The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-02-23
SENI TOR E.. L. IRA VS.
SPEECH.

I had intended not to discuss this
bill to-day, because forty-tbree of the
fifty members of this body have al
ready heard it debated ably and ex
haustiyely in cur caucus, asd rep
deeming it unjust to this body that
the remarks Of the opposition should
go to the public without reply, l will
notice them briefly.
| And in the first place / want to re
flute the imputatlon of the Senator
from Warren that the majority is
actuated IN this measure by any feel
ings Of unklndness for the negro.
The great Democratic party of North
Carolina, made up AS it is of the no.
| blest element of the Anglo-Saxon race
III this State, is incapable of STOPPING
so low-of doing So mean thing, as
| the enactment OF any statute from inn
pulses OF spite or resentment. The
white people of North Carolina are
too great, and too magnanimouS to
entertain for moment any feeling so
belltting as resentment towards All in
ferior and ignorant race.
No, Mr.. President, we are actuated
only by those high and generous senti-
ments that alone are worthy Of great
people-to do what in our opinion is
right in the eyes Of heaven, and for
the eyes Of heaven and for the highest
interest OF every man, woman and
child IN the State, white and black.
The negro himself cannot see it, but
the proposed act is the very best thing
that can be done for him now.
His right of suffrage has only been
the means by which designing politi-
clans have continuously diverted his
attention from the pursuit of those
avocations to which he is best suited,
and which would tend most to i'm
prove and elevate him intellectually
and morally, and centered all his
thoughts, efforts and desires upon po-
lltical aspirations that could never be
realized. It has retarded his civiliza-
ton, and caused the development in
his superstitlous mind OF an antag-
onlsm toward the white people, which,
If permitted to grow, would soon re-
rult IN conflict. The conflict would
be the most grievous calamity for the
negro.
No, we are not taking from him
a liberty, but License that for thirty
years he has most abnominally abus-
ed-yes, that he has abused until it
has brought him to the verge of his
own destruction.
In taking this from HIM I feel that
[ am performing the same duty that
would for babe that / saw innocently
playing with a sharp razor. I would
s',;trh it from him ere he cut his
own throat. The baby would cry, and
feel that had treated it harshIy, when
In fact had saved its life.
The Constitution of the United
States says "that no person shall be
denied the right to vote on account of
his race, color or previous condition of
This does not mean that
we cannot dlsfranchise any race. We
can consistently with this deny the
right to vote to all of any race, pro-
vlded it Is not done on account of his
race" Now this amendment while it
in effect DISTINGUISHES a large portion
81 the negro race, does not do so "on
account of his race or previous condl-
tlon OF servitude," but on account of
his lack OF certain qualities essential to
4 proper exercise of the right of fran
chise. Under this amendment every
person is disfranchised who lacks that
quality no matter to what race he be-
ongs, and every person possessing it is
permitted to vote without regard to his
ace.
The purport of this amendment Is
hat every person who possesses the ca
oacity of exercising the right of fran
;hise discreetly-who has the faculty |
IT self-gOvernment-sh vote.
There are two rules estaolised by |
which we ascertain or measure this
l. Any person who has enough in
diligence to read and write the Con-
titution Is presumed to possess It.
2. Any person who has descended
rom ancestors who voted prior to
1864, is presumed to possess it, whether
hey Can read and write or not.
Now, is the latter reasonable and
air rule? We say it is, because, as we
"a NAAO", Viz PCOplO WIZ VOtcu DTlOT |
o 1867 were people whose ancestors
or many centuries have had the lac
llty of self-government in higher de-
rec than any other people in the
World, and who from generation to
generation bad exercised, improved
nd developed that faculty, until it
lad become almost an instinct or Sec
md nature. 1t is we'll known fact
hat children inherit the characteristics
t their parents.
Therefore, we say that the descend
nts OF the people who have for CEN
uries been exercising and developing
he faculty of self-gcvernment inherit c
hose qualities, and do not have to .
cqulre them by education.
In illustration of this we call atten- ,
ention to different branches of the !
og family. They all originally t
prung from one stock, but some spe- {
les have been for so many generations i
'alned to do particular things that .
heir offspring take to that particular t
'ork Neutrality-suspicious. any training
'hatever-they inherit the faculty or ,
1stinct.
You may take the little pointer pup :
hat has never in its life seen or smelt {
partridge. He follows you across the ]
cid. and the first time tho ccopt NJ i,