Evening star., 1898-10-24
RACE WAR IMMINENT
Campaign in North Carolina Has De-
veloped Dangerous Conditions.
STRUGGLE FOR WHITE SUPREMACY
The Situation at Wilmington Much
Strained and Trouble Expected.
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

excitement is running high in North Caro-
lima and is increasing daily. There is bit
terness, which no attempt is made to con-
ceal. The color line could not be drawn
more plainly. The foremost democratic
speaker in the state, Charles B. Aycock,
addressing a great audience here last
night expressed In a few words the central
idea of his party by saying: white men
viii not submit to further negro domina-
tion in North Carolina
The democrats say there are approx
mately 1000 negro office holders in North
Carolina. They express their determina-
ton to end this state of affairs. New
Hanover county. in which is Wilmington
the largest place in the state, is the focus
of politics at present 1t IS there the su-
preme struggle is being made. which the
whole state is watching. The republican
postmaster, William H Cladbourn. in a
letter to Senator PritcEard. which he also
gave to the press. says a race conflict s
imminent there; that the property owners
are determined to PUT an end at once and
forever to negro rule. and that this feeling
rises above any politics. He in view Of
this impending crisis. urges Senator Pritch
ard, as the head of the republican party
in North Carolina. to let the property own
ers have full control in New Hanover
county and in WilmiI gton. He says there
are ten negro policemen, forty-six negro
magistrates and many negro officials in
profound sensation. 1t started the repub-
Hcans and pOpulists. The republicans
make the claim that CIadboUrn was forced
to write the letter.
The leading democratic paper of Will
miugton. in publishing CladDOurn's letter.
makes some comments. 1t says the situa-
tiCn there has been for some time one that
might be compared to magazine only
awaiting the spark to set it off. The paper
then says: The people who property
and pay the taxes have sworn to get charge
Of their city and county-by peaceful
means if they can: by revolution if they
must
whites Are Organized.
The leading democratic paper at Char
Iotte. commenting on the crisis at Whining
ton. says that the white men of Whining
ton are Crganizcd and prepared for what
ever may come. and certain section of
that city has been laid off and within this
Wei understood boundary the women and
children are to be massed for protection
when the anticipated trouble begins We
may he Permitted to express the hope and
Tho belief that if there is a clash of arms
at Wilmington the regrocs are rot the only
republicans who will suffer The white
SCouudrelS who are the handspring of their
conduct should be attended to first.
There are six republicans in New Han
over who are locally known as the Big
Six" One Of these is Governor Russell.
The latter is a large dairy owner there
The feeling aganst him on the part of the
democrats is so bitter that his milk is boy
cotted. newspaper there says: Self
respect demands that we have nothing to
do with him or his; duty to our children
requires that thzy shall not be nourished
Russell milk lest they become tainted
with the political virus which has made
him an Outcast Of society and a ContagiOn
10 good public morals
The white men Of Wilmington have taken
up the matter Of the employment of ne
grCeS They have determined to give en-
MD - n
tagpnize their interests, ard in the past
ten days have discharged many negroes TO
make room for white men 1t is declared
that this mOVeH- ent' to Suppldnt negro
labor with white labor is not q temporary
makeshift, but will continue after the cleo
tiOu. 1t is proposed to make Wilmington
white mans town as II will not grow as
long as II is negro town. and II has been
determined to make it a white mans town
not only for the sake Of society, but for
the development Of the place
The southern tier Of counties compose the
sixth congressional district, and all along
the 2-n miles of that territory which ad-
joins South Carolina the campaign Is the
hottest. Secretary Aver Of the pOpulist
state committee. who is one Of the most
C.jr-ne and ardent of the ''fusionists.'
says the democrats are making their hard
est fight in the sixth. Extreme as is the
feeling, Aver says ne does not expect
trouble on election day, as he believes
things will become quiet by that date.
4. :. Peace Of the p0pulist state commit
tee makes the remark that the drawing of
IN, color line has driven and IS driving
more republicans than popuiists into the
democratic party. because the populists are
Eut C., o. affected by any such cry" But
against this must be set the opinion Of G.
G. Bailey OF the republican state commit
Tee that the populists are not standing
10y the republicans, but are returning to
the democrats in large numbers are literal
" jumping the game and their leaders can
not hold them for fusion
Struggle for the Legislature.
The great struggle Is for control of the
legislature The governor of North Caro-
lima has really but little power. The legis-
lature's power is very great. The governor
has no veto power The position of Cover
nor Russell is extremely anomalous. All
democrats hate him. Their state chairman
says the legislature VIII impeach him. Re
publicans Of high position say they believe
he Will be impeached. and that. no matter
what the complexion OF the legislature Is,
he will be imDeaChed But ii IS hardly
probable that republicans would impeach
him as II would be used against their par
~. With the exception Of remarkably
limited coterie the governor has no friends
IN his own party. c. T Bailey. the repIb-
Hcan postmaster here, says: The governor
has friends save the cOnVicts he has
pardCned and the lawyers he is feeding"
1t is easy to from this that the COVER
nor will have but few friends in the legisla-
ture, unless among the pOpulists, with
whom he has been affiliating.
These side lights the queer political
situation in North Carolina are interesting
and they reveal the facts as they are today.
The democratic leaders say that their CON
troll OF the lower house OF the legislature is
a certainty. They go further and assert
that they will carry the house. The fusion
lists (populists and republcans) on the 9th
er hand. declare that 1t is impossible for the
democrats 10 overcome the heavy majority
against them, which at present is 81 The
democrats IN reply say that this "a demo-
cratic year. and that there will be a com
plete destruction Of the fusion fabric. There
are made so many claims and counter
claims that 1t is difficult TO see the facts
as they really are.
Perhaps It will be considered entirely fair
20 take the statements made to your cor
respondent by u republican from the first
district. who has looked over the situation
and who declares that he speaks of the
state of things without bias. He saws: II
believe the fusionlsts will elect Harry Skin
ner in the first congressional district Foyy-
Ter in the third. Jenkins in the fourth.
think the second. fifth, sixth, seventh
eighth and ninth are q 'stand-ofr. 1 cannot