The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-21

| growth of Republican misrule, and the
| blood of more than a dozen negroes seals
| forever the supreme folly of trusting the
government of any part of our State TO
negroes. Who was it that overturned
| Governor Russell's city government in
| Wilmington? It was the entire white
population. Preachers, lawyers doctors,
| teachers, editors, railroad managers,
workingmen, business men, bankers, day
laborers-these were the men who did it
not by lawless men and disturbers of
the peace, not by hotheads infamed by
political passion, but by those people
whom Senator Pritchard characterizes in
his recent speech in the Senate against
the Amendment, as conservative, loyal
patriotic and devoted | quote his very
words: THE people Of North Carolina
are noted for their conservatism, a more
loyal, devoted and patriotic people are
not to be found in any State in this
Union.' If Senator Pritchard speaks the
language of truth and not of compliment
when he says that our people are con-
servative, loyal, devoted and patriotic
what tongue can give adequate speech
to the horrors of the misrule which pre-
ceded the revolution and the riot in Will
mington in 1898. In broad open daylight
this conservative, loyal, devoted and pa
triotic people compelled an entire change
of government-pay more, these same
people had just before in the face of
high heaven and in the sight of all men
wrecked the outfit of that newspaper
which had been the vehicle of the most
infamous slander ever published against
the white women Of any land. On that
1,,, a in tlNa
streets of Wilmington, shot openly in
broad daylight. Yes, Senator Pritchard,
these white men were conservative, de-
voted, loyal. patriotic, but if they were
what answer shall you make for the sort
Of government which your party estab-
lished in North Carolina?
Look at the matter another way. AT
the time when these things were happen
ing of which | have told you North Caro-
lima had a Republican Governor. Did he
declare Wilmington in state OF insur-
rection and put it under martial law?
Why, fellow citizens he forgot that ia
vorte of Southern Republican Governors
or did he remember as his eye glanced
down the column of the election returns
then Just in the fate OF the only Repub-
lican in North Carolina who ever estab-
lished martial law? However that may
be. whether Governor Russell forgot or
remembered-Wilm ilmington was not for
moment under martial law. The military
went, but only in aid of the civil au-
thorities Senator Pritchard, too, forgot
to invoke the help of the President, nor
were the courts, then nearly all in Repub-
lcan hands, invited by anybody to redress
any wrong done in these open acts. BY
their silence and by their failure TO act
all the Republican authorities in North
Carolina acknowledged that the people of
Wilmington acted from overwhelming
necessity and reasserted anew their title
to be called conservative, loyal, devoted,
patriotic. What they did is known of all
men-what they had suffered can thereby
bv partially understood. Look at that
fair city now under the rule OF white
men Rifles have grown rusty while the
law stands guard for all. Peace and order
everywhere reign within its gates. Ladies
can walk the streets with safety unat-
tended Business is growing, new and
beautiful homes are being built Manufac-
turing enterprises multiply. The laborer
goes to his work with JOY and sleeps
without fear. The startled and anxious
look has passed away from the faces OF
the women and hope beams from the eyes
of all.
which do we want in North Carolina?
Wilmington in 1898 or Wilmington in
1900? For Wilmington is a type Condi-
tions there were almost duplicated else
where. Newbern was nearly as bad.
Halifax county. Edgecombe county Cra-
ven county, these and others were suffer
ing in the same way. The whole State
felt the sin and the shame of it. But
some men will say-Republicans are even
now saying it will not happen again,
and if il does the State can right herself
again as she did in 1895 without an
Amendment to the Constitution
Fellow citizens, | warn you that if ne
gro suffrage remains as it is we shall
again pass through the experience OF 1898.
The negro will continue to vote as race
the white men viii again divide, and
with division will come a recurrence OF
negro rule. 1t is inevitable. ! cannot
always think like you nor can you for
ever agree with me and some day again
we shall divide and the scene of 1868 and
1898 viii again blacken the history Of our
dear old State. All would come together
again. of course. and save the State anew.
This | know. For the Anglo Saxon where
ever he is in the world will rule in some
way or other. Senator Cullom tells us in
his report of the Hawaiian Commission
that these islands have a population OF
40, 900, Of whom over 1900 are Americans,
and then he adds with evident pride 1T
will, OF course, be observed that this en-
tire population of 600 is dominated po-
litically. financially and commercially by
the American element. 1t is so every
where. Northern Republican Senators
recognize and rejoice in the fact except
when we demonstrate the truth of it in a
Southern State. Then and then only they
lose sight of ii and abuse us for asserting
it, But it is the truth here as everywhere
else and we will throw off the burden of
negro rule just as often as it is put upon
us. We did it in 1870, we did it in 1898,
and by every energy in us we will do it
once and for aye in 1900. We are face
TO face with the question. shall we have
permanent White Supremacy by law? We
can alternate between White Supremacy
and negro rule or we can forever settle
the question by adopting the proposed
Constitutional Amendment Which shall
we do?"
HOW IE IS NOW