The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-09
REPUBLICAN LEADERS MAKE DlAB0L-
ICAl THREATS.
THE FATE OF WILLIAM GOEBEL
Held Up as a Warming to Democrats I'm
Their Efforts to Carry Through the
constitutional observation-disclosures
OF Like r'urport from Other Leaders.
Hints Dropped of Desperate schemes
on Foot to Democratic Sue
cess-white Men should be on Their
Guard.
Especial to The Messenger.)

Especial TO The Messenger.)
Raleigh. y. G. March State Chair
man Simmons said tonight:
Il have read an account OF the speech
delivered at Newton last week by As
sistant United States District Attorney
Blackburn. in which, after referring 10
the recent assassination of Goebel. the
democratic governor-elect OF Ken
tucky, by followers of Governor Tay-
lor, republican usurper. he said: Let
the democrats in North Carolina take
warning from the fate Of William Goe-
bel
Blackburn is very close 10 Republi-
can State Chairman Holton. Holton is
United States district attorney OF the
Western district and Blackburn is his
assistant in that office and he is a pro-
tege OF Senator Pritchard.
~"Blackburn's warning to the demo-
Gratis of what they may expect if they
persist in their purpose TO di~sfranchise
the negro is but a REPETITION OF the
threats of violence recent made in
Washington by his chief. Holton, the
only difference being, Blackburn is
more specific than was Holton and
boldly predicts the murder and assas-
sination of democrats.
"When Senator Butler. at a recent
meeting of the populist executive COM
mittee, appealed to fighting qualities
of his followers and asked them 40 join
hands with republicans (four-fifths ne
groes) and drive the white supremacy
gang out of the state, l said in an in
terview in The Charlotte Observer his
purpose seemed to be to stir up and in
cite egroe to violent resistance OF the
lawful purpose of the white people,
Holton's threats, Blackburn's warning,
Pritchard'S attempt to secure federal
aid, Linney'S threat to pass a force bill
election law through congress-, Negro
Whites impudent assault upon white
men, secret any mysterious activity OF
revenue officers and recent sudden out
break of negro in~Solence and lawlesS-
ness not only confirm that opinion, but
arouse strong suspicion that fusion of
fee holders are engaged in some dam
gerous scheme and that, in carrying it
out, negroes are being secretly organ
lied and will be used as tools.
1T would seem hat the cOnspirators
have discussed and pondered over their
programme of violence so much that
their minds have become thoroughly
saturated with it and under the heat
of excitement, they let drop hints Of
its dark purport.
Under these circumstances ordinary
prudence dictate that the white people
be on their guard n watch every
movement of negroes and the white
emissarieS who may be engaged in Sc
cretly organizing them. / hope there
may be no trouble during the cam
paign or at the election, between
whites and blacks, and we will exer-
else reasonable ~fOrbearance, but if 1t
comes, we will know who has instigat-
ed it, and who is responsible for it. We
are trying ~peaceably and in the way
provided by law to mend the cOnsti-
tuition, n attempts to intimidate and
deter us by threats of force and muir
der, while it proves all we have ever
charged concerning the character of
the republican party in this state and
it's leaders, will make the undaunted,
but law abiding white people of the
state more than ever determined to re-
move forever the ~unbearable conditions
| which have made such things possible
in North Carolina"