be elected to congress very
much. though in one or two instances
they have sent men Of their color to
hat body. They have had more, but
still not very many, representatives in
the state legislature, but they have
turned their attention heavily to the
local offices. They have taken to
themselves places in the police, have
| chosen a great many men of their color
to be magistrates, and nave secured
possession of a large share of eXecu-
tive offices. In one cOunty-that in
which Wilmington is situated-they
have no less than thirty-six magis-
trates upon the bench, the register of
| deeds, and other county officials in pro-
portion. The white men, who are the
| property possessors and the business
| men of this region to the amount OF
fully 95 per cent IF the whole, are
naturally much disturbed about this.
| They find themselves locally under ne
| gro rule, and a rule of necessity much
inferior to what their own would be
in point of intelligence. They are re-
| mOnstrating, and are led to fear that,
if continued, it will bring back the con-
| ditions of affairs as it was in the south
ern states thirty years ago; indeed, it
| is asserted to have done so to some e.
tent already.
1t is pointed out that this negro rule
in early reconstruction days was a dire
| full failure, the recollection of which
| still brings a shudder in its contempla-
| ton. But how to get rid of it in North
| Carolina is a troublesome problem. II
| is pretty firmly fixed there already. OF
| course, the republicans have the re-
sponsibility for its existence, but they
are said to be appalled, at the Franken-
stein they have created. They are as
much concerned to be relieved of it in
| operation as are the democrats. The
| indications now are of a combination
| of the whole white vote against it,
| though it has all to be carried owe t.
| the democrats for this purpose. Presi-
| dent McKinley's republican postmaster
| at Wilmington writes an open letter tC
Republican United States Senator
Pritchard of the state to say that he is
| advising the giving up of the local of
| fees to the democrats. He evidently
! thinks the safety of the community
| demands this. But it may be easier said
than done. The negroes have now the
| possession Of these offices, and the hold
| ing of them is something doubtless
very much to their minds. The spectre
| that looms up in view Of the situation
| is that of a threatened race conflict.
| There is danger of it, and there ap-
| pears to be apprehension that it may
| break out if there is al attempt to os-
! tracize these men in the a~ppOrtionine
| of the local offices.
~Politically speaking, the situation
much favors the democrats. The
white republicans are expected to vote
with them to a great extent as a de-
| fence against negro rule, and the col
| Ored voters are not to be assumed tC
| stands with the republicans while the
| latter are refusing them office. In
| view of this, the democrats are prophe-
| sying that they are to carry the state
( ea SiIv this wear and some of them are