Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-11-17
Trouble in South Carolina.

The storm that had been gathering
for months past in South Carolin.
broke in fury on Thursday of last
week. The real source of the trouble
can be attributed to a few unworthy
white men, Republican carpet-baggers,
who worked on the ignorance Of the
colored people until they had acquired
sufficient influence over them to con-
troll the political situation with their
help and that Of few other voters.
Some of the most populous cities in
the State had passed into the control
of this element. In Wilmington the
police and city officers, school officials,
magistrates, ETC., were nearly all ne
groes, and these not of the better class
of colored people, but largely ignorant
and vicious men. The good order of
the city and the power of taxation was
in the hands of a class that did not
own five per cent of the property.
The situation finally became so un-
bearable that the whites rose en- masse
to force change. Ministers, lawyers,
doctors and the best people Of the city
went into the struggle determined to
win. The negroes armed themselves
to resist the action of the whites.
The citizens first tried peaceful meas
ures, and it was hoped bloodshed
would be avoided. The Republican
mayor, the chief Of police and the
board of aldermen Of Wilmington
were forced to resign, and their places
filled by the best men Of the city.
The new government Immediately pro-
ceeded to remove from Office objection
able men, filling their places with
reputable citizens, A negro editor
named Manly,who had fomented much
trouble and Ibeled white women, was
told to move himself and his paper
from the city. No reply was given
to the demand in the time named,
whereupon a crowd tore down the
building where the paper was printed,
destroyed the press and scattered the
material, finally burning the wreck
age. The editor barely escaped with
his life by catching a train for the
north. A crowd of negroes on the
street was ordered to dispense. They
refused, and it is said fred at the
white men. The whites then began
the battle, and nine negroes were in
stantly killed and scores wounded.
The new government called out
troops, swore in many extra policemen
and proclaimed martial law. The de-
termination of the whites soon swed
the negroes, and then they became
thoroughly demoralized. They began
to leave the city by hundreds, and
those who remained kept indoors.
Many of the colored ringleaders were
lodged in Jail. The white men who
had led them into the trouble were
mobbed and beaten, and several of
them would have been killed if they
had not been spirited out Of the city
and sent away from the State. VIII
mington is now in full possession of
the white people, and all over the
State the Objectionable men are being
removed from Office and in many in
stances forced to leave the country.
White supremacy is firmly established
in North Carolina.
There was trouble also in South Car
DINA last week, caused by the attempts
of a family named Tollbert, Republican
carpet-baggers, to run the election and
defeat the white voters. Eight col
ored men were killed. Three of the
Tollberts were wounded, one of them
being terribly beaten, and they barely
escaped with their lives. They were
forced to leave the State.
Many of the refugees from North
and South Carolina are now in Wash
ington, seeking to secure federal aid.
What course President Mckinley will
pursue is not yet made manifest, but
there will be fearful bloodshed if he
attempts to force these Objectionable
arpet-baggers upon the white people.