The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-26
RACE ISSUE IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
Appalling Conditions Now Exist in
That State.
THE CITIZENS ARE FULLY ARMED
The Slightest Incident May start a
Bloody anu Far-Reaching Con-
lict-Negro Domination is the
Cause of the Trouble.

ACCORDING 10 press Itp'4t7' ie4A'tO'N~'
by the testimony OF reputable persons
race war Is imminent in North CalOhna.
The condition OF anairs in portion OF
the state is described as perfectly ap-
paling, and the slightest incident may
start a conflict which Will be iar-reacn-
ing and terrible In It's consequences.
DIR. COBB Of GOllsOorO, reputable
| and highly esteemed physician Oh the
North state, was In Richmond Monday
and said that the picture OF CONDITIONS
| existing in his section had not been over
drawn.
CITIZENS FULLY ARMED.
Il keep near my hand ne salu'
| Winchester rifle and two hundred ROUNDS
| OF ammunition, and the same prepare
| ton for trouble has been male by every
reputable citizen Of my community.
The cause OF the trouble is that negro
| officials practically FIJI every once III GER
| tain sections. All cases are heard before
negro magistrates, and white scnool
teachers have TO appear and Qudllly DC
fore colored school boards.
Tho situation In the State is thus epIto-
| mized by the Washington Post Mhich
fully realizes the gravity OF tAe S''u"-
ton:
| every thoughtful and humane citizen
from one end Of the country 10 the
| other, will be appalled, by the prospect
| now discernible IN North Carolina. IL
| IS no LONGER possible to believe that the
! clamor OF the whites Is merely revival
/ Of the old Democratic trick 10 eaten
/ votes and ride into official place and per-
quisites. On the contrary we are con-
| fronted with the admissions OF prominent
! Republicans TO the effect that the ques-
| ton is far deeper and more vital-that II
is. in fact a question OF simple ciyiliza-
! ton. We are carried back thirty years
| to the dark and bloody episode OF recon-
! struction. ana see once more the menace
of the struggle between anarchy and or
eanlzed society. That menace Is Obiter-
ating mere party lines and bringing to-
! gether the whites without reference 10
political Affiliations. in solid phalanX
! OF self-defence. The issue involves the
preservation Of enlightened Institutions
| Of honest government. Of law and order,
Of the integrity OF the Caucasian race.
II IS an issue that can have but one ter
! mlnation.
HAVE GONE TOO FAR.
apparently the white Republicans
! have gone too far I'm their efforts 10 keep
control Of the North Carolina patronage
! They have simply repeated the mah-h
| and sinister performances Of the carr ct
| baggers Of CSC. and invited a similar
| catastrophe. The Southern people have
| SHOWN HLit0NN lilNA AAIfa NNttiINN t+t-"t fft+t
not submit to negro domination, with ell
that that implies. The negro has proved
10 the satisfaction Of the entire country
that he is incapable of conducting civil
lied and wholesome government As
far back as 1863, the Northern men who
went 20 South 10 invest money ana make
for themselves permanent homes and le-
climate careers, recognized the unQues-
tionable fact that local negro rule was
hopelessly inconsistent with social order
and material prosperity. They accord
ingly Joined the native whites IN all
matters connected with domestic politics.
while voting the Republican ticket In an
national contests. ~ was with their ana
and sympathy that the South threw OF
the incubus. and after eight long years
Of tragedy. stood erect at last. 10 seems
! however, that the North Carolina leaders
have FORGOTTEN the lesson OF thirty years
! ago. and are about 10 revive the nor
rors and calamlties Of that aoomlnauie
episode. We draw this conclusion hol
from the outcrics and imprecations or
| Democratic demagOgues and oflcc-aeeh-
ers. but from the solemn uttcrances or
white Republican officials. Let us quote
! for example from the public declaration
Of Mr.. McKinley's postmaster at VIM
ington. made I'm the form OF an open let
ter to Senator Pritchard:
FEELING OF UNREST.
"There is a greater feeling or unrest
and uncertainty about the maintenance
Of order than ] have ever seem and many
| even the most conservative, Ieel tldL
race conflict is imminent than Whleh
nothing could DE more disastrous Ho1
only TO this city and county. but 70 our
PARTY in the state and rather tran have
! riot. arson. and bloodshed prevail here !
Republican though i am. advise giving up
the local Offices in this county, as there
| are no national political principles IN
yolved In this contest
Il had thought at first that II was
! merely the usual political cry and the
fight for the Offices, but / am now con-
| WINGED the feeling IS much deeper IMAM
This. as II pervades the whole communi-
ty. and there seems TO be setued oe'eI-
mination on the part OF the property
owners. business men, and taxpayers
that they will administer city and county
government
This is from Hon. W. H. Chadbourn
a Republican of high personal character
and of good social standing and RESPONSE
bility. lie IS a friend OF Senator Prltch-
ard and as we have already shown MF.
| McKineys appOintee as postmaster OF
! wilmington He states that there are
thirty-six negro magistrates IN thal coun-
| " alone 10 say NDl44li1 VA 81 iiN1+f
lister Of Deeds and various other officials
of greater or less importance. This
means that the places through which
the people and the government are
brought into the closest and most inu-
mate contact are administered by ne
groes. while the business men, the tax
pavers and the classes most intereted IN
government are in the proportion OF al
Leaf 95 per cent. whites. Is II conceiya-
bic that the Representatives OF practically
an the property, the education, the en-
nghtenment, and the civilization IN
North Carolina will assent 10 an arrange
ment so prepostreous-so Impossible we
think not There is no reason why we
should mince matters. The experiment
has been tried. under the most favorable
auspices. and It has proved a dismal and
a tragic failure. Even General Grant
who had conquered the Confederate
armies in the field. could not, with all
the civil and military power OF the coun-
try at his back. force negro rule upon
the Southern whites The thing is out OF
the question. 1t cannot be. And those
VINO engage in such a desperate enter
prise will reap only the harvest OF as
| nd rtfin -