DEFAMER MUST GO

Mass Meeting of White Citizens of Wilmington Pass Resolutions.

EXPULSION OF MANLY

AND RESIGNATIONS OF MAYOR AND CHIEF OF POLICE DEMANDED.

MAYLY GIVEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS

Time for Negro Domination Forever Past, Though they are to be Treated With.

Justice and Consideration. White Labor Favored.

Wilmington, N. C., Nos. 9.-There was a mass meeting of the businessmen of Wilmington today, attended by fully: 800 of the best white citizens, at which the following resolutions were adopted:

“Believing that the constitution of the United States contemplated a Government to be carried on by an enlightened people; believing that its framers did not anticipate the enfranchisement of an ignorant population of African origin, and believing that the men of the State of North Carolina who joined in forming the Union did not contemplate for their descendants a subjection to an inferior race,

“We, the undersigned citizens of the city of Wilmington and county of New Hanover, do hereby declare that we will no longer be ruled, and will never again be ruled by men of African origin. This condition we have in part endured be cause we felt that the consequences of the war of secession were such as to deprive is of the fair consideration of many of our countrymen.

“We believe that, after more than thirty years, that this is no longer the case.

TIME FOR NEGRO RULE PAST.

“The stand we now pledge ourselves to is forced upon as suddenly by a crisis rad out

eyes are open to the fact that must act now or leave our descendant to a fate too gloomy to be borne.

“While we recognize the authority of the United States, and will yield to it if exerted, we would not for a moment believe that. it is the purpose of more than sixty millions of our own race to subject us, permanently to a fate to which no Anglo-Saxon has ever been forced to submit.

“We therefore, believing that we represent unequivocally the sentiment of the white people of this county and city, hereby for ourselves, and representing them, proclaim:

“First – That the time has passed for the Intelligent citizens of this community, owning 95 per cent of the property and paying taxes in like proportion, to be ruled by negroes.

“Second – That we will not tolerate the action of unscrupulous white men in affiliating with the the negroes so that by means of their votes they can dominate the intelligent and thrifty element in the community, thus causing business to stagnate and progress to be out of the question,

“Third – That the negro has demonstrated by antagonizing  our interest in every way and especially by his ballot, that he is incapable of realizing that his interests are and should be identical with those of the community:

THEY FAVOR WHITE LABOR.

“Fourth – That the progressive element in any community is the white population and that the giving of nearly all of the employment to negro laborers has been against the best interests of this county and city and is a sufficient reason why the city of Wilmington, with its natural advantages has not become a city of at least 50,000 inhabitants.

“Fifth – That we propose in future to give to white men a large part of the employment

heretofore given to negroes. i because we realize that white families cannot thrive here unless there are more opportunities for employment for the different members of said families,

“Sixth-That the white men expect to live in this community peaceably, to have and provide absolute protection for their families, who shall be safe from insult from all persons, whomsoever. We are prepared to treat the negroes with justice and consideration in all matters which do not involve sacrifices of the interest of the intelligent and progressive portion of the community. But we are equally prepared

now and immediately to enforce what we know to be our rights.

MANLY TO BE EXPELLED.

“Seventh That we have been, in our desire for harmony and pence, blinded both to our best interest and our rights. A climax was reached when the negro paper of this city published an article so vile and slanderous that it would in most communities have resulted in the lynching of the editor. We deprecate lynching and yet there is no punishment, provided by the laws adequate for this offense. We, therefore, owe it to the people of this’ community and of this city, as a protection against such license in future, that the paper known as the Record cease to be published and that its editor be banished from this community.

“We demand that he leave this city within twenty-four hours after the issuance of this

proclamation. Second, that the printing press from which the Record has been issued be packed and shipped from the city without delay, that we be notified within twelve hours of the acceptance or rejection of this demand.

“If the demand is agreed to, within twelve hours we counsel forbearance on

the part of all white men. It the demand is refused or if no answer is given with in the time mentioned then the editor, Manly, will be expelled by force.

INTENSE EXCITEMENT.

“It is the sense of this meeting that Mayor S.P. Wright and Chief of Police J. R. Mullen, having demonstrated their utter incapacity to give the city a decent government and keep order therein, their continuance in office being a constant menace to the peace of this community ought forthwith to resign.’

A committee of twenty-five citizens was appointed to direct the execution of the provisions of the resolutions.

This afternoon there was a conference between the committee and a number of the most influential negroes of the city at which it was agreed that the negroes report to the committee at 7a. m. tomorrow as to whether, or not Editor Manly would comply with the requirements of the resolutions. If he does not white men propose to go in full force at 8 a.m. and destroy the newspaper plant and forcibly expell the editor. There is intense excitement and many fear that the negroes will attempt to protect Manly. It they do the worst can be expected.