The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-05
FRANKLIN McNEILLI IN THE WEST.
He Returned From a Campaign Tour
Yesterday -Hendersonvflle Hustler
Comments on His speech In That
Town.

Hon. Franklin Nc Neill returned
yesterday from a pleasant and very
gratifying campaign tour through
the western part Of the state, where
he was associated with DR.. B. F-Dix-
on, candidate for state auditor. Mr..
Nc Neill brings pleasing news of the
outlook for the grand success Of dem
ocracy and the adoption Of the consti-
tutional amendment.
The French Broad Hustler. of the
oath Of May, gives an extended &C
count of able speeches made by Mr..
Nc Neill and DIR. Dixon in Henderson
Vile.
In speaking of Mr.. McNeilIs speech
The Hustler says hat altogether, the
speech of Mr.. Mcneil was me Of the
strongest and most convincing argu-
ments in favor OF the white folks n
better government, which has been de-
livered here his year, and il was
much enjoyed by all who heard it,"
The following are some other notable
extracts from The Hustler's comments
on Mr.. Nc Neill's speech:
MIR. Mcneil presented his rgu
ment in a cool, deliberate a as IL
addressing a jury upon an important
question Of law, and the audience fol-
lowed him closely throughout. He was
delighted to find the west in line for
the amendment and greatly encour-
aged to meet the large crowds which
had been flocking to hea the discus
sions in the western counties.
He reviewed in a most impressive
manner the political conditions which
have existed in North Carolina since
1868, and proved beyond controversy
that the republicans are powerless to
give the state good government on &C
count of their colored constituents,
who demand recognition. and place in
competent men in office. He thought
white men Of all political parties could
well afford to unite in eliminating the
negro from politics, and declared that
so long as the republicans depended
upon the colored vote they would be
unable to prevent the tail from wag-
ging the dog" The speaker referred to
eastern conditions and gave Judge
Blythe. who once presided over a
term of the New Hanover criminal
court, as a witness to the truth of his
statements about negro jurors, negro
policemen n the rae troubles in the
east.
Inquiry was made whether our COM
missioners and sheriff draw negro jul
rors. Upon being answered in the neg
ative, Mr.. Mcneil l~aughingly remark-
ed: Don't you see that your sheriff
and county commissioners ave de-
cided i'm favor of white supremacy"
If negroes are incompetent in the west
are they not so in the east? Why ask
US people in the east to submit to
something o will not tolerate your
~selves?" And the republicans present
dropped their guilty heads. Hon. ]. B.
Freeman, Henderson county's repre-
sentative in 1897, had stood up like a
man and fought the Ubiquitous bill and
when it passed predicted the downfall
of the republican party.
"Mr. Mcneil made a brief reference
to the amendment as the best solution
of the negro question, n appealed to
every white man to support it. He
proved beyond contradiction hat no
white man will be diSfranchised and
exposed the Misrepresentation of a
writer in a local paper concerning the
grandfather clause and poll tax fea-
ture. He sifted the little henchman's
lies down in a neat, pleasing style"