Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-09-03
THE FORCE BILL.

COUNTRY.
Writing III the Forum about the dis.
.s.r1us elect which Force bill would
Aa,e I the Republicans were permitted
" make It the law OF the land, Hoke
smith, President of the Atlanta Gal
Dy.-i q Education, says:
This IS scheme to DESTROY home rule
a. local control. 1t is based either up.
- he ldea that the people cannot be
'rl-ted, and that one man is far better
.aAn the people, or it Is o plan by which
aac man may organize set Of partisans
u work in ALI elections.
II Il either undemocratic and unre
publican, a blow at popular government,
yr II IS deliberate plan to use officers Of
the Government as an eectioneerino
posse ~ behalf Of particular parry, to
iHth.aA them means to prepare for
tfta.Iient election, and then to complete
"ork through II board OF canyassers.
Sao are 10 dec lare the desired result
ad certify 70 il. Such an invasion Of
popular rights must be repllsive alike
- every part Of the land
ladcci, the New York Convention
ratified our National Constitution in full
confidence that until amendments mi1ht
oe adopted "the Congress will not make
- alter any regulation in the State re-
>p"ctlng the times, place, and manner Of
toifing elections Tor Senators or Repre-
entatlves, unless the Legislature Of this
S'lte sAtil neglect or refuse to make
.ths or regulations for the purpose, or
from any circumstance be Incapable Of
making the same; and that in those
casts such power will only be exercised
Until the Legislature Of the State shall
make provision in the premises
The conventions Of Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, and Rhode Island also
aioptcd the Constitution Of the United
states with similar declarations on this
subject. The debates upon the Lodge
, blil in the House Of Representatives
showed conclusiyeIy that the trainers of
The Constitution rever contemplated the
passage of such bill as that which the
Republican candidates now indorse.
The Force bill if put into operation
throughout the entire country would
cost not less than S10, 900, 900 for every
election, and would bring upon the peo.
pie m additional force of about $50, 900
otiicc holders. 1t certainly mas the ap-
pearance of being a scheme to enable
favotcd class, after collecting more
III ouey from the masses than the wants
81 the Government require, to spend it
ier ;hc purpose Of perpetuating them
tfve> II power.
Such a law once in operation would
bring protest from All over the land,
bat once having been enacted the protest
would be Of little value, for the super
vl>ors and canvassers could easily per-
tuatc the political power Of those who
occupied the offices, despite the actions
q tie yotcr2a the polls. 1t cannot be
possible that the people Of the North aud
Of the West will suffer such system to
bc thrust upon them.
Bntthc advocates Of this measure in
sist that it is needed to protect the ne
Crac, Of the South. In truth, no greater
c.iamiiv could befall the negroes than
such legislation. Their hope of devel-
opmcnt rests upon the kind feeling
which now exists between the two races
ii the South, which is constantly IN
oreaSng to the benefit Of the negroes as
outside interference decreases An i'm
partial student Of the situation in the
South must see the negro's progress,
intellectual, moral and financial, during
Il us. .cw years, has everywhere been
dtftsicnt upon and proportioned TO the
aea Of friction between himself aud his
white nei.hbor. The darkest hour OF
tie history Of the race was during the
period whcn the negroes Mere controlled
aai led by uca who kneS little aboAt
tAen. and Who controlled them by p ay
~ upon TIGER prejudlcoS Against the
vtt.r mcu who bad hccn the masters
II 1870 practically 70 property W.
Is in Georgia bv n"-ree-; to.day tHcy
Ty taxcs uron Sli, l9G 10 OF property.
Tie .ucater part o. wA!rh iIaS beel ac-
cared since 1850. Any honest man,
AuoMn, the facts, Viii aamit lhnt with
complete freedom IN thls section from
outside interference the race problem IS
solving itself by pleasanteg relations, by
tie substantial etfor, on the part Of thc
intelligent whites 10 do a i possible, both
personally and through legislation, (
develop the negroes.
With an experience Of nearly twent,
wears constantly in the courthouses 0
Georgia, | can truthfully sag that In
criminal AS we'll as civil litigation tht
negroes rights are absolutely protected
This condition Of affairs, desirable a
Il certainly IS. can be malntained oni
where friction is avoided between tn
two races; for with the indication OF a.
aggressive struggle between them, tn
iatiuence OF those whites who might de
sire to continue legislation favorable K
Tie development of the negro wouI'
cease.
The mass of whites, their prejudice
4 rcintiamed, would not follow the cor
,ervative men Of their own race 1t
ay the influence Of the more lntelilgeI
whites that the best legislation and II
best help caa be given. 1t is throulS
,Ae influence OF tue more Intelligent