The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-18


Messenger Bureau
Raleigh. n. c.. November II.
Saturday night your correspondent
had a particularly interesting inter-
view with Populist State Chairman
Thompson. For the First time during
the campaign OIL since. the doctor talk
ed TO a reporter. He was asked what
is likely TO be done as TO the negro
voter and replied: II cannot say. I
have asked prominent democrats what
in their opinion will be lone with re-
on the one hand that he viii be d
franchised and on the other hand that
he will be permitted 10 vote but be
given TO understand that he cannot
hold office. II the first course is pur-
sued | shall expect 10 see an educa-
tional or property qualification. IL
the second course is pursued | do not
see that the negro question will be set
tied in North Carolina. IL is evident
that the democrats will now have To
eliminate the negro question. / do
MOI think that the people h ave
given the democratic party power viii
be satisfied with anything else than the
elimination OF the negro from politics
in North Carolina l opposed the plac-
ing of negroes on any tickets in North
Carolina, and / nave refused 10 make
a speech in any county where the same
was done. In the second judicial dis
trict | placed the name Of Walter r.
Daniel, a democrat, on the populist
ticket for solicitor, and this elected
him"
Any one who will talk n few minutes
with the majority Of the federal and
state officials, republican and populist
alike, will find them outspoken in their
desire for the utter elimination OF the
negro vote. 1t is the preponderant
sentiment in North Carolina today.
One of the foremost republicans, in
politics for thirty years said:
There can legally be an educational
qualification for voters. | do not think
there can under the state constitution
be a property qualification. Blu the
constitution can be so amended as To
| eliminate the negro from politics. Ne
| groes ought to see it. They ought TO
see that it is for the best interests OF
their race. / will certainly vote for it
and so | believe will practically all tho
white republicans. OF course the pop
ulists will vote for il. But that party
has left us INC returned TO the demo-
Gratis. One can not longer speak OF the
populist party in North Carolina, for
last Tuesday it simply ceased to exist.
| want to say further that we ought to
the fullest extent separate national
from state politics, and invite all white
men to vote the white mans ticket.
This will give control of the state.
keep up good government and avoid
federal Interference in any shape or
form. T re is law enough now in the
federal statutes to put man a man in
the penitentiary for Interference before
the election, during it or afterwards"
In the course of an interview on this
question of questions with one OF the
best known democrats in North Caro-
lima he said:
1--WE have a three-fourths majority
in both branches OF the legislature.
The democrats will next August sub
nit a constitutional amendment 20 the
NoItIS WHICH VIII ulSlTdHtlflSe the lE-
norant negro population of the state"
In to the next question.
whether the ignorant white vote would
also be DISTINGUISHED. the reply was
made:
Some provision, such as prevails in
South Carolina, Louisiana. or Mississ-
ippi. will be incorporated in the CON
stitutional amendment Of which ] have
spoken, SO that the unlettered whites
will continue to vote
In yesterdays News and Observer
two well informed negroes. Rev. JOS
eph perry and y. G. Bruce, have letters
which are virtually open letters to
their race. These look in the direction
Of the retirement Of the negro from
politics.
Your correspondent was struck by
the remark of a populist official. whose
home is in a negro country. He said
The negro vote must be eliminated
in some way. 1t is the true way To
help the negro. 1t will elevate politics
in North Carolina. Two parties will
always remain. Campaigns will be on
a high plane. | prefer to see the negro
eliminated by an educational qualih-
cation or even a property qualification,
rather than an election law which
would permit Of any fraud. | will vote
and ] am sure nine-tenths. possibly,
all the populists, will vote for an edu-
cational qualification"
+. A. OLDS.