The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-03
NO NEGRO RULE
FOR WHITE MEN,
Continued from First Page.)
others know that his statement is cor
rect.
ONLY OFFICE SEEKERS REMAIN IN
THE EAST.

The white Republicans, except those
who are on the lookout for office, have
quit the negroes. Negro domination has
been too much for the white Republicans.
1T the West in the Western counties
where the negroes are not numerous, the
case Is different; but in their party con-
veniions and in the administration OF pub
lie affairs by the Republican party the
negro influence is felt. The Republican
organization has to take into considera-
tiLn that the party is composed of four
negroes TO enc white voter To be sure,
the influence of four negroes is more po-
tent than one white man.
THE NEGRO INFLUENCES THE RE-
PUBLICAN PARTY.
Not only then do we have the negro
dominant in the Eastern counties. but
dominant also in the Republican party.
and whenever that party administers
public affairs the negro dominates.
One of the results Of this is that many
excellent men who opposed the Demo-
cratic party right after the war and be-
came Republicans, have left that or
ganization
SOME OLD TIME REPUBLICAN
LEADERS.
Indeed, the Republican party, some
years back had among it's members a
considerable number OF men distinguish
ed for their talents and standing. We
mention Chief Justice Pearson Tod K.
Caldwell Judge E. G. Reade, Hon. Thorn
as Settle, Judge w. p. Bynum, General
Barringer, Taswell Hargrove, Judge Boy
dem Mr. Sam Phillips and Judge Sey-
mour, etc. But those men have passed
Of civ ~
standing talents and character have
taken their places. 1t is evident that
the Republican party in North Carolina
has nightly degenerated.
NO SUCH MEN NOW.
It's present leaders are not equal to
those whose names we have mentioned.
But few men of character remain in it.
1t has sunk far lower than it's old time
level. Spells and office are the only at
fractions. Those men who would sacri-
flee everything for office remain; but ne
sro domination within that party has
driven out of it the better element that
might otherwise have become adherents
of Republican principles and Republican
doctrine.
1t is apparent that the Republican par
ty of today is on lower plane than it
was twenty-five and fifteen years ago.
Then it contained men of respectable
talents and character, in nearly every
county, and the negroes were content to
follow them without asserting the full in
nuence of their dominant numerical
strength.
TIE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS DE-
GENERATED.
Now, those strong and distinguished
Republicans have passed off of the field
Of action and local leaders of respecta-
bic character have cut the Republican
/, party and their places have not been
hled by similar men.
The negroes have asserted themselves,
and as a result white Republicans in the
East have generally abandoned that par
ty, leaving it in the Eastern counties
nothing but mass of negroes; and the
negro element largely controls the action
of the Republican party in it's relations
10 the State at large.
This is a distinct change: a notable
change: change which challenges the
attention of the people 1t means that
the negroes, unless restrained will domi-
nate every Eastern county where they
have the majority; and it means that the
negro will dominate the State whenever
the Republicans have control of State
affairs.
RESULTS OF REPUBLICAN RULE.
The Republicans had control of State
affairs just after reconstruction, and such
TN intolerable condition resulted that the
people turned them out and amended the
Constitution in respect to county gov
eminent.
D. f,yc;A fhn
publicans again sp"oeeded in getting par
tal control of public affairs Let us see
what the condition then was:
In New Hanover county. forty negro
magistrates were appointed.
BERTHE county got sixteen of these
dusky dispensers of justice, law and
equality" Edgecombe got nearly twice
as many, or thrty-o one.
Craven county was blessed with twenty
seven OF the ever faithful.
Halifax county was particularly obnoxi-
GUS having produced "Buck" Kitchin,
who did not believe in negro magistrates,
got twenty nine of them.
Granville county got seventeen while
you wait.
Caswell county, which had not done
quite so much for "our cause" received
seven.
In all, there were named by the LegiS-
lature of 1895 three hundred negro mag
istrates In North Carolina.
So much for the dispensers of justice
at the homes Of the people.
Was there not a flavor of negro dom-
nation in that? But the negroes were
not content with that. Years ago the
negro did not aspire to the county offices.
In that year. however, Craven county was
given a negro register of deeds and ne
gro deputy registers and three negro
deputy sheriffs, negro coroner and q
negro commissioner.
a negro was elected register of deeds
in New Hanover. negro constables and
deputy sheriffs were appointed.
In Halifax, Edgecombe BERTHE, War
rem, and indeed, in all the black coun-
ties of the East, negroes were elected
or appointed to public office
And if there was one office the negro
was particularly unfit for it was schoo
committeeman over white children; and
yet throughout the Eastern counties
there were hundreds of negroes appoint
ed school committeeman over white chill
dren.
Nor did the municipalities escape The