The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-16
HONORABLE A. A CAMPBELL
THE CHEROKEE STATESMAN
WANTS SUFFRAGE BASED ON
INTELLIGENCE.
CUBA AND PORTO RICO CITED AS CASES
The Constitutional Amendment Compared to
the Mecklenburg CecIaraticn of Indepen-
dence. A Republican Tells Whyhe
will Support the Amendment.

1t having been reported that Hon. A.
a. Campbell, the Republican leader of
Cherokee, a popular and influential legis-
lator, would support the Constitutional
Amendment, the editor of this paper
requested him to write for publication
the reasons which actuated him to this
course. The following letter is the
reply:
Murphy, N. c., July 13. 1899.
Hon. Josephus Daniels, Editor -7ews
and Observer, Raleigh, n. c.
My Dear Sir Replying to your let
ter of inquiry, of recent date. regarding
my reasons for supporting the proposed
amendment to the State Constitution
l beg to say that while the proposed
amendment was purely a political meas
ure of the Democratic party in the late
General Assembly of the State. | am
OF the opinion that no true. loyal citizen
OF this State. and especially the white
Republicans, should vote against the
amendment on political grounds.
1t has long since been demonstrated
and evident to the observing that th,
Democratic party of the South have al
most wholly controlled and voted the
lliiterate negroes of the South and it is
my opinion that as soon'as this element
is excluded from the ballot box in North
Carolina the State will, by handsome
majority, vote with the Republican
party, whose principles are predicated
on home manufacturing, plenty, peace
and prosperity for the whole American
country.
Another thought in connection with
this matter is: Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines. in my opinion. will at
no distant day be annexed to the United
States, and who is there among us that
would dare raise his voice against the
American flag waving over these valua-
bic islands. and thereby giving those
people civilization, christianity and IA
higher idea of life? Yet every intelligent
American citizen well knows that it
would be Il most dangerous experiment
to make "full-fedged' citizens of all
these islanders without restricting the
right of suffrage to an educational quail
tication
Some argue that if the amendment is
adopted the colored voters who are
disfranchsed should not be required to
pay poll tax. Why not? Does not
every dollar of the poll tax go into the
common school fund for the education
of the children of the State, of both
white and colored races alike? And is
it not the duty of every father to aid in
the education of his children?
Again it is claimed that if the amend
ment is adopted the courts will declare
it unconstitutional. The Republican
party of North Carolina have nothing
to lose as a party if the courts should
SO decide. The party has been carrying
the negro on its back for the past thirty
years or more, while they (the negroes)
have been constantly stuffing the ballot
boxes with Democratic tickets. Now. if
they are deprived of the ballot it is the
Democrats loss and our gain, but should
the courts decide the amendment uncon-
stitutional and restore the right of suf-
frage TO those whom it was attempted
to disqualify. it is reasonable to conclude
that the negro will never again vote
another Democratic ticket.
Old North Carolina was the first, in
her Meckenburg Declaration of Inde-
pendence to demand a free and indie
pendent representative form of govern
ment. Now, let the Old North State, by
a unanimous vote of patriotic and intel
ligent white and coored electors say that
this State must and shall be ruled by
intelligence. and that no one who will
barter and sell his manhood, shall be
allowed the right of suffrage. In this
way only can the Mecklenburg Declara-
ton of Independence be maintained in
this or any other State.
Republicans of North Carolina, we
have all to gain as Il party and nothing
to lose by voting for the adoption of
the Constitutional Amendment The
United States government as handed
down to us by our fathers never can be
on or by ignorance. ntelli-
gence must rule or the whole structure
of either Democratic or Republican
form of government will fall of its own
folly and weight. Now is the time and
opportunity to purify the ballot box of
this State and | for one will vote for
the Amendment.
Very fruly