New-York tribune., 1900-07-30
LAWLESSNESS IN SOUTH.
RED SHIRTS" TERRoRIZE NORTH CARO-
LIMA DISTRICTS.


Red Shirts were plentiful in number Of
counties bordering on South Carolina. The man
who puts on red shirt and endeavors to create
a reign of terror about election time is generally
a tough customer. He is of that class of the
population that thinks II great thing to DO
the bidding OF the Democratic bosses. The 'Red
Shirt generally tanks up" with "moonshine"
whiskey before he begins his devilment. He
then gets a horse and rigs himself up as nearly
as possible like a cowboy.
These men so in gangs, and in the present
campaign they are holding high carnival in
Anson. Richmond, Robson, Scotland. New
Hanover. Wilson, Sampson, Duplin. Wayne
Cleveland CASTOR. Union and Mecklenburg
counties They have ridden through these coun-
ties at night and fired pistols and shot UP sky
rockets; have warned inoffensive negroes not to
register. and have ordered white Republicans
and Populists not to have anything to do with
politics during this campaign. They have
donned their uniform and arms and assembled
at stations and have prevented Republican and
Populist speakers from filling their appoint
ments to speak In other places they have
gathered rotten eggs and have not hesitated to
use them when opposition speakers have ap-
peared.
At Gastonia, in CASTOR County, the other day
Congressman r. z. Linney. of the With Dis
trict and ]. J. Jenkins, Republican candidate
for State Treasurer, after making speeches and
being interrupted by catcalls from the RED
Shirts" present and called upon to answer ques-
tions and denounced liars, as they went to
their hotel they were treated to a complete
whitewash composed of the elements that con-
stitute rotten eggs. Most frequently the Red
Shirt" gang rides to place where Republi-
can Populist meeting is being held and IN
concert cackle like wild geese. taunt the speak
oh he firing
off their revolvers and Winchesters. In the
county Of New-Hanover, where there are three
thousand colored voters only sixty have regis
tered and they will vote the Democratic ticket
or not vote
FORMER RIOT IN WILMINGTON.
In the city Of Wilmington, which is the seat
Of Nev-Hanover County, on Thursday after the
election two years ago the colored people were
shot down in numbers that have never been
ascertained. Red Shirts were the men who
did this killing. No man has been indicted or
punished FOR participation in this massacre, and
never viii be. The other day in Wilmington an
old country white preacher made a speech
against the amendment, and the RED Shirts
carried him from the platform and took him to
a trough used for watering horses and ducked
him therein until they nearly drowned him.
Next morning the preacher swore out warrants
and had the RED Shirts" arrested. but they
made him beg the Magistrate not to punish
them and then drove the preacher from the
town.
At Rose Hill, in Duplin County. the other day.
a Democratic register was arrested by the
United States authorities for discriminating
against the negroes IN the registration. District
Attorney c. NJ Bernard went down to prosecute
the case. II announced next morning in
the Wilmington papers that the Red Shirts"
1ar- a7d
that a special train would be ready under the
shed at the Atlantic Coast Line station to take
the Red Shirts TO Rose Hill, and that II the
fire bell rang many times the Red Shirts
formed and armed. The other Red Shirts along
the railroad gathered at Rose Hill. The United
States Commissioners and District Attorney de-
sired 10 have private hearing, with only the
defendant, the witnesses and attorneys present,
but the Red Shirts announced that they would
not have anything except a pubic hearing,
and the Commissioner compelled to do their
bidding. Whenever the counsel for the
Register scored point the Red Shirts"
and cheered the defendants counsel Outside
and around the house the other Red Shirts"
guns and pistols, and the close of the investi-
cation the defendant was discharged, and then
the Weikin rang with M me shouts ana oi nrng 2 OF
ders and carried him triumphantly around the
house.
In the same county yesterday Captain r. B.
Davis and DR.. Fox Person, two Populist speak
ers were made to get back on the train at War
saw. Mount Olive and Faison stations, and go
on beyond Coldsboro before they were allowed
10 leave the train
REPUBLICANS UNABLE TO SPEAK
The reign Of terror in the counties mentioned
is greater than It was IN 1898 The Republican
and Populist speakers have been compelled to
leave these counties alone. and the Democratic
najortties therein VIII be less than the regis
tered vote. All kinds OF letters have been pub
lished containing accounts Of threats Of ne
grOes, Populists and Republicans against the
ing the passions Of the Democratic masses and
Of starting reign Of terror throughout the
State.
Senators Butler and Pritchard have not dared
20 go into the counties herein mentioned Their
lives would pay the forfeit. The newspapers of
the city Of Wilmington have made this state
amendment passed and submitted to the
people that they intended to have it ratified
that result and If the result of next Thurs
day does not confirm this declaration IL will be
because the people in the white counties have
risen in their might and overwhelmed the Red
Shirt Democracy
People born and raised in the staid old North
State. the land Of hospitality and steady habits
discuss among themselves whether the death
kneil Of civil liberty and constitutional govern
Inent has not been sounded. They are Demo-
cratic leaders Of power and influence who do
not indorse these methods but they dare not
say so. Their lives and property would be worth
little If they should oppose the machine.
In the mean time the colored people are keep
ing quiet and none yet have been murdered
The Republicans and Populists have made
heroic efforts, but il is not believed that they
have a ghost Of chance OF carrying the cleo
tion.
WORSE THAN KU-KLUx OUTRAGEs
The Red Shirt" terror is so great in Rich
rnond County that Henry c. Dockery, United
States Marshal Of the Western District OF this