The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-02
AN ARMED INCIDENT IN THE WEST

So far from being hostile to the ne
| groes the Messenger has the best of
| feeling for the good, orderly, well be-
| haved class. The roWdies, rogues, ras-
calls and rapists are held in destestation
by all southern whites. They have
| nothing TO commend them to any one.
| The Messenger did not read with salts
faction the movement on the part Of
certain western mine owners to coerce
white labor by seeking to introduce
southern negroes on the scene. 1t was
unfair to the white operatives and un-
just to the negroes, for it was GER
tain to breed trouble and cause blood
shed. The negro is not wanted in the
west. Many occurrences through
forty years nave clearly shown that. If
the files of the diligent newspapers
were examined scores of incidents in
the west illustrative of dislike for the
negroes could be gathered. The other
day several hundred Alabama negroes
were taken northward. The papers
have given promptly results. They did
not get to the mines. but what they
met with in Chicago was a foretaste of
severe treatment farther on. In that
great city 300 negroes were ordered to
return to their southern homes. They
were told hat at Melrose Park there
were 300 armed men awaiting their
coming. They would not be allowed to
enter the. village. This is the cordial
treatment and warm sympathy south
hating journalists write about. The
negroes would be safe in Alabama, but
only rifles would receive them in the
north. This event is not singular, for
vents nave been quite as significant
and unmistakable. The Atlanta Con-
stitution recalls this incident:
Several years ago a number of col
ored men from Alabama ventured into
Illinois for the purpose of securing
work. They did not ask for a seat at
the head of the table, nor, indeed. did
they suggest their preference for even
the first table: but they were willing to
work for their daily bread. The fate
which befell them was told in the pow
der and smoke of Pana and Virden.'
Chicago papers, or some of them, are
particularly severe upon the south and
are ever ready to denounce and mag
nl1y the pad treatment the negroes
receive in the south. There are news
papers of great influence in that city
Of so much magnitude that are forever
harping upon the negro and his rights
in the south. But let him dare to come
that way, and he will find people ''who
are forever criticising others for their
conduct toward the colored man sit
upon their doorsteps, shotguns across
their knees. ready to give him warm
welcome" People who preach the Cos
pei of hate against the south are the
first to prosecute the barbaric method
of intimidation and death by loaded
winchesters. The Constitution says OF
the finale:
The progress of the story completes
a most disappointing narrative. Some
of the colored men. thoroughly alarm
ed. made their way to the chief of 20
lice, called for protection, which he
could not give them Out at Melrose
Park says the dispatch, the armed
citizens remained on watch until as
sured the negroes were not coming,
when they dispersed.
The glorious victory of equal rights
had been fought and won, The man
and brother had been held back and
told to return to his haunt in the
south