The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-24

out their criminal intentions they de- |
yeloped the most depraved of the black |
race, and transformed them into the
basest of politicians. They taught the
negro the vilest of their own arts.
When the south had stood the reign of
thieves n outcaStS as long as nit
communities could be expected to en-
dure outrage of this kind. the sustain
ing arm of the federal government was
taken away from the criminals and
the rule of the blacks and their cor
rupt white leaders tumbled to the
ground. The end of black rule was
brought about by a republican prest-
dent, and for years, there was univer-
sal acquiescence in the practical exciu-
sion of the negro from the exercise OF
the right which he had abused, and
which, in turn. had actually defiled his
race. Attempts by republican leaders
to gain advantages in northern states,
where there is a black vote, by the
passage of force bills. reacted O their
authors, until it was finally accepted
as a stubborn fact by republican lead
ers that coercive measurers were not
popular in the north.
Matters ran along in this way until
southern states undertook to make
/ black voting impossible by the adoption
of constitutional amendments which
excluded the negro without apparently
offending against the fifteenth amend
ment, Consequently, there had grown
up a vicious black republican organiza-
ton in the southern states. For a
time, the southern whites. in their turn,
seemed to acquiesce IN a plan which
left them in possession of their state and
local governments, and when lett &c
the black and to his white republican
associates the federal offices. 1t was
however an unnatural state Of affairs
o- - an M
Since 1896, the south has felt that /
has been treated by the republican
party as a conquered province" Il
Use the striking expression OF Hon
John R. Proctor, chairman OF the ma
tional civil service commission. In
federal Offices in the south have beel
filled by men of the worst character
Dive-keeperS. forgers, embezzlers SNUG
glers, %violators of the local excise laws
professional gamblers burglars, mur
derers black and white, have been ap
pointed to collectorships, postmaster
ships, and other offices. The Vi
voters, no longer useful for the Dull
pose of ~plundering the local and stat
governments have been employed I
debauch the republican organlzatlo
, Itself. The republicans Of the souther
states under the present rule ele(
J about one third of the delegates
TIE HdllOlldl cOllNSllllolL VI li1A pUtS
Their organizations have been put I'M
the hands of men who will sell them
the highest bidder, n part of TT
e price of corruption consists of FEEDER;
h Offices.
Therefore, it has naturally con
about that the uses made of the blac
vote by the northern politicians ha
taught the southern whites to regal
the negro in politics as the fruitf
~n,,roo on1 tho inStr1manf of cOrr1l
ton and of POLITICAL debauchery. I'll
black man in office stands for all tn;
is base and oppressive. His presen
Il III the custom houses n the poSto
fees is a constant reminder to t
southerner of what might happen
III the negro returned by force or r
= to local power. 1t so happens that t
= exposition of black corruption in sout
ern politics has been especially ev1de
since Mr.. Roosevelt's administrati
e began. This is not only due to t
fact that the actual corruption OF t
to republican party in the south is nc
T. greater than it eve has been sin
Isl the sorrowful day of reconstruct
tol Tut Mr.. Roosevelt himself has do
all much to lay it bare by some vigoro
s. efforts which he made at the outset
w work reforms hat are impossible
oil long as his party remains under
It. present leadership.
al Here is an explanation of h reas
edj Cor the unusual sensitiveness of
aSl south at the present men Eve
effort which Mr.. Roosevelt makes. u
Dr.. der these conditions, to bestow polite
of honors upon the black man. exceptio
r. al or not, is sure to be received in t
south as an attempt to promote bla
politics, than which, as the whole cou
al try knows. nothing is more corrupt.
is a pity that this should be so-a p
at for the exceptional black man. W
lis frankly accepts the situation, a pity
,ce| the south, and a pity for the count
,r- But as the president says, facts
,e- what we ought to reckon with, a
facts teach US that nothing but hay
m, can come to the exceptional black m
to| by pushing him in among the degrac
bel of his race as a federal of~flceholder.
is