The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
WILMINGTON. n. C.
THE RIGHTS OF FREEMEN IN
yADED

and oppression. 1t has m~anfully
struggled for the right to govern its
own domestic affairs and for the blessed
boon of Home Rule The great and
admirable stateSman, who only a few
months ago was laid to rest, William
E. Gladstone, never performed a great
er service than in behalf Of Ireland in
his protracted and earnest efforts to
secure for Ireland the great blessing
it had so long coveted and sought
the precious right of local self-govern-
ment. He failed but he failed trying
to benefit and serve a distressed peo-
pie, a part of the great British empire.
In this great republic the right Of
home rule is regarded as the most
sacred, the most desirable, the all i'm
portant. 1t is declared by all wise men
and informed men as basic, as inalien-
able, as precious beyond estimate.
If the congress of the United States
at the end of the Mckinley administra-
ton should usurp power and decide
that there should be held no election
for president and vice president in
1900, but that the administration
should continue for four years more,
what would follow? A revolution
from Maine to Florida and from ocean
to ocean,.
NM +hn+ fha lori ell II nj
Massachusetts,, New York, Pennsyl-
vania and Illinois should declare that
no city elections should be held in
Boston, Greater New York, Philadel-
phia and Illinois, would the people
submit to it? They would be in open
rebellion in twenty-four hours.
In North Carolina the black radicals
combined with populist members of the
legislature under the advice and in
fluence of Governor Russell, we have
understood, took matters in their w
hands as to Wilmington and Newbern,
and would not allow the citizens to
hold their regular biennial election for
city officials. In other words, the free |
citizens of a free city were by law, by
the connivance and consent and action
of Russell and his cO-conspirators,
cheated out of their rights and priv
ileges and no election was allowed to
be held in May 1896, and the black rad
ical officials in power were kept in
and over, and under that usurped and
prostituted thing the White People of
this once free city have been living
ever since. Home Rule by n base
act was wrested from them, and there
was no revolution, no violence. Who
will dare to malign the White Men of
Wilmington and declare they are not
marvellous1y submissive and forbear-
ing and long-suffering and conservative
to the very core of their being? The
forbearance has been indeed most won
derful. At one fell blow the chief
imminent of the free white men of this
city was broken into fragments.
Usurpation raised it's horrid front
and the damning deed vas consumma-
amid the rejoicings of the Russell
gang and his faithful submissive fol-
lowers, 1.-The savages," as he branded
No home rule for Wilmington.
A record of crime and outrage!
If the black radical rule is continued
If the legislature is again under their
control-if the bad laws now operating
are to be perpetuated-if the people are
to be again deprived of the right to
vote, of the right to select their W
city officials and manage their own
home governmental no election is TO
be allowed by the usurpers n be-
trayers and traitors, then liberty is
and chaos is vigorously to the
The White Men are resolved to
govern in North Carolina. In Viii
mington they are determined to be the
and o the servants. For them
negro domination is of the past. They
will have freedom and their rights
how, in some way, anu lnell
enemies, the republican leaders, would
wise to understand this.
ANY free and enlightened and capa-
BILE people, who contribute nearly all OF
the heavy taxes to carry on state,
county, and municipal government,
and who are robbed of their rights
and deprived of sacred Home Rule,
must unite and lock shields and never
stop until their rights and liberties are
and there is perfect safety,
perfect protection afforded to them in
life. liberty and property. Then peace
will come and all will be well.
Fayetteville Observer: Rev. DR.. Nash
had the misfortune to be robbed or $50
nv pickpockets while in Raleigh dur