The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
His Able and Eloquent Speech
at Selma.
WILL NOT AFFECT WHITES
AND WILL BE HELD CONSTITU-
TIONAL BY THE COURTS.
PUBLICATION OF TIE ELECTORATE
The First Step For Its PutifCaton 10 Eliminate
The Vote of The Ignorant Negroes Who
Vote Not From Conviction But
bN Dictalion.

Selma, n. c., Aug. 3.-(Staff Core
spoudence. This has been a great day
in Johnston county. 1t was the Occa-
sion of the annual reunion of the ex-
Confederate soldiers of the county. Mr..
E. w. Pou was the first speaker. He
always speaks well.
SPEECH OF COL. II. NJ. ARGO.
AT the close of his remarks Mr. POu
introduced Col. II. NJ. Argo, Of Raleigh,
and for an hour Col Argo held his au-
dience by his splendid eloquence and
cogent reasoning. He spoke or the sub
lime heroism of the dead and the yet
more sublime heroism Of the living sol
der He paid to the women Of the
South a magnificent tribute for the sacri-
flee that knew mo limits, for the courage
that endured hhe heartbreak of waiting
without murmur.
The speaker then passed to the ne
cessity Of peFpetuating the principles for
which the South contended and the ur-
gent need Of securing good government
for the future. Greater dangers threat
en- now, he said, than 1S60-G1. Then
but one form of property was jeopar-
died, now all forms are in danger. "We
are at the mercy of ignorance. corrup-
ton and irresponsible greed. The pub
lie service is regarded as a means of
private gain simply and not as estab-
lshed for the good of the people. The
public treasury is a field for plumber
and not the sacred contributions of the
people for the public welfare
sit is against Gods ordination for
superiority to submit to the oppressive
dominance of inferiority and the sooner
that fact is recognized the better for
the public peace and order Energy.
thrift and industry are the victims Of
idleness, imprudence and Incidence. The
impecunious pauper votes the taxes, the
property owner pays them. The great
mass Of the ignorant voters consti-
tute the stock in trade of the unscrupu-
lous demagogue and place4hunter which
he uses 10 put himself in places OF power
where he may mis-rule and plumber m
will. These are some of the evils which
it behooves every good citizen to at
tempt to remedy. How shall it be done?
Fortunately the people have now before
them for their adoption or rejection
a measure which. if they duly ratify
it, viii so far to furnish an effective
remedy. THE FlRST STEP Is THE
PURlFIOATION OF THE ELECpTO-
RATE.
Col. Argo came out squarely ana
strongly for the Constitutional Amend.
ment, speaking for himself as n citi-
zen. He made it plain That the workings
OF the law would not disfranchise any
white man whom he declared to he able
whether he could read or not to think
and act for the best interests of the
state by reason of his associations ana
his dong training as a citizen. Ibe
negro, on the other hand. lacking thnsa
advantages OF association AMI troin-
ing, could not even il endowed with
equal mental power act with eoual wis
dom. lie declared that the amendment
IN hrs opinion, was constitutional and
would be 50 held by the United States
supreme Court. He impressed II mon
all that It was the means by which tba
superiority Of intellect of Tho Angln-
saxon would preserve intact the nrinci-
pies OF government laid down by tbe
fathers. - 'n
y he speaker replied to those who claim
mat section ., will be declared ,nconsti-
tulonll, leaving section in force. This
colld not be so for the sections were
connected IN subject matter ana relate
70 rle same subject and the Legislature
Wouid not have passed one without
passlhG uhe other; section was merely
q rroFiSo Of section 1. This Col Argo
elaborated with the lucidness and force
for which his legal arguments are so
Well known.