The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-05
A Real Hero.

Political events In North Carolina are
too fresh to be forgotten by our read
ers. II Is well remembered how h
Old North state lay PROSTATE under
the heei NJ the carpet-baggSr. the negro
and the f~usionist. 1t is not forgotten
that when the democratic party de-
termined I'D rise in her might and
make an effort TO win by a straight
fight or else go down in straight defeat.
that there were umorous mortals who
still pleaded with the
The conditions in North Carolina
were very similar to those that existed
here prior to 1876. We "A u Hamp-
ton 10 give us "A a deliverance and
North Carolina had a hero upon whose
shoulders quite as much OF the honor
Of victory rested.
The brunt OF the North Carolina fight
Was upon Wilmington. IL was there
that The negro majority was greatest
where they were most securely en-
trenched and most insolent and aSgres-
sive. The white people a caucussed
and discussed and planned. but IL SEEM
ed an impossible task TO devise a RENE
dy. Ii was in sheer desperation that
they held a mass meeting and invited
Co.onel A. NJ. Wndden to address them.
Colonel Wadden consented, provided he
was given the right to make his own
speech IN MS own way ENEtHVNAs
realized that a straight. bold fight was
the only hope and yet they hesftated
to make il. They feared violence and
i~ncendiarism. But Culonel got
up in the midst of the excitement,
while the negroes were making their
most violent demonstrations, and he
simply defied them. He advocated a
policy which involved the turning over
OF the government TO The white people
as ~peaceably as possible, but as vtolent--
iy as might be found necessary. He
advocated the plan of putting the WHITE
men out of the way first in case of vio-
lence-the men who were AIDING the
negroes and who were really response
Bile for the trouble. In order not to be
misunderstood, he singled out the men
he referred to. beginning with the gov
ernor of the state.
OF course this speech swept the city
like a ball of fire. Ii precipitated a
crisis. it stirred the smouldering m
bers. but 1t was so positive. 80 deter
mined and unequivocaa, that II soon
convinced all parties that Wilmington
was not TO be trified with longer. That
speech spread throughout North Car
Gina; the cry was taken UP and he
state was redeemed. OF course, the
fearless patriots wfho risked their prop
erty and their lives in carrying out this
policy deseve the credit which heroes
get the world over, but TO Colonel Wad-
dell more than to any other man In
North Carolina, is due the present Sc
curity which al classes feel in the JUS
tice. fairness and stability OF the state
government.
North Carolina Is going soon TO still
further purge herself by adopting the
Primary system for nominating "A sue
cessor to Marion Butler. If the people
are the true. brave men we take them
to be, it viii not take them long To
make up their minds THAT a. NJ. Wad-
dell is the man to succeed him.
When Sergeant Jasper fnounte the
rampants OF Fort Moultrie to replace
the battered flag, he drew the fire OF
the enemy upCl his person and it wac
a heroic deed. But IT did not requ ~
greater courage than did the assump-
ton of leadership under such stirring
circumstances at Wilmington and the
advocacy of a policy which meant
down with the leaders" on the other
side first. Colonel Waddetl just as
surely drew the fire of the ASSASSIN and
the incendfary. and did it knowingly
Editorial in Spartanburg. s. c.. Herald.