The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-06-01
A NEGRO'S ADVICE TO NEGROES
He Urges Them to Vote Against the
ssLuy-white and Pop" Ticket Pu
Out by the Republicans-He Warns
Them Against Pritchard's Desperate
Plans for Trying to Carry the Eiec-
ton.
Washington, D. c.. May q.

Editors Messenger:
Please allow me space. through the
columns of your valuable paper. TO
they are likely to get into If they in
tend to follow Senator Pritchard
through the next campaign in that
state.
1t is the bad leaders of the republi-
can party that have brought shame
and disgrace upon the once peaceful
and loving old state. We have always
been true and tried republicans. but
the republican rule in that state. since
they got control of things, ought to
be enough to convince any intelligent
voters, be they white or black. that
such ruling is against good govern
ment, against the peace and dignit,
any civilized community; and IL de-
serves to be overthrown by the liberty
loving people of the Old North State
Seeing that republican form Of gov.
ernment is a failure-a hindrance to
peace and proSperity-those of US who
now join with those who opposed them
at first, in putting them out Since the
republicans got control Of affairs in
North Carolina the negro has suffered
as he has never suffered before. By
being too loyal to these so-called white
republicans the negro has lost untold
numbers of his democratic friends. Fol
the only true friends the negroes have
had in the south We're democrats These
they have been fighting ever since they
were given the right to vote.
When / say the democrats have. -
a N saeL haCf fri lie
1 say it without fear of successful con-
tradiction. / may be criticised by some
office-holding republican of my race,
for this assertion, but what care / for
criticism when I know 1 am right?
But I must tell my people Of the dan
ger which threatens them, if the plan.
which was suggested in Senator
Pritchard's office the last time I was
there, be carried out. Senator Pritch-
ard went on to relate to his faithful
followers his plan Of conducting the
next campaign in North Carolina. Gle
has carried out one Of his schemes, God
forbid that the one suggested be car
ried out.) While Senator Pritchard was
telling how he thought best to get out
the full negro vote, to support this
heIlish "Lily-white'' ticket which he
has been trying to organize for several
years, one of the faithful republicans
remarked: why, arm the negroes,
and let them fight their way to the
ballot box
Senator Pritchard, instead of con-
demning such an unreasonable plan,
as a leading man of the people should
have done, simply smiled, as if to say.
Your plan is an excellent one, and
shall have my hearty support" Said 1,
mo, sir! that will never do! The gen
tleman does not speak the sentiment
Of the colored people of North Caro-
lima; these people have always been
aw-abiding, and will remain so. Why.
if the coIored people were fools enough
to attempt thing like that they would
be wiped off the face Of the earth
The democrats need not fear now,
nor hereafter, any trouble from the
colored people. The negro is a natural
born friend of the white man. 1t is
Senator Pritchard's aim to elect that
"Lily-white" ticket at all hazard. If
Boss" Pritchard is not checked by the
better class of the people of North
Carolina, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the state is threatened with
a bloody riot; even worse than the
Goebel-Taylor trouble in Kentucky.
There is no colored man on Pritch-
ards state ticket, and certainly the
negro has nothing to die for. My advice
to you, my colored brother.is. that you
go to the polls and help vote down the
amendment. After that is done you
should either stay away from the polls,
next November, or join with the dem
ocratS in defeating this damnable
"Lily-white" ticket. Democrats voted
for Mckinley in 1896. but they are call
ed democrats still. You can join with
the democrats in defeating this Lilly
white" ticket and be republicans still
If you follow Senator Pritchard, and
the former colored leaders that you
have always been following, you are
on d train, with Senator Pritchard at
the throttle, which Is dashing its
down to ruin.
Refuse any and all "fire ANS" if
such be offered you. The Scheming
politicians will get you into trouble,
and some will come here to Washing
ton for protection, while the rest will
run to New York and have themselves
interviewed by the newspapers and
have it heralded all over the civilized
whole trouble. Hands off! Have moth
ing to do with that mongrel ticket
which was named at Raleigh the other
week.
The "Lily-white" republicans and
populfStS are no less clamorous for
white supremacy than democrats. II
you are to have white supremacy, as
you have always had. then see to it
that you have democratic supremacy.
The democrats are going to rule that
state and all that's in 1t; and you my
colored brother. had better make it up
in your mind to stop fighting them. in
the interest Of those who are power
less to help you or themselves.
I want it thoroughly understood that
l am against the amendment to the
constitution; but IL there be one single
negro in the state of North Carolina
who is fool enough to vote for that
mongrel ticket-the Lily whites a-d
Pops" he ought to be disfranchised.
j. c. Cunningham,