Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-03-25

~ lSF~DASdA. HS utHlOCTdtS were
trying to prevent the negroes from
voting under the technicalities of the
Payne election law If it could be
enforced, the negroes could be pre-
vented from voting, and the county
could be carried democratic. The
populist revolt commenced in 1892 and
this increased the difficulties. Young
Morrison was threatened with violence
time and again in both campaigns. In
1894 he not only spoke all over Rich
mond county but in surrounding coun-
ties, and in Richmond county came
near being killed in Beaver Dam
township, where he challenged over
200 negroes for illegal registration
and prevented them from voting. On
the night of the election he and re-
publican leader had desperate en-
counter over Morrison's campaign
speeches, They fought fairly. Both
were good men physically, and they
fought till both had to be put to bed.
The times were dangerous and Nor
rison lived for years in constant dan
ger of personal violence. In 1896 he
was a candidate for the state senate.
He canvassed that entire section of the
state for the party, but went down
in defeat as all other democrats did
that year in his district. The fusion
lists had the state from '94 to '98, and
during that period conditions became
intolerable in the state.
In Richmond county they were des-
porately bad. There were forty ne
groes in office i'll the county, thirteen
negro justices of the peace, negro
on the county board of education, and
two on each township school board.
The juries were full of negroes. Law
lessness was widespread throughout
the entire eastern part of the state.
Morrison commenced to organize the
white people with the utmost care. He
was made chairman of the democratic
executive committee of Richmond
county in 1898 and proceeded early L
organize each precinct in the county
which then included the present coun
ty of Scotland, and was seventy mile!
long. Mr.. Morrison mercilessly de
nounced the wrongs and malfeasance'
of the county officials. In the mids
of the violence and danger of thu
times Morrison lived in constant dan
ger of deadly encounters with the DIES
perate negro leaders of that day. Fl
nally, in defense, not for aggression al
is generally supposed, the white mel
donned their red shirts. Morrison hat
been made supremely happy by tn
fact that his father had quit the re
publican party and joined him. From
that day the elder Morrison become
a power in the fight for democrac!
and white supremacy. In this cam
paign young Morrison's speeches wer'
powerful in their denunciation Of re
publican misrule, yet so convincing
and appealing that hundreds of repub
licans joined the democratic party an,
put on white supremacy buttons. A
one speaking at Ellerbe Springs on
hundred and thirty-fve republican
, joined the democratic party. On Sat
urday before the election there wa
in Rockingham probably the mos
spectacular Red Shirt parade that ev
err took place in the state. The par
ade was headed by the elder Morrison
and another Confederate soldier bear
ing the banner with the Inscription
"The Whites Will Rule the Land O.
. Die" The republicans realized tina
they were in death grapple, and ev
cry known means of intimidation wa
employed. Governor Russell had &c
sued a proclamation denouncing tn
Red Shirts of Richmond and Halifa,
counties, and ordering them to subsid
, and threatening those two countie
with martial law. This was followe,
j., by great meeting at Rockingham, a
which young Morrison denounced AM
defined Russell, and his threats. A
the meeting at Rockingham on Sat
urday before the election, Mr.. Morri
son and Senator Tillman of Soutl
, Carolina made speeches that stirre
, the people as they had never bee
! stirred before. The county was car
, ried by majority of over a thousand
| A few mornings after the election
, the Raleigh News and Observer de
: clared that "The spirit early manifest
ed in Richmond county that the white
, would rule the land or die spread t.
adjoining counties, finally permeate
the whole east, carried thirty coun
ties, and saved the state for democ
racy."
IL Cameron Morrison aroused tina
spirit in Richmond county and wa
/ the unquestioned' leader Of the move
| ment. b..
: At the same time he was leadinl
J turbulent fight in Richmond county, h
] went from time to time to other coun
2 | ties Of the state and spoke for whit