The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-11
TO COLOMBO NEGROES,
lina-A Black Commonwealth That
Shall Serve as a Refuge Tor the Race.
BY A WELDON.
ATLANTA constitutional

IL llfAANIA LLDON.
Raleigh, n. c., September 30.-(Staff
COrrespondence.)-The white race and
the black race in North Carolina are
engaged today in a momentous struggle
for supremacy.
Although it has been conducted in
peace, without loss of life or even the
letting of blood, it is as much a war
for conquest as was ever fought and
won or lost by armed hosts.
The black race, united, solid, aggres-
sive, is marching as one man against
the divided white with the avowed
purpose of overthrowing what slight
yestige of their power remains and set
ting up for themselves a sovereign
negro state.
Then they will repeal the laws against
inter-marriage between the races and
mixed schools, and all other avs
which, in any manner, shape or form,
provide for separate Accommodations
for whites and blacks.
This may be denied for political eff
feet, but there is abundant evidence
to sustain the assertion, and the evil
dence is furnished by the colored peo-
pie.
Their aim is to ~colonize and negroize
North Carolina and to so firmly estab-
lish themselves in possession that the
black race will flock here from other
southern states.
This is the solution of the race ques-
ton which the negroes are attempting
for themselves. While some of our
southern people have declared there
was no problem and others have said,
with Grady, that the two peoples were
working it out together and could on
ly report progress" colored men of
additional standing and wide influence
among their own blood undertook to
solve the issues OF lines Of their own.
The discovery of this fact came as sud
denly and swiftly as a meteor athwart
a November nights sky. 1t is no Sc
cret that colored leaders. ambitious for
their race, have matured in their
minds a plan by which they hope to
obtain absolute control Of the legisla-
ture, judicial and executive machinery
and then to rapidly carry out a scheme
of colonization by which this will be-
come a thoroughly negro sovereign
state, with that population in the ma
jOrity and furnishing all officials in the
public service, from United States SEN
ators and governor down through
judges, legislators and solicitors, to
the last constable and j%anitor.
If the plan succeeds. North Carolina
is to be the refuge of their people in
America. Their brethren from all the
southern states will be invited to come
here, cast their lot among their fell
lows and together to work out their
destiny in whatsoever degree Of pros
perity and advancement they may be
able to achieve for themselves.
This is no fairy story, no invention
of the inauguration. but a vital real
| ity, for the invitation is going out ever
now and the word is spreading far
and wide. I heard it Wednesday on
the southern border Of the state from
reputable witnesses who had that day
returned from South Carolina. Yes
terday it was told to M by men who
had just come from Virginia. The ne
groes in the adjoining states are dis
cussing it and are enthused. and the
idea is spreading in ever widening on
centric circles.
IF North Carolina goes republican
again this year, we intend to move
over there. The negro has more rights
there than anywher else" This was
the substance of the talk in both South
Carolina and Virginia. The blacks are
very much dissatisfied with the politi-
cal conditions in the former states and
/ are anxious TO get away.
Nor is this a fanciful and altogether
Elusive dream Of commonwealth on
the part of its projectors. On the on
trary, it far more practical than Bishop
Turner's scheme TO deport his people
to Africa and c~olonize and ~civilize the
dark continent. 1t is more practical,
too, than the plan suggested by our
own gifted Georgian, John Temple
Graves, who for years has been pro-
pagating the theory Of forming a negro