The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-03-27
WILMIkCTOH'S FINE Spirit
Highly AppreCiatiVe Editorial From
the NeWbern Journal
COmmends Spirit of the Citizens OF
Wilmington - Mandatory Common
of the Great Christian Mass Meet
ing Held Here Last Sunday

The Newbern Daily Journal of Tues
days issue has a highly complimentary
L a~ppreciative editorial of this city
under the caption What Wilmington
Stands For" the editorial having re-
ferred to the mass meeting held in this
city on Sunday last, participated in by
white and colored citizens, when ad-
dresses were delivered by several prom
inent ministers and Others. That the
Newbern paper appreciates the spirit
which was behind this gathering Is
SLCwn by the fair and just common:
that appears in it's columns and Will
nIington citizens will undoubtedly APP
pTeciate the kind words. The Journal
saws:
Wilmington, n. c. is a remarkable
city in many ways. That is her cit
liens are remarkable in their spirit,
II contend for what they judge are
tEeir rights, and TO insist upon the pre-
s~trvatiOn of these rights. This is not
d new thing. The history of Whining
ton from its earliest record proves
that this same spirit for local indepen-
deGce, and for local rights, always ex-
listed.
ITO the ~unknowing outsider, the peo-
PIC OF Wilmington have often done
things and stood for things, that look
ed unjustifable.. Time has proved the
correctness Of Wilmingtonians.
In no greater stress has the citi-
ZenEhip Of Wilmington been, than in
the final year Of the nineteenth CEN
tury. Through a miserable political
leadership, the cOlOred people of Will
mingtOn, had been brought to commit
acts, wantOn and dangerous 10 both
white and colOred. The action Of the
white citizenship was to drive from
the city the leaders of the cOlored
people, and in the course OF this up-
heavel there were colored people shot.
There followed outside denunCiation
for this act But Wilmington never
r~etreated, never apOlogized, and never
cid the spirit which prompted the
clearing up, ever though blood had to
be shed, pursue any baseness follow
ing the stringent action. 1t was a he
rOic method to pursue, but there was
no feeling following it, that was
against the cOlored citizen. He had
his rights SO long as he was worthy Of
them.
THE dispatches tell of a mass meet
ing, held in the city OF Wilmington
on last Sunday. 1t was OF white and
ColOred citizens. It was at the re-
quest of the ccloTed ministers, 50 the
report says. It's object was for a joint
movement TO promote n forward
the best interests of the commun-
ity, in which the colored citizen was
equally as interestd and asked to be
able 10 take his part as did white
citizen.
Two thousand people were present,
probably One-Sixth being white Mayor
Springer presided. Bishop Strange,
Rev. Mr.. Mcclure, Hon. Geo. Roun-
tree, were speakers. It Is said that
the younger negroes were noticeable
for their attendance and the sentiments
o. the speakers, for law observance
and colored industriousness, were loud
ly cheered.
This may appear a strange phase
In Wflmington's history. 1t is not. 1t
but proves It's good citizenship. The
union OF every class for local uplift.
1t Is the same spirit for progress
that has wrought so wonderfully in
the last decade. II is the spirit that
declares 1br a forward movement,
and which has made North Carolina
all over the state join in, and assist
Wilmington, when her people asked
help TO secure such projects as the
thirty-foot channel TO the sea-
1T is no new thing for Wilmington
TO stand for things. Her history is
filled with this individuality. The
Sunday meeting for a united force OF
white and colored for both harmony,
and the support Of the local institu-
tons and their uplift. is not specially
remarkable. 1t is just Wilmington"