The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03
WHAT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
ACCOMPLISHED.

Looking over SUITE uOCullchISs GIC-,
recently we found a Ietter-"private
and confdentiaI'-written to us In
1896. by a very distinguished native or
North Carolina. We had forgotten IL,
but find it contains a passage that may
interest others, while we indicate no
authorship. The writer is a lifelong
friend. and is a man of observation as
we'll as of superior abilities. Writing
early in 1896, and anxious for the result
to North Carolina, he much overesti-
mated our influence n ability. In one
thing we may have met his expecta-
tion-a willingness and anxiety TO do
good to the people of North Carolina.
You are in a position to exert a
powerful impression upon the public
mind. Your ability, distinguished pa
triotism. pure life and knowledge and
experience in public affairs, all give
Just and great weight TO the express
siOns of your Judgment. After anxious
thought upon the subject L nave de-
termined to write you this letter. The
present condition of our section of the
Union may we'll excite the most Sc
rious fears. Contemplate seven millions
of colored people solidified and arrayed
against the good people of the southern
states-three of those states under a
colOred majority and all of them from
the Potomac to the Rio Grande subject
in case of division among the whites
to have their fate decided by the bal
ance of power" black vote. This is a
fact-nO imagination or fancy in 1t.
Mr.. Calhoun declared that the darkest
hour for the south was when she was
to be ruled by a corrupt coalition or
the blacks and profigate whites. re-
peat, the "profligate whites" You and
/ have seen that fearful hour. Is not
the shadow now right in front Of us ?
The southern democrats-supported,
aided. strengthened in every instance
by northern d~emOcratS-the democratic
organization-broke the coils of the ser
pent, and established the south with
all it's rights. CAPABILITIES and honors in
the Union of ony Fathers. This is fact.
prescription" Disabilities" Force
Bills" Election Laws"-have all, the
last vestige of them-been blotted out
from the records of the country. There
is no doubt of this fact"
If our distinguished friend were to
write now as to North Carolina and
the Vaccinations of Jeter Pritchard
with the proposed infamous plan of in
timidation, the very Devils Plot" he
would not be so satisfied that the days
of Force bills and Election laws were
clean gone forever. But it looked better
in 1896, The deviltry had not come to a
sIun head then. The prospect of a race
war two years later did not burst then
upon the prophetic vision. But it came
and with il much to arouse the white
race and to make possible a test for
voters that hereafter would look to
the contamination of an educated cleo
torate. Writing of the pleasant out
look four years ago, our correspondent
said with a ~low of genuine rejoicing:
To-day there is peace, improvement.
light, on every spot in the state The
colleges, the schools, the s~eminareis, the
University-God bless it. the private,
the public. the town, the county schools
are all full. The railroads are all doing
well. Our staple crops, tobacco and
cotton. are bringing fair prices. There
are fewer suits for debt, fewer mort
cages and execution sales than ever
before in the state at one time. The
states credit is as good as its best son
could desire. Every right and every
person in the state is protected and the
history of the state for twenty years
under democratic administration is a
mode of honesty and usefulness
But there were men with white faces
in North Carolina who did not rejoice
in his and feel proud of the advance
ment of North Carolina under demo-
cratic white supremacy. They plotted
and planned and ruined. Getting pos
session of state government they "play-
ed the devil with a high hand and an
outstretched arm. The thing to do now
is to restore to the people honest, econ
=. -.0 t.
must b. done. Civilization demands it.
The cause of education demands it.
The relief of the people demands it.
The safety of pure womanhood de-
mands it. The protection Of the homes,
the conservation of liberty. the guaran-
tee of peace n order all demand it.
Our friend farther on, expressing his
solicitude for an united democracy as
the hope and salvation of the state,
asks if the democracy fails, and with
unfeigned fervor and the force of truth
Where else can we turn for hope I?
Will we find deliverance in Russell,
Dockery, Mott, ct id omne genus ? VIII
Butler and Skinner and Pearson de-
liver us from the wreck Will Reed.
Mckinley, Harrison, with Force Bills"
and high protective tariffs" and cen
Trailing legislation and sectional ha-
treds clear the road to our prosperity
and happiness !? Let the record of the
last thirty years answer. Frauds, cor
ruption, dishonor, ignorance and vice
in the southern states; injustice, OPP
preston, cruel wrong, degradation of
the south in the national congress :?
What earnest did the fusion leg
islature of North Carolina give of bet
ter things ? What promise, what pros
pect, what hope of improvement in the
present aspects of those parties and
factions in the state +? A shameless,
base, venal bargain for the spoils of
offce-"to defeat the democrats who
you and I know have saved our state.
our homes, our affairs, our very civil
ization and religion"
This was, remember, written early
in 1896. Loving North Carolina mis-
periods kindle with eloquence.
What is copied above fits well now.
here is a great, most commanding