The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-23
II GTE P4sES

There is no use of gas or other light
ing companies attempting TO rob the
people when they have meters that
will do it for them-Durham Herald
Ii is clear TO US tina Russell Is for
the amendment in his heart. II ne docs
not openly advocate IL n vote Tor IL
! Another indication in this direction IS
that Rev. 3. Cade, the governors prl-
vate secretary. has declared FOR IL, ano
he probably would not his
favor for il, If Russell were against it
Salisbury Index
We are opposed to lynchings. but OF
they are ever justifiable. we are of the
opinion that such a liar and
of the white men OF the state as George
White would ook well decorated with
a piece OF hemp rope around his neck
Congressman Linney IL but little OF any
better than White. They both ought
to be named Decentralization Prog
ress,
The fact is DR.. kilgo can't stand a
dull time. He is a sensationalist and
in one way or another is constantly
raising a breeze and thus keeping
himself before the public We think
the newspapers give him too much no.
toriety. II the authorities Of Trinity
College and the Methodist church are
satisfied il is probably no concern OF
outsiders, although the newspapers
have a perfect right TO criticise his pub
lie utterances.-Statesville Landmark.
Senator Butler, in his Wilcox letter.
which is being circulated most extern
sively, complains and find fault with
the last legislature for not proposing
an amendment to the state constitu-
ton Ito prevent the negro from hold
ing office" Such an amendment he
says would be INSTITUTIONAL Yes,
Butler and his fellow-office seekers
would M doubt like an amendment of
hat sort to be adopted. for then only
they could nave a chance TO hold office.
They would allow the negroes TO vote
for them and keep them in office, but
not allow any negro (however deserv-
ing and qualified) to hold any office
Observation-Disclosures Record.
Inasmuch as the disturbances OF 1895,
which the Sun mentions, were due to
negro control in politics., the Suns as
sertion that the danger of negro domi-
nation in North Carolina is remote is
diSproved by facts. There is nc dan
ger of negro domination in the western
part OF the state, but the events OF the
past show what danger there is to the
eastern part of the state. If it were
merely a question between all the ne
groes on one side and all the whites on
the other there would be no danger of
/ . "a III III lolA
tics. If there were no such whites as
Pritchard, Marion Butler, Linney and
Pearson in the state there would be
no need of an OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Citizen.
The Monroe Inquirer says the farm
erS are preparing to fight the fertilizer
trust. Meetings are being called for
the purpose of organizing against the
trust which has greatly increased the
| nrica of commerci2l fertilizers and we
believe that the farmers mean business.
The fertilizer trust can be downed and
the farmers will be benefited while
the trust is being downed, for the de-
crease of amount of commercial fer
~tiliZers in the fields of this country will
be a blessing to the farmers in the long
run In 1889 it was shown how the
farmers can fight a trust, for in that
yea the jute bagging trust was fought
to the death. We believe that the far
mers will fight the fertilizer trust as
successfully as they fought the jute
bagging truSt.-Mt. Airy News.
Whites remarks were modified be-
fore they appeared in the COMPRESSION
al Record, but they have attracted
wide attention and are universally de-
nounced as a foul Slander. Linney too,
has come in for his share of denuncia-
ton for his part in this incident and
it is safe to say hat the congressman
from the GlRnlH Will heartily WISH the
negro White dead a thousand times
before he hears the last of this matter.
When he goes on the stump next sum-
mer he will have this remark of
Whites thrust in his face at every
turn and he will be harrassed with it
until sleep will be driven from his eyes
and m from his eyelids. There
are few negroes in Linney's district and
the white men, regardless of party. will
remember him for his part in this af-
fair.-Statesville Landmark.
The Caucasian this week prints two
affidavits stating that two democratic
speakers in 1898 promised that if the
democratic party won it would not dis
franchise the negro and poor whites"
The men who make these affidavits
doubtless think their recollection is cor
rect, but they are mistaken. No demo-
crat ever yet used the expression ne
gro and poor whites" Democrats new
er put them together. They speak Of
the white mans party meaning all
white men, rich and poor alike, and the
niger, meaning the negroes and such
white men as vote for negroes and give
the negro equality in primaries, con-
Ventions and ~office-holding. In 1898
the democracy promised that no white
man should be disfranchised. and it
stands true to the pledge.-Raleigh
News and Observer.
George White, of North Carolina, the
only negro in congress-. is Getting SO
uppish that his skin can hardly con-
tain hin After slandering the white
people of the south in a dirty speech
which he made upon the subject of
lynchingS, he tried to force himself into
a place of entertainment for white peo-
pie in Pittsburg, Pa, n was put out
after a polite refusal to serve him had
failed to induce him to look up a place
where negroes are served. Now he
brings suit for damage against the
proprietor of the stauran He has
gotten above his color and does not
care to associate with his own race.
When q gentleman Of color arrives at
this stage in the process of evolution
it is time for one thing or another to
cause him to wrap the drapery of his
couch o him, n lie down to pleas
ant dreams. He has lived long enough.
Clinton Democrat.
Today say the truth, it (RusselT's
specify was a smar and entertaining
effort. 1t deals with the negro Ques-