The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-09

in wild disorder. Their leader managed
TO escape.
This event cleared the atmosphere for
few weeks; and the people breathed
more freely when another company of
army regulars marched into the town
and camped in the school grounds of the
old academy.
OF all the elections ever conducted by
the English speaking race the one held
| under the Reconstruction act of 1857
in the South was the most unique.
During the progress OF the campaign.
a committee from the organization of the
| truly loyal Ezra Perkins and Dave
Haley. called on Tom Camp.
MIR. Camp, we want your help as a
leader among the poor white people TO
save the country from these rebel aristo-
Gratis who have ruined it," said Ezra.
You're barkin' up the wrong tree!"
answered Tom dryly.
1.-THE poor men have got to stand to-
gether now and get their rights"
well if I've ct to stand with niggers,
have 'em hug me and blow their breath
| in my face as you fellers are dom, you
can jest count me out!-and If that's all
| you want with me, you'll find the door
open"
! Haley tried his hand.
Look here, Camp, we amt got ma hard
feelin's agin you, but there's agoin' to be
| trouble for every rebel in this county
who don't git on our side and do 1t
quick"
I'm used to truoble. partner" replied
Tom.
You've got nice little cabin home
and ten acres OF land. Fight us, and
we will give this house and lot to q
niger"
/ 81 don't believe it, cried Tom.
Come, come" said Perkins, you're
not fool enough to fight us when we've
got o dead sure thing, majority fixed
before the voting begins, Congress and
the whole army back of us?"
Il amt er nigger" said Tom, dog
gedly.
What's the use TO be fool, Camp,
cried Haley. eve are just using the
niger to stick the votes in the box. He
thinks he's goin' to heaven, but We'll
ride him all the way UP to the gate and
hitch him on the outside. Will you come
in with US, Camp"
| Don't like your complexion" he an
swered rising and going toward the door
Then We'll turn you out into the road
in less than two years" said Haley as
they left.
| "All right laughed the old soldier, 81
slept on the ground four years, boys"
When he came back into the room he
met his wife with tears in her eyes
"Oh! Tom, I'm afraid they'll do wha,
! they say"
ITO tell you the truth, ole woman
I'm afraid so too. But we're in the
hands of the Lord. This is his house. Il
he wants to take it away from me now
when I'm crippled and helpless. he knows
what's best"
y wish you didn't have to go agir
en-"
II amt CT niger, ole gal. and I dom
| flock with niggers. If God Almighty haC
meant me to be one he'd have made my
skin black
Thus began the era of corrupt an(
degraded ballot in the South that was u
bring forth sorrow for generations We
unborn. Truly n miracle had been per
formed. The intelligence, culture
wealth. social prestige, brains, conscience
| and the historic institutions of a grea
State had been thrust under the hoof o
ignorance and vice.
The votes were sent 10 the militar!
commandant at Charleston and the re
suits announced. The negroes had electeC
10 representatives and the whites 10
1t was gravely announced from Wash
ington that republican form of gov
eminent" had at last been established il
! North Caroliuai