National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07
WHY TIE SOUTH IS SOLID.


the expiration Of Mr. Mahone's term ex-
cept he be Republican. To permit Dem
ocrat to succeed Senator Malone would be
an outrage"
The above sentiment was pressed to-
day by Maj. Powers, one Of the best-known
Republican statesmen Of North Carolina.
1t fell so forcibly upon your correspond
ent's ears that he Immediately inquired
what was meant by Il.
81 mean," replied Mai. Powers, "that
Virginia has elected a Republican legsla-
ture or, II she has not elected IL, she had
the votes to do so, and was only deprived
OF II by the most outrageous frauds imagln-.
able. A great deal has been said IN the
north about the corruption perpetrated by
the Democrats in the south, but Il has never
yet been made clear to the northerners how
this rape OF the ballot-box was brought
about / will tell you how the Democrats
control the elections In North Carolina, my
own state, and | may add that the same
state OF affairs exists in Virginia BY the
most audacious frauds which have ever
been .perpetrated In the south q conslitu-
uonal convention was elected about ten
years ago which changed the constitution
so rs to make these frauds easy and eyer.
since that change Of the constitution, or, 1
may say, since new constitution was made
Tor the state so as to put the politics into,
the hands OF those controlling at that time,
1t has been just as impossible for the
Republicans TO get fair elections and
for colored man to vote as II has been for
the people to take wings and fly away. It.
was understood before this constitutional
election that the delegates chosen were to.
make n constitution Of the kind now on the
statute books, and the state was In tur-
MOL Of excitementfor some time. Although
the most desperate intimidation and cor
rupt use Of money was everywhere seen the
Republicans actually elected a majority OF
two of the delegates. Before the reports.
were sent In, however, the highest toned
Democratic members In Congress from
North Carolina at that time, and / may say
at this time, telegraphed to the managers of
the state Democracy to hold back certain
precincts, and make the returns Democratic
for the purpose of saving the state. The
convention was organized by the bour--
bons after q deadlock Of three or
four weeks, and there was so much excite
ment and such prospects Of a riot that the
state militia were called out and the con-
stitution under which the people there now
live was enacted. / only mention this,
disturbance in the election, constitutional
convention, and making of the constitu-
tion to show that even In that the bourbons.
were desperate, and resorted to the most,
diabolical acts to carry out their purposes.
1.-THE constitution. provides that the GOV
ernor, believe, or the legislature, shall
choose the commissioners Of the several
counties. In all states north, and I'm fact
In nearly every state throughout the Union,
county commissioners are elected the same.
as other officers. But our county commits
sioners, as soon as they are chosen by the
chief executive, meet on the first Monday
in August and choose auditors for the sew
ernl counties These auditors levy taxes
and perform the same functions that
county auditors doithrough the north. The
magistrates throughout the state or justices
Of the peace as they are commonly
called, are appointed by the same
power that selects the county commissioners.
The magistrates choose the election boards.
so you see that the governor controls all
the machinery of the elections. Although
our laws provide for the selection Of Repub-
licans upon election boards, such Repub-
licans as are of no benefit to the party are
always selected. The majority Of each cleo
tion board are invariably appointed by the
governor upon the recommendation of the
Democratic central committees.S The whole
ballot-box machinery and everything that
pertains to the election is therefore In the
direct control Of the Democracy"
"Who sdirects the frauds at the ballot
boxesV was asked.
"Custom is sufficient to direct the
frauds" quietly replied the major; 'the-
machinery is so old and works so well that.
1t almost goes without saying that certain
quantity OF Republican votes In ignorant
localities are kept out of the ballot-boxes,
or II cast are not counted The surest and
most popular way in which the negro vote
is kept out Of the Republican score is by
The formation OF the negro collection pre-
cincts. 1t is proverbial throughout North
Carolina that the negro precincts are from
three to five times as large as all the white
precincts. My home is in New Berne.
hnN Ia oil all a.. 4. Il. a.
the negroes are colonized In one portion Of
the city. There is one negro precinct, re-
member, at my home in which are about
$50 black voters, and probably 25 or so white.
votes. The other election precincts, In which
are white people mostly, run from 200
to $50 votes. Now, the Democrats, on the
morning OF the election, go to the polls in
the negro precincts and cast their vote the
first thing. The Democratic votes are In
generally before the forenoon is well worn.
When the negroes come up to vote they
find great crowd Of white Democrats, and
they have to withstand q catechism that
almost invariably results In the defeat of
their ballot. The Democrats begin by chal-
longing the colored voters. They ask them
all kinds OF idiotic questions, such as what
their religion is, where their children go to
sci DOL, what church they attend, how old
they are, who their forefathers were, who
they work for, how many men are employed
about them, and all such stuff which con-
sumes great deal OF time, and finally they
demand that some well-known citizen must
identity them. In half the instances n
suitable man is not found to identify
the colored voter. His employer Is nearly
always Democrat, and he will, of course,
refuse TO identify him II, however, he Is
identified by man who Is unable to exer-
else the proper influence, the voter is told
to stand aside for awhile when the matter
will be settled. During all these controyer-
sizes in which colored men are turned away
from the polls great crowd of negroes are
hanging about waiting to vote. Many OF
them are frightened by the gathering of