The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-15
WHAT VICTORY MEANS
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO DIS
FRANCHISE ILLlTERATE NEGROES.
The Election ends The Populist Party and ends
the Negro in Politics. Says Repub-
Ican Office Holder.
Baltimore Sum

Raleigh, " c., Saturday.-The result
of the recent Democratic victory in this
State, or os it is popularity termed, "the
victory of the white men, has developed
the fact that the mass of the white Re
publicans and practically all the Popu-
lists want the negro eliminated from
politics in North Carolina Twenty
five thousand Republicans" said At
torney General Walser, Republican,
voted with the Democrats Junius
b. Fortune, Il Republican and clerk of
the United States Circuit Court, said;
This election ends the negro i'll politics,
and | am glad of it. 1t also ends the
Popuist party in North Carolina"
A similar opinion is held by j. G. L.
Harris former secretary of the Repub-
lican State Committee. mo less than
$4,000 white Republicans and as many
Populists." he said to-day, voted the
Democratic ticket
When it is borne in mind that the
Populist strength was only about 10000.
it will readily be seen that that party
fell almost solidly in line with the Demo
Gratis.
The question is constantly asked,
what will be the effect of the Demo
cratic legislative victory on the negroes
in North Carolina?' 1t is asserted by
Democrats that it will be for the good
of the race. 1t will remove the negro
as disturbing element in politics. There
is settled determination that there
shall be an end to the holding of official
positions by negroes.
There is already movement among
the white Republicans for the formation
of Lilly White" Republican party.
Heretofore there has been much truck
ling to the negro vote, and this is particu-
larry distateful to members of the party
in the western part OF the State The
negroes on their part talk of forming a
party themselves. They are one hundred
and ten thousand strong. Some of them
say their white leaders have betrayed
and deserted them. Many Populists are
saying they have never voted for n ne
gro. Their State chairman, Cyrus
Thompson. says that he never did so.
When he was a candidate for Congress
and was asked if he would vote for n
negro he replied, mo" That answer
caused his defeat White Republicans
are openly saying they regret the re-
election of George ii. White, the only
negro member of Congress.
the State and the prospect of many
more is what led to most of the white
sentiment against the negro. That SEN
timent is not against him as a man, but
as Il political machine, all voting one
way and with an increasing desire for
office. Among the younger negroes and
the younger white men there is an ever
growing animositly. 1t is among these
that violent and dangerous antagonism
is found.
There had never been a race conflict
in North Carolina until the one at Viii
mngton last Thursday. That conflict
did not really result from politics, but
from an editorial in n negro paper and
reflecting on the white women. Repub-
leans here say the editor ought to have
been killed as soon as he wrote it, but
that they deplore the killings which did
occur.
The Democrats have a three-fourths
majority in both branches of the Legis-
lature. There are ample grounds for the
assertion, here made f"~ the first time,
that they will submit next August to
popular vote a constitutional amendment
which will disfranchise he ignorant ne
gro population of the State 1t is also
pretty safe TO say that it will not dis
franchise any white. but that some provi-
sion, as in South Carolina, Louisiana or
Mississippi, will be incorporated in the
amendment, so that unlettered whites
will continue to vote. Ohio Wilson,
former Populst State chairman, suggests
an original mode of eliminating the ne
gro vote. 1t is to exempt negroes from
taxation, and then provide only tax
payers shall vote.
Another matter much talked of is the
possible impeachment of Governor Rus
sell by the Legislature, which meets in
January. He has for quite a while been
aware that it was proposed. He knew
sixty days ago that the House would be
Democratic, and tried to keep Fusion
majority in the Senate.
PpAVEN MEN MATT