The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-18

DIR. Guy Carlton Lee. Analyses His
FaiIures-Ltberty was Misunderstood
Unwfllfngness TO Use BALLOT In a
Broad way-A Decline I'm Mortality
since the Civil war-Inherent Idle
an1K

ness As Another EdctOf |
(Correspondence of Baltimore Sum-
Wilmington, n. c., November ID
of the first things TO be consider
ed in connection with the recent out
break in Wilmington is what led 10
the outbreak. The true history OF this
has never been given, as up TO this
time the leaders could net disclose
their plans without danger to them
selves and to their cause
Now that the end has been reached
the men at the head OF AFFAIRS
choose The Sun as the medium OF
| placing themselves before the world.
This has been the deliberate conclus-
ion Of all those interested. The negro
| leaders have also given their testl-
! mony, with the result that for he first
time the inner history of the outbreak
| is written.
Two years ago the election Of Rus
| sell as governor marked the begin
| ming of the last stage in the movement
| for white supremacy in North Caro-
lima. The first stages are matters OF
history. 1t is a we'll known fact that
emancipation gave the negro opportun-
tiles which he was unable to use. This
is not denied by any party or sect.
The first effect of the new liberty was
disastrous. The negroes abused the
privileges they had received-from lg-
torrance of those privileges or from the
propensity to overindulgence that IS
the common fault of those to whom
great riches suddenly come.
Thic cnirit of Northumberland led 10
intoxication. intoxicated with their
newly granted importance, they were
carried away by the persuasion of the
harpies that rushed from the north to
gorge themselves on what was sup
posed to be a feast. Thus mlsled and
BETRAYED, the negro was led into out
rage and crime. but more particularly
into such use of his strength as prac-
tically to thrust the white man from
any voice in the government OF which
he was the sole support.
GETTING RID OF THE CARPET
BAGGER
Such a state of affairs, considered
from any standpoint, was in~tolerable,
and in time the white man asserted
himself and regained control Of the
state. Aided by the new government
organization he in great part rid him
self of the ''carpet-bagger"-in great
part, but not completely, for the oper-
alton of the federal laws foisted on
and has maintained in the south a host
of men hat are not in sympathy with
the south.
The methods by which white SUI
premacy was secured were coercion.
4:~:l4oo o-l fro,,I This ic the
plain truth and cannot be denied,
Such methods are not peculiar to the
south, but have f1ourished at times in
every section in the United States.
But this prevalence did not obVlate
the consequences of the lowered stand
ard of political morals. 1t led the ne
gro to distrust the democratic party
, 1t taught him that the election laws
| did not protect the negro in the exer.
else of his franchise. The negro die
, not have the ability or comprehension
to grasp the reasons for his practlca
. observation-disclosures.
The effect of illegal election prac'
8 tees upon the white man was de
moralizing and led to grave abuses
l It weakened his moral fibre n per
petuated the evil practice thought thi'
weakness. This is the fact and it is ad
mitted. The southerner is not blln(
to it. and came to a realization of i
earlier than other sections Of country
THEN ANOTHER CHANGE.
5 By reason of these realizations
change came over political methods il
>. the sos. The negro received a create
S degree of practical political freedom
r Fraud gave place to fairness. with tn
s result that in the COS the republican
= party had gained great availabl
: ! strength and cOlored men appeared no
only in the legislative halls of tn
state, but of the nation. The whit
Il republicans obtained control of tn
e higher offices, and finally, in 1897, tn
governor of North Carolina, n Unit
ed States senator and several Unite
States representatives were republi
cans, and the same party cOntrOlle'
the state legislature.
The control of the republicans mean
the recognition of the negro, in fac
as we'll as in theory. Large number
= of the white o~fice-holders, fedora
= state, county and municipal, wer
< turned out of office to give place t
II negroes, most of whom were of a
= utterly worthless character. To tn
1t direct control must be added the in
l. direct control eXerted by negro wOme
a over white republicans, for it is a
open and notorious fact that such col
nections existed. No more recent cas-
y of such influence can be given than or
of the late republican officials of tn
: city.
NEGROES WANTED MORE AN
), MORE.
ut The enjoyment of office gave to tt
negro a craving for more, and, wit
in blind selfishness, he disregarded Il
pa fact that the whites pay over ninet
- per cent. of the taxes Of the state, col
duct all important business ente
- prises, are the landowners, and,
III fact. furnish all the brains and pro
y perity of the country. All the neg
a. wanted was office-other interest tia