The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-29
Ghe @essenger.
THE REsroRER AND PACIF1cAroR

1t is a cheering sign to see so many
OF the most Intelligent and reputa-
BILE republicans in different sections Of
North Carolina espousing openly the
needed, proper suffrage amendment 1t
augurs well, but it does not authorize
the slightest suspension of effort to pass
it. 1t must be adopted or North Car
DINA is indeed placed in a desperate
fix. The utmost effort possible must be
exerted by every voter for it, The
most active, aggressive, pertinacious
canvass must be pressed until the cleo
ton day closes. The organization of
every township must be accomplished,
and the house to house canvass made
a certainty.
No man not blinded by passion, par
tisanship and love of office al fail to
understand the situation in the state.
1t is against the best interests of every
Individual. of society at large, of the
vast industries, of the advance of ed
ucatiOn as a general factor hat ignor-
ance and vice shall again control pub
lie affairs in North Carolina. That
means blight calamity. death. 1t is
necessary to have a great. radical
change to bring safety to the state
out of the nettle danger. The ballot
box is the freeman's best friend when
kept pure and sacred from the touch
of pollution and violence. 1t is un-
der the theory of our government the
best tOuchstone of patriotism and the
bulwark of freedom. Keep pure the
fountain if you would have the flowing
waters sweet and fresh and healthful.
The influx of the c~arpet-bagger
brought in untold miseries and calam-
tiles. 1t put the negro in power. 1t
put the white man at the bottom. The
reign of the c~arpet-bagger was an un-
mingled curse. 1t blasted like a soroc-
co. 1t consumed like a raging fire.
North CarOlinians have memories.
The white men who would emand the
white race to such a condition of suf-
fering. of s~ervitude, OF humiliation de-
serve to be treated as Pariahs. The
balIot-bOx in North Carolina was pure
until the advent of the northern car
pet-bagger with his sack and a box
of paper-cOllars. He soon wore store
clothes with purple and fine linen and
Jared like a prince and a peacock. But
the people were fleeced. the state was
robbed and became bankrupt. The
negroes used to vote when he bayO-
nets under-prOpped tie ballot boxes,
while the former educated and enlight-
ened masters walked under guard to
deposits their ballots. if they were al
lowed to vote at all. Those We're
gruesome, parlous times-days of
darkness and gloom and sadness.
There will be never again in North
Carolina the reign of Sambo and law
~lessness. The carpet-bagger has either
gone to his place beyond the bourne of
time" or he has packed and hied him
to his old home in New England or
some where "up there"
The ballot must be kept intact. IN
mutilated, uncOrrupt. The state is
~prospering now and on an upward
grade. The people ave hope. breathe
freer, have brighter prospects ahead.
They know that henceforth inte!!i-
gence, virtue, honor. a love of law and
order, will abide with hose in power,
shaping the d~estinies under God OF
this great and ancient commonwealth
Adopt the amendment, and the
troubled waters of strife Will be laid.
and tranquility, contentment, a sense
of personal safety, an assurance of
the public veal n the steady pro-
gress of education for all will prevail
in every county, and from Currituck
; to Cherokee and from the ocean to the
granite hills that look eternal. The
great Pacificator and Restorer now is
the franchise amendment.