The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
AS OTHERS SER IT
As IL strikes the staff Correspondent Of
the Washington Post, Who Has Come
Among Us and Views the Field From
Within the Trenches

Within the Trenches |
The staff correspondent Of the Wash
ineton Post, writing from WILMINGTON
,,ndar date of October 18th, says:
The city of Wilmington-and it is q
fine. business-like city Of 23,O0e people
has a colored voting population OF
/ POO in excess of the whites, but the
democrats, by gerrymandering the To-
cal wards and by legislative enact
ments framed for the purpose, man-
aged until two years ago to retain con-
troll.
The reDublican-popuIist Legislature
hange his condition. Unde a most
remarkable law, the right Of choosing
their own mayor Vas taken away from
the citizens of Wilmington and that Of
fetal vas appointed by the republican
governor. In addition to this, the gov
ernor was also authorized to appoint
not only in Wilmington, but In New
bern, as many aldermen as those cities
might elect. This curious arrangement
naturally made the local boards repuo-
licar in character and many negroes
found membership upon them.
NEGRO RULE IN WILMINGTON.
This was not all. The long-estab-
lished method of appointing magls-
trates by the legislature, which always
resulted in the selection Of competent
whit men, was superseded by a law
which elected them by popular SUI
frape. The result is that out of the fiji
tv magistrates in the county, thirty-six
are negroes and most of them extreme
ly ignorant, although they haVe~poWer
to try all cases of misdemeanor which
do not go before the criminal court.
They can fine and imprison, and they
have jurisdiction in property cases 10
an amount not exceeding $500.
All this. however, was but the pen
ing wedge. A negro register of deeds,
a negro coroner who is not a physician,
negro policemen appointed by the may
or and the aldermen, negro deputies
who could not read the warrants given
them to serve or write their own
names, and nearly everything negro
followed in rapid succession, until the
citizens finally found themselves under
negro rule.
In a community where the white peo-
pie pay SO per cent. of the taxes, IL Is
easy to understand how such a condl-
ton, accompanied, as it was by every
form of bad government, became 1nsul-
TerADlp. EOrtu0dIcly ii DOdIu VI "b'iN'
composed of intelligent White men, pre-
vented the aldermen from repeating the
experience of official extravaganza ana
debauchery. which once afflicted SOuth
Carolina and Louisiana, for instance,
but the situation was still too serious
to be tolerated. The election THIS year
offered q favorable opportunity for a
return to good government, but IN view
of the prepOnderance of the negroes, II
became necessary to resort to extreme
measures. This has been done, even
with the assistance of the white popu-
lists, who are returning from their re-
publican affiliation, because they are
sick of existing conditions.
BLACKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
TO VOTE.
There are not eno/sh white votes IN
this county to overthrow the negro ma
iority. Consequently the negro IS not 10
be allowed to vote. IL ne stays away
from the polls he will not be interfered
with. otherwise his attempt to perpet-
nate the demoralizing rule of this ne
pro-ridden town will be resisted by
force of arms. On this point there neeo
he no misunderstanding whatever. be
lieying that the negro Will attempt 10
vote. and will be prepared TO nght MS
way to the polls, the Whlte cl'izeila
have also armed and are ready 10 ineel
the issue. If it comes, there Will DC
bloodshed and plenty OF 1t.
While thus rendered desperate Dy tlle
farce of government administered III
their city. the leaders OF the antl-heSio
movement were, nevertheless, extreme
Iv anxious to avoid a race conf1lct.
pao1izinp that the only certain path to
peace Law in keeping the negroes from
tha polls. a self-appointed committee
of the business men waited upon HoN-
ernor Russell and ex-Postmaster
French. the local negro leader mere,
and asked that no republican tcket pe
named. Governor Russell rephed thdI
he and Mr.. French would agree TO TINS
ana would use their influence to keep
the negroes away from the polls, II the
democratic nominees for the legislature
were withdrawn. and two candlualeS,
selected by the business men. nallea
in their stead. A meeting of the pusi-
nos mon was held today. and a consul
tation hold with the democratic nomi-
noes Peschau n Kerr. the result OF
which will be their withdrawal. me
republican county convention, Whlcl
also met today. adjourned without
making any nominations ana VIII nol
meet again unless called together py
the chairman. This eases the Sltua-
ton greatly. and there is a nope eX-
dressed bv the conservative element OF
the CITY that trouble will be avoided.
A BUSINESS MEMS MOVEMENT.
IT will be noticed that the business
men are playing a prominent and I'M
portant part in this anti-negro move
ment. AS a matter of fact, the point
has beer reached where politics no
longer cuts any figure. The democratic
political eader are simply trailing on
behind. taking advantage of clrcum-
stances. Far more effective than all
the campaign Randbooks ever published
are the resolutions adopted by the
chamber of commerce. and signed by its
president. who is a prominent repub-
lican. and by ali the leading business
men of the city. declaring that the po-
1itical situation here is a menace to
peace and order. and calling upon
every good citizen TO exert ms utmost
Influence and personal effort to effect
results which will restore order. pro-
tect property. and give security to u
lives and hOmes.n Men who have V