The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

dayS of 1906 SUSTAINING concealmpnI.
They had defied the stamp collector,
"a Colonel Waddel was one leader of
the men of that day., though
back by British guns, they had pub
lished the Mecklenburg Declaration of
independence, but they had never hid
their identity under masks. A meet
ing of the white citizens was called
for IL o'clock of the morning of the
9th Over eight hundred responded.
The room could not contain lie
crowd. Clergymen, physicians, law
vers, merchants, clerks, mechanics
and Iaboring men, with stern eXpec-
fancy on their features, filled the
room. Colonel Alfred Moore Wad-
dell whose ancestors had stood as
leaders of the people in other times
of import, a scholar, lawyer, n i1an
of attachments and prominence, was
called TO the chair. A second declra-
ton of independence was adopted
which said, in no uncertain tines,
that the day of negro domination had
forever passed; that the government
of North Carolina, established LOT
white men, by white men, and not Tor
n, race of emi-barbarians, led by res
epade white men, should forever re
main in the hands of those rlghtially
entitled and able to ADMINISTER II. IL
was a bold document, but 1t let an
answering throb in the heart oi every
man present. Its concluding pOflloh
stated that as an earnest OF The lntep-
tions of the assemblage it was decreei
that the negro scoundrel VINO had
pubFshed the defamatory article on
the white women should Immediately
leave town: that the paper should
cease publication, and that the plant
should be shipped away. A comh!lt-
Tee of twenty-five was appointe |, with
Waddell at the head, to see fhat the
resolutions were made effective.
Thirty-two of the morep romient
negro citizens were summoned TO meet
+be committee at 6 o'clock that even
mo Nearly all were there. The
SCENE was dramatic. Seated at one
end of the room were the 20 Whte
men-at the other sat the thirty-t"o
negroes. The numerical proportion
was representative. The appearance
Of the group was likewise. Stern and
determined, the whites looked the
masters they proposed to be--anxlons
and expectant, the negro realized FIa'
his dax of dominancy had passed
With quiet emphasis, Colonel Nad-
dell read to them the resolutions. In
response to an inquiry as the mean
mo of a phrase, read them seconH
time. He handed them copies. tie
stated no argument would be listen
ed to-no discussion was expected OF
would allowed. They had been lnvt'
ed because thev had assumed TO pe
leaders among their people to hear IN
n1tiulatum. The time had passed TO-
words. The demands made by the res.
olntions must be acceded to. without
question. or they would be enforced
No unfair advantage would he taken
They had until 7:30 o'clock the mex
morning to make answer. The ease
vos with them. An attempt was
made to evade responsibility. Cob
neI we are not responsible for this
and have no authority" ''The mees-
inc stands adjourned was the Only
reply. And SO they passed on into
the night. Was it symbolicai?
IT,
On that night. as on many before
The streets were awarded by the Whl'e
citizens, No one was interfered WIN;
nothing was done to disturb any per-
son who chose to walk on the street,
but all over the CITY Winchesters stood
picl<et over quiet homes and sleeping
families. 1t was a commentary on
~ : civilization of The times mat 'nrn
~ eaceful iGbits were co1srrirnea NV
tine lack of proper governmeEi 10 Ner-
sonallv walk guard throISh a large
city. Early next morning, men WITH
onns on their shoulders, men ordinar-
ily engaged in the quiet walks 81 HE
men of every line of business. irDlh
every degree of society. We're vending
their way TO a common centre. ne
time had come to trear the S:St'aAS,
the SYMPTOMS of which had been al
lowed TO pass. The hour fixed by the
committee arrived and passed. and the
men stood waiting. The hands OF the
clock hoyed slowly on till the deen
toned bell sounded forth eight
strokes. and still the men waited. a
few moments more passed. and Wad-
dell walked calmly into the building
and the committe event in with him
A hush Of expectancy came over the
crowd. The decisive moment hid
come. Would the negro leaders, a''-
tive enough in the causes which led
to trouble. meet the emergency as y
could only he well met, or. wou!i
they. when the hour for real leader
shin had arrived shrink from the err
sis? The answer was forthcoming, IN
n moment they had evaded the issue.
They had sent no reply. The five nun
dred men who had responded to q
call for seventv-five swung into line.
.sWaddell." Waddell" was the cry, and
as he moved to the front the line
broke into tours, and the march be-
Gan. 1t was not mob. Under thar
ough discipline, and under cornnland
of officers, capitalists and labcrc1's
marched together, the lawyer and his
client were side by side, men of large
business interests kept step with
clerks. TT WAS NOT A MOB. 1t was
a gathering of men, white men, de-
termined to teach a lesson-a lesson
which would be practical and contain
no element of doubt as to it's meaning.
The work. when the fated building
which held the printing press was
reached, was quickly done. Nothing
that looked like any part OF print
er's establishment was permitted 70
escape demolition. As the work reach
ed completion, the building was found
to be on fire. One of the men, who
was there to destroy the prin-,ag
press, sent in fire alarm. The en-
oines came laundering up, laid their