The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-07-03
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE
WHITE PEOPLE OF THE
SECOND JUDICIAL
DISTRICT.

On tie 9th of July, 1902, at Wei.
don, North Carolina, judge of this
District is to be named. Shall 1t be
Francis d. Winston, the present judge,
or shall he be turned down? Ii I had
but one tenth the ability to put before
you in proper light what Frank Win
ston did for us and our homes in the
revolution of 1898 aud 1900, in those
bloody campaigns; how he left his
Office for months, how he helped to
| organize the white supremacy forces in
North Carolina how he gave largely
of his slender means to the cause
when rich men refused to respond to
the call of Chairman Simmons, there
would be no opposition to this true,
warm-hearted and brave tribune Of the
people and Of justice and right. Did
not Simmons and Aycock rely upon
Winston In the work by night and by
day, when the day seemed lost? When
the great east seemed given over to
negro rule forever, when Halifax and
BERTHE and Warren and Hartford and
Northampton were In the turmoil OF
excitement, and when women trembled
al the approach of night when little
children caught the fear of their
parents, and aroused men stood guard
over things most sacred while blood
flowed like water in the streets o.
Wilmington, it was the hand and
brain and nerve of Winston, which in
these counties where the fight was
hottest aud abuse of him the cruelest,
brought order out OF chaos, organized
the white forces into one solid mass,
and, more than any other man il
North Carolina, under Aycock and
Simmons, brought victory ard peace
to our people and our State.
The very farms we cultivate are
made habitable largely by these men,
Aycock, Winston and simmons. And
when the day was won, who was the
man whom Butler and the Caucasian
abused most violently? Who vas it
that hts paper, In and out of season,
poured out the vials of its wrath upon?
It was Winston and Simmons read
the Caucasian and see for yourselves.
If Winston is defeated, no other
lighter will have the nerve to strike
such blows as he has struck or to do
such work as he has-sdone fer white
supremacy. Will sense Of gratitude
suffer US to let tin go dowo? His
worthy opponents can we'll afford
under these circumstances to forego
for awhile their opposition to him,
but whether they 90 or net, let the
white people OF the Second Judicial
District see to it that Judge Winston
is nominated. How stands the mat
ter? The great II pheaval and mighty
revolution OF 1898 and 1900 was
caused by negro rule in Halifax, War
rem, BERTHE and other Eastern counties.
The man who led the revolution
IVES Winston (praissd for it by his
friends and abused for it by his foes)
and yet, when the action of the gov
ernor who appointed Winston Judge IL
up for review, Halifax, Warren and
Hartford, the one cause of the revolu-
ton, are called upon to defeat Winston
and Governor Aycock. Will the people
Of h;rtoric old Halifax be wanting in
that sense OF appreciation which has
always characterized them? The peo-
pie OF North Carolina will not so be-
Ileve until the votes are counted.
Il is not necessary to recount the
great praise and honor which have
been accorded to Judge Winston by
people, bench and bar since he has
been judge. The wisdom of Governor
Aycock in that appointment has been
fully justified. He is fair, patient,
honorable, learned and just officer of
the law. White men and women OF
Halifax, of Warren, of Hartford, OF
Northampton, of Berthe! This man
must not be defeated in his defeat
you too will suffer. If Horatius, who
went to glorious death that Rome
might be free, is not honered in the
act, when Will another Horatius take
his life in his hands for you and for
me? With charity Tor all, but that
the grand old Second District may be
put right before the world, l subscribe
myself,
MARION NEwsoM.
Littieton, N. G., June, 1902.