The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-29

Especial Correspondence of Golfers Weekly
Wilmington, \. c.
Unless the more ancient process Of ne
gro distranchisement at the ballot-boN
are considered to be effective. it is
quite possible that the successful capsiz-
ing OF Wilmington,s municipal govern
ment by The Committee Of Twenty
five will be emulated in other communi-
ties where negro rule is oppressive, and
followed by similar revolutions through
out the BLACK Belt of the South. At
the present time representatives Of many
Southern cities are here, finding ont how
the thing was done.
Since the close of the Civil Conflict
the South has vainly sought for sou-
ton Of the Race Problem. The neccssl-
ty for white supremacy Is the Gospel
of the Southerner. who is also hampered
by an ineradcable feeling Of paternalism.
inherited from slavery days.
1t was reserved for Wilmington. \. c..
TO AXE the most startling and suggestive
step looking to the absolute termination
Of negro rule and disfranchisement Of the
race.
Wilmington is pretty little city. tuck
ad away among the sweet-smolHnG pines
down in the southeast corner Of the
state not far from the coast. It's popu-
lation of 25.000 souls is made of 5000
whites and 1I.00o negroes. 1t is typl-
c>l Southern city. with all the pictures
are Southern attachments-mule-dr
vehicles. coon dogs grotesquely ragged
larl-ioS. eN-carts. fried bananas, red
handanas hot biscuits, honking geese.
ard wandering Sioats.
Tho recent revolution which resulted
-1,,, .rr.i1r1l II
r-nS ocnas;cned by municipal misrule and
-ho dictatorship usurpcd by Governor
RreSen Radical differences formed the
basis Of the revolt Trouble WAS brew
inc for months Before eteclon. the
..itv was in the power of the FuSioniStS,
vas practically without charter or cf-
frCtivc government, and was dominated
lv negroes and negro sympathlzerS.
Many police officers and deputies were
cclorcd men.
If the unanimous testimony of reputa-
h1a citi7cnS ''hOuSch0ldCfS and warm
-rcn'' is to be depended upon, Il reforma-
con IN tho municinal regime was neces-
earv. White women found it unsafe
- walk through tho streets in daytime
,-ithaut an escort They were insulted
end elhoved into the gutter hv negro
women and men. Children going to
school wore abused. l.eSldencoS were
rokan into and their contents destroyed
ort of nure deviltrv. HouSehoIderS who
comrlained to the Chief of Police nov in
rar-s rnI5novn) received no satisfaction.
Resides. the ton@uc Of the negress lis
Irn~ in the middle.
Before election there was an exodus
OF white women and children from the
city. The tension was drawn close to
the swapping point Trouble was anti
cipated by both races. Local dealers
were forbidden to sell arms to the ne
groes. who We're poorly equipped with
weapons Application was made 10 the
Winchester Arms Company by Fusion
lists for two hundred repeating rifles. 1t
is said and referred by the company to
its North Carolina agent, who sent the
letter TO Wilmington. where 1t WAS
published Governor Russell and Sena-
tor Putfcr having announced their m
tention to sneak in Wilmington. a COM
mittee Of citizens waited upon those GEN
tlemen in the interest Of law and order.
and "adviscd them to stay away. one
Of the committee was former law
nartnpr Of the Governor. The speeches
were postponed.
cn the day following election. the
prominent Democratic citizens banded to-
.scthpr and determined to act. The F'u-
Wright. Mayor: J. II. Melton. Chief OF
Police: L. H. Bunting. Magistrate. and
the entire Board OF Aldermen. 'reslgn-
ed. :" and the new revolutionary govern
ncnt. consisting OF A. NJ Waddell.
Mavor: f. G. Parmalce, Chief of Police.
and a Town Council made MP of proml-
mont business men. assumed control.
The streets filled with citizens. peace
fully disposed but whose pistol-pocketS
hulged out ominously.
The revolutionary government lmmedl-
atclv sworc in two hundred and fifty
snecial policemen AS for the members
Of the old police force. they simply for
cot to report for duty
Immediately the revoiutionlStS III pow
o.. proceeded to make it warm for negro
rulc leaders and sympAthizerS. ohJec-
tional Fusionists Gall Fusion lists are OBJ
ioctionable in Wilmington. by the way)
were given to understand that they had
become decidedly persona non cTata III
WILMINGTON. Whercunon passenger re-
CENTS of the railroad company began to
look un.
Then tho immediate cause OF violence
and hloodShcd matcrialiZcd.
There was '(but is no moro Ill the city