The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-14
THE PEOPLE OF WILSON UNFAIR
LY CRITICISED.

ter testifying to the good character of
Sam Wick, postmaster at Wilson. If
they knew the true situation, all of them,
except the Pritchard organs, would
heartily approve of what the good white
people of Wilson have done. They have
not been playing politics, but have simply
been proving the truth of what has al
ways been asserted, to-wit: The best
| friends to negroes who conduct them
selves we'll are their white neighbors.
The Democrats of Wilson prefer a
postmaster. Whenever they have had
any voice in selecting a postmaster, he
has been white man of high standing
That settles their convictions. During the
recent campaign, in a speech at Smith
| field, Senator Pritchard, hoping to get
votes from white people, Dragged that he
postmasters but one, and promised to
have him turned out of office. After
the election in pursuance of his Smith
field promise, Pritchard recommended the
removal of Sam Wick solely upon the
ground that ne was a negro, and re-
commended as his successor a man who
in 1894, 1896 and 1898, acting with the
negroes, did everything in his power to
keep the negro party in political power
| in North Carolina and tn defeat tha con-
stitutional amendment 1t was expected
that the negro, Wick, would do this be-
cause he was a negro. 1t was not ex-
pected that any white man, who loved
his State, would help the negroes to
continue the disgraceful rule that pre-
vailed from 1896 to 1899 in North Caro-
untrue to his own race showed his I'M
fitness to represent the white people in
any capacity. The Wilson people wish
white postmaster who was not a lieu
tenant of the negro and other Republican
| leaders when it required a political rev.
olution to redeem the State from in
cendary, revolutionary and rascally rule!
Sam Wick is the best negro in North
Carolina. He conducts himself well. He
is respectful, polite, accommodating. In
Wilson the white people know and APP
preciate his good qualities. They will
not endorse him for office because they
do not believe in elevating any negro to
important public position, but when re-
quested to state whether he was man
of good character they did not hesitate
| to do SO. II they had failed to tell the
truth about a respectable negro, who
had won the confidence of the white peo-
pie by his good conduct they would have
done an injustice to themselves and re-
pudiated their professions of friendliness
to we'll behaved and correct negroes.
They are honest-they have always been
sincere-in their professions of kindly
feeling for the negro. They have fought
! to the death Pritchards plan to turn
over the Eastern counties to negroes and
unworthy white allies They believe the
best interests of both races are subserved
by the elimination of the negro from
politics. Therefore they will not endorse
J tion. But they will not refuse to testi-
| fly to the good character of negro citi-
zen for fear some Radical politician, or
some man ignorant of the facts, will
criticize them for so doing. The negro
in North Carolina, who is Industrious
and honest, has learned from the Wilson
every intelligent man has long ago learn
ed, to-wit: /. That the white Democrats
are hostile to the political power of the
] negro but are their best friends in their
! daily life. 2. That men like Pritchard
and Boykin, who have encouraged them to
demand political power IN ORDER TO
GET OFFICES FOR THEMSELVES would
see them maltreated when negro voting
does not keep them in office.
| The Democrats will forever oppose
Jlu6SIO NOLlllS anu AO5iO
! but they will always testify to the worth
of a negro who conducts himself properly.
The Wilson people in this matter have
acted with credit to themselves and with
perfect consistency. If the President ap-
points Sam Wick, that is matter over
which they have no control and for which
they will be in nowise responsible. They
were not consulted when Pritchard ap-
pointed Wick in 1897 They have not been
consulted now. They know that the mat
ter will be determined without refer
ence to to their wishes. but they would
not permit we'll behaved negro to ask
in vain for testimonial of good char
,, acter to which his career and life entitIe
him.
If Roosevelt can help the Republican
party in close Northern districts by keep
ing Wick, he will do it. If, however, he
thinks he can help his party best by the
Lily White policy, Wick will be removed