The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-24
NOT A SECTIONAL QUESTION.

The elimination of the negro from
participation in politics IS not sec
tional question, as it ought not to be
u party question. The negro vote, as
controlled in 1894 and 1896, affected
al portions of the State, giving to
Cherokee as bad State government as
it gave to Halifax. In local govern
ment, it is the Eastern counties that
were pillaged and disgraced by negro
disastrously affected also in the spirit
of lawlessness which took possession
of the worst negroes, produced by the
feeling that their party was now on
top. In fact the people of Buncombe,
Macon and Polk had more cause to
feel the horrors of negroism than
combe and Macon, for the first time
IN their histories, if we are not mis-
taken, the people lynched negro
bruteS for committing the nameless
crime. The bad negro as rule is
afraid to commit outrages when the
White Supremacy party is in power.
IT is generally when he feels that his
own crowd has the reins of govern
ment that he gives license to his
worst nature. The white people of
Western North Carolina know that.
while they can keep their local gov
eminent out of the hands of negroes,
they are powerless to check the out
RACES of black brlltes who feel, as
they do when Republicans rule, that
the bottom rail is on top 1t is not
alone in Macon and Buncombe, where
lynchings followed close upon out
RACES that the white people feel the
need of keeping the vicious negroes in
subsection. A we'll known Republican
of Henderson county, in letter that
has been widely published, tells of an
incident in Polk county that shows
there is no sectionalism in the ques-
ton of the elimination of the negro
vote. He writes:
THE Republican leaders of Saluda lit
tie town near here in Polk county, during
the last campaign, denounced as cam
palgn lies the statements of the Demo-
Gratis that negroes in the cities in the
Eastern part of the State pushed white
women off the sidewalk, etc, etc.. that
the treatment the negroes received at
the hands of the whites in these cities
was cruel and unjustifiable and done for
campaign effect; that the negro, if treat
ed right, is harmless and inoflensive. A
few months after the election, however,
these same Republican leaders gave the
lie to their campaign declaration by
heading crowd of their fellow towns
men, who, armed with pistols, clubs,
rocks, brick bats, ETC., drove thirty-nine
negroes from their town, promising them
speedy determination should they dare
return. The Saluda Resort, a paper edit
ed by Republican, in the issde of July
10, 1899, contained the following editorial
concerning the above:
cit is to be regretted that it was found
necessary to teach the colored people in
Saluda such lesson as was taught them
this week. Saluda is ordinarily most
orderly town, and these disturbances have
simply been an exception. The lesson was.
necessary. The negroes were about to
overrun the town, and they, as usual,
forgot their place and tried to run things.
Ladies have been compelled to step off
sidewalks to allow the negroes to pass;
the depot has been crowded with the
loafers who have even taken up the wait
ing room, despite all efforts to keep them
out, and they have impudently brushed
by the white people in passing to and
fro. The idle negroes of Spartanburg,
Rutherfordton and other points had invad
ed the town, and they had to be subdued.
There need be no fear for the future.
They won't come back, and those left be-
hind will be found attending to their own
business as heretofore.
The white men of the East appeal
TO their western brethren to save
them from local negro rule. The
white men of the East and West alike
must stand shoulder to shoulder to
preserve good State government and
white supremacy in Macon, Polk, Bun
combe. Halifax, Edgecombe and New
Hanover. THE injury of one is the
concern of all.