The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-09-29
The RE-pOp-LICAN SCARECROW.

history. He knows that in North Caro-
| lima it was the Democratic party that
gave his father the right to vote for
! State Senators. and that it is to that
party he can most safely trust his right
! to continue to exercise the right of suf-
frage. He knows that from motives of
principle and interest the Democratic
/ party VIII IN the future, as it has in the
past, preserve his right to vote, and
will not subject him to the humiliation
! of having negro to determine his
| right to cast his ballot.
Under the constitution of the State
no qualification, either that of property
or of educatiOn can be attached by the
| Legislature to the right OF suffrage
| The constitution DreScribes in plain
and unmistakable terms who is entitled
to vote and the requirements can not be
changed either by addition or subtrac-
ton of a single item until the voters Of
the state have passed upon the pro-
posed change. 1t cannot be done by the
Legislature.
The constitution OF North Carolina
Section l, Article s, provides who shall
have Il right to vote in the following
plain language:
Every male person born in the Uni
ted States and every male person who
has been naturalized tWe1ty-one years
old or upward, who shall have resided
IN the State twelve months next pre-
cedinS the election and ninety days in
the county in which he offers to vote,
shall be deemed an elector But nc
person who upon conviction or confess
sion in open court shall be adjudged
guilty Of felony or any other crime in
famous by the laws of this State and
hereafter committed shall be deemed
an elector unless such person shall be
restored to the rights of citizenship
NV La
That makes 1t sufficiently clear that
no one now entitled to vote Gan be dis
franchisei unless he disfranchises him
self by committing a felony.
The only way in which the Qualifica-
tons Of the voter can he DANCED is by
changing the constitution. There are
two ways in which the constitution
may be amended. but beth prescribe
that the proposed Amendment shall BE
SUBMITTED TO A VOTE OF THE
PEOPLE for adoptio. Or rejection.
The first method e amendment by
convention and the 0SastitHtion says
with regard to ii. Section 1, Article Is:
NO convention Of the people ofthis
state shall ever be called BY the Gen
renee of two-thirds of al the members
OF each House OF the General Assem-
bly, and except the proposition.
convention or no oaave0tia0. be first
submitted to the quAli6-a voters OF
the whole State. At the DeRt genera!
election, in manner - be prescrbed
by law. And should q HajoEity Of the
votes cast be in favor of mid conven-
ton, it shall assemble "a such day az
may be prescribed ~ the General As
sembly."
Under this clause it 10 Sufficiently ap-
parent that though the Democrats
might have every member Of both
thew -
effect any change usth tn people had
sanctioned it by authorizing q conven-
ton.
The other method Of amendment is
thus prescribed by Sectioa 2, Article l..
No part of the constitution OF th.
state shall be altered wIess a bill t.
alter the same shall have been agreed
TO by three-ffth. Of each Mouse Of the
General Assembly,. And the amend
Inent or amendments - agreed to shall
De submitted at the next general cleo
ton to the qualified voters e the whole
scribed by law. And II the event .
their adoption by q majority OF the
votes cast. such - GAondment or
amendments shall beoo.ne q part OF the
constitution OF thh State
1t appears that the NEST that the
General Assembly, or the -Iegislature.
az II Is familiarly called, ~a do il 70
to DO even that requires Hn aye vot. u
three-ffths OF both house, Demo
cratic legislature. II anl n Itself. 10 -
Dowerless to change the eonstitutfon n
ne state A. it would Se Of the Un!teA
states. The people Themselves must
authorize a change. else the cOnstitu-
tlpn VIII forever remain Tire same.
These facts were. Of course. known 70
the demagogues who manufactured The
axe and started 1t On the rounds. The
TACT that they should resort to li@,-
"hlch every man whs can reaa~Sor
himself, or who has heard tAeSconstitu-
uon read. can prove to he4 lie by
simple reference to the cGnstitution 4
mis- state. shows to what 4 desperate
pass they have beea sro~xht BY he
rising tide OF popular Inclination II
me caiamitous misruAs 1sr which Trey
are responsible
Inc brazenness anG uAe bas.ness II
the fabrication shswD aipo that tn.
enemy OF the filitera&e vster IL not n.
Dernocratic party which has euaran-
leo MS rights to h1n - TIE cous.itI-
ION OF his state. but de monsrel col
'sh OF foSoD eh0o- holders who at
so - ~ -