Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-12-03
SENATOR PRITOHARD'S UTTER
ANORS.

During these troublous times. it is
indeed gratifying to have one white
Republican leader from North CARROLL
ma who is bold enough to give forth
ringing, patriotic utterances. Senator
PRIrcHARD is quoted as follows:
"The statement that is being m ade in
certain Democratic newspapers TO the
effe &C that favor the organization in
this State Of what is known as a Lily
white Republican party is without
foundation. The principles of Repub-
licanism are of such a nature as to en-
list the support OF all races. classes AMI
creeds. The Republican party stands
fer the greatest good to the greatest
number. and it has at all times favored
the free exercise of the elective fran
chise by ali citizens who are entitled
to vote. The devotion of the colored
race to the cause OF Repnblicanism in
the Southern States in the face of
the fierce opposition OF the Democrat
ic Party has been Of q character calcu-
lated to challenge the admiration of
even the Democrats"
The above is clean, clear-cut state
ment. And again:
T have never insisted that the Re-
publican Party was entitled to the col
ored vote as a matter of course, but on
the other hand have at all times adj
vised the colored people that it was
not only their privilege but it was their
duty to vote for that party which
would, in their judgement, give the
State and NATHAN the best administra-
tlon of our public affairs. More or less
colored citizens have voted the Demo-
cratic ticket in the different counties
at each election for the past sixteen
years."
Senator PRITcHARD takes high ground
and Isles up the situation exactly"
He tells the whole story when he
says:
"It was not the desire to establish
white supre macy that induced the
leaders or the Democratic Party to re-
sort to methods of intimidation at the
last election but it was that Unsuitable
greed for Office which has ever been
the chief characteristic OF that party.
| AS an evidence of this l call attention
to the fact that in South Carolina,
where the colored vote is practically
eliminated. in so far as the election OF
State and municipal officers is con-
cerned, the Democrats resorted to
murder and riot in order TO prevent
the election of a white Republican as q
member of Congress.
These statements demolish at one
fell swoop" all of the political rot
which has been spread far and near by
the Democratic journals. He sounds
note of warning when he remarks:
"If North Carolina is to follow in the
wake OF South Carolina and Louisiana
and adopt measures calculated and in
tended to disfranchise the white and
colOred voters who are not able to read
and write, or who do not own property
then, in that event, we will have to
contend with the proposition that the
vote thus eliminated shall not be tax.
en- into consideration in making the
next superintendent for represen ia
ton in the electoral college aud the
House OF Representatives. / shall do
all in my power TO secure for North
Carolina her full representation when
the time arrives to make the next APP
portionment, and sincerely trust that
she Democrats. in their mad rush Office
will not so far forget themselves as to
attempt to disfrHDchise q large portion
ofour white and colored voters, and
thereby make it difficult for me- to Sc
cure that representation which we
would otherwise be entitled to as 9
matter Of course"
| We do not believe that this could
have been more shrewdly stated.
Senator PRrToHARD seems to have
the proper conception of the rights o
citizens. What pity that Gov. Rus
SELL did not imbibe the same spirit