The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-30
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1897

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1897
YES, AFTER THIRTY YEARS.
The fine old town OF Scotland Neck
N. c., is given negro for postmaster
and negro barkeeper at that. Be
can administration The Republican
party has to pay the darkies TOR their
support of the Republican ticket, and
the southern people are made to bear
the brunt of the humiliation involved
How can any southern white man vote,
directly or indirectly, to sustain such a
state of things !-Richmond Dispatch,
Sept. Goth.
Yes, and it comes to this after only
thirty years of the right of the fran
chise by the colored race, who within
the memory of great part of our pop
ulation were ignorant slaves. And it
it ls contrary to the very laws OF nature
and the writing of all history that a
race as ignorant and devoid of morals
as the American slaves, should rightly
and logically SO soon be pushed into po-
sition and power oyer such race as
the Anglo-Saxon. Whatever might be
the claim, or possibility of claim, to
recognition for such position, the ex-
perience of the colored race In matters
of citizenship has been too brief for
them to be entrusted with such high
and significant responsibilities.
The Anglo-Saxon race has not loved
and fought for this land for tour hun
dred years that its best prospects should
be blighted under the rule of q race
that has never, in a single instance.
proved Itself competent to steer for its
own highest destiny.
A general protest rises all over the
land by the best class of white people
against the unnatural and illogical
state OF affairs that has recently been
brought about by those who are will
ling to sacrifice the feelings, conven-
lence and interests OF all others that
: they themselves may grow rich.
THE COMMONWEALTH has no word of
censure for the colored people, either |
as race or as an accidental inhabitant |
OF our country. But in common with
all other self-respecting whites we de-
plore the present political conditions |
which subordinate the interests of the
white people to the interests OF the COL |
ored race and those unscrupulons
whites who have traded principle for
place and position.
A Republican administration in ma
tional and state interests has never he
fore meant to the people of Scotland
Neck what It now means. And it has
come to this, that there are only two
sides from which one may choose his
stand. One is the Democratic. or
white mans side; and the other. the
Republican, or colored mans side. We
do not wish to force the race question.
and we are not doing 1t. The coIored
people themselves and their white Re-
publican bosses have forced it for how
ever they may agree with us on other
matters, when it comes to the ballot +
box, they cast their vote almost solidly c
one way. +
And now who is responsible for the
TACT that at Littleton, Halifax, TilIerv
and Scotland Neck in this county ne 4
gro postmaster is in control and man. t.
ages the weighty matters of United p
States mail? The answer Is ready at a
hand. Every one who has helped
either directly or indirectly, to disrupt -
the Democratic party and shake down 8,
and destroy the splendid government
which blessed North Carolina for 81 a
many years under Its administration a
shares in the responsibility for the a.
present situation. =
We do not blame these colored men i
for holding the Offices that are tendered "
Them and for which they have labored.
Certainly not. They are not to be con- in
aemned for receiving pay for their SER "
nee to their party bosses; but all the -
anne We believe that-their exercise Of -,
light OF the ballot has been too brief or
or the Anglo-Saxons who have been pr
lere hundreds of years tn tnrr ov.x 10