The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08
sKnroUs CorDrrpor
BalfiWereans Recently Prom NORTH
Caro1fna Tell Of the Fierce struggle
for Whfte Supremacy
Baltimore SUM-

A large number Of letters received
by Baltimore business houses and f.
nancial concern from representative
men in North Carolina CONFIRM reports
OF the serious condition OF affairs in
that state as a result of the large num-
Der Of negro office-holders and the de-
termination Of the whites to secure
control The letters in most instances
state that business is at a standstill,
and the whole efforts OF the best white
people of the state are being concen-
trated in the struggle TO shake off
negro domination. They unite in stat
ing that the contest is not a political
one and that the issue is white su-
premack.
In speaking of the situation yester-
day Mr.. Richard j. Biggs, of the Rich
ard j. Biggs Company POP South street,
and a former city councilman said: Il
have just returned from a short stay
in sections of eastern North Carolina.
BY personal investigation | found that
the situation is a very serious one and
has not been overdrawn. Over 10, 600
negro voters, led and controlled by
corrupt and designing white men. n
stitute a serious meance to law and
order, and threaten the safety of the
homes of the white people in a most
alarming way. We in Baltimore "a
appreciate the situation. despite the
trouble which We are having with the
negroes. Facts should not be ignored
for pOlicy's sake. and it is a great sur
prise to find men in public office affirm
that no marked negro rowdyism exists
in Baltimore. Within forty-eight
hours l have seen five different brutal
exhibitions of negro rufianism, which
causes, familiar to the public, prevent
being promptly and vigorously sup
pressed. The authorities W it to the
people, both white and colored, TO see
that this danger be permanently and
quickly stopped. This can be don as
soon as the determination is reached
to do it, and if it is allowed to con-
tinue, we may become familiar with
the conditions existing in North Caro-
lima by what may happen here at
home.
Mr.. Joseph B. Casey, Of the J.. S..
Johnson Company, 161 South street,
said: LAS a commercial man, whose
travels bring him in personal contact
with prominent business men of North
Carolina, / cannot refrain from en-
dOrsing the appeal from that unfOrtu-
nate state for white mans rule" The
present condition OF affairs there has
seriously interrupted business, and
travelling men are all anxious to get
away until the approaching fracas
blows over. The terrible seriousness
with which the best White citizens as
sert that they intend to rule can only
be appreciated by those coming in per-
sonal contact with them. Taxation
without representation was never bet
ter illustrated when it is considered
that in the eastern section over ninety
per cent. Of the taxes are paid by white
citizens, while in one county there are
thirty-siX negroes holding office, in
Guiding sheriff, deputies, coroner
school inspector. magistrates, clerk of
court, etc. The indications are that
the next few days may precipitate a
calamity from which it will take the
people of the pest-ridden state a long
time to ecOVer.
wilmington and New Bern are in
deed hot towns just now. Not long
ago an article appeared in a Newspaper
Of Wilmington traducing the white
| women of hat section in language so
vile as to be unfit for quotation, and
SO villainous in its entirety as to be
found only in the columns of a negro
newspaper AS We see the negro in
North Carolina we find him different
from the average northern negro. Ig-
nOrant, imprOyident, pOverty-stricken,
lazy, immoral, it is a question as TO
whether he eXciteS our greater pity
or disgust. His only asset seems to
be his right of suffrage, and in the pos
session of this powerful weapon he has
welded a rod of iron, beneath which
the white man has been made to kneel.
Negro sanitary inspectors invade the
homes of white people under the cover
of the law and insult the women of
the family. On the slightest pretext
white men are hauled before illiterate
negro magistrates and subjected to in
suits and injustice. Equality before
the law is a misnomer if the question
is between a negro and a white man,
and the negro has his case won before
it is heard.
'Colored women have left service
with their white employers to cleo
tiOneer among negro men, and negroes
of intelligence, who recognize that
their only hope for self-advancement
is in white supremacy, e%ndanger their
lives by giving voice to their con-
%victiOns. The lines are tightly drawn.
and every lover OF good government
and every true friend of the negro
are striving for success of the fight
for white supremacy. How much in
earnest the white people are may be
understood from the fact that the bus
ines men in sections where a large
percentage of tdeir trade comes from
negro farmers are boldly declaring
that the negro, domination must end.
November Sth,. promises TO be a criti-
cal day in Old North State, and every
one interested in its welfare viii pray
hat the oUoome will be white SUI
premacy."
Soldiers Guarding Jaii at Augusta