Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-16
FOR WHITE SUPREMACY
Campaign in North Carolina for Adoption of
Constitutional Amendment.
Conceded That Measure VIII he Ap-
proved by LegisIature-Provi-
siOns of the Law.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

RALEIGH n. c., February is, 1899.
1t being conceded that the Legislature will
this week adopt the amendment to the state
constitution which has been prepared by oil
rection of the democratic caucus, and which
is intended to secure the control of the
state government for the democrats fer all
| time to come, a campaign has alreadJ been
begun to induce the people to adopt it
when it comes before them for ratification
or rejection.
The purposes of the amendment may be
stated briefly to be:
To allow all people to vote who can read
and write, and who pay the poll tax,
| where they are subject to poll tax, and 10
allow all white people to vote who cannot
| read and write provided they register prior
to 1858.
Referring to the coming campaign, one of
the most prominent democrats in the state
said:
Under the amendment no white man can
! be disfranc hised. There was not a sing.e
member OF the legislature who would vote
for bill that denied suffrage to men who
nave with their fathers always enjoyed ii.
They have shown their fitness. They WILL
under the amendment, be more certain of
the right 10 vote all their lives than they
could possibly be under any election law
that could be devised. Not only is no voier
denied the right TO vote, and given fuller
protection in the exercise of the franchise
put their sons are guaranteed their suf-
fraSe without any restriction, provided
they register by 1898, thus giving the
guarantee to every white boy over
thirteen years of age. This will work no
hardship, because in the nine years that
follow from the submission of the amend
ment, the white boys in the state Will ali
learn to read and write sufficiently to
qualify themselves TO exercise the fran
chise The submission of the amendment
vii hn fha
ton, and we may look for a spirit of in
tereSt that will so envelop the state that
by 1908 every white boy in the state will
nave taken advantage of the opportunities
TO read and write that will be afforded him.
Not a Backward Step.
I'm submitting this amendment the demo-
cratic party does not take any backward
step i'll its beier in manhood suffrage. 1t
would not submit any amendment at all If
it were not necessary to eliminate the vote
of the hundred thousand negroes whose
votes have been cast to debauch the state
and to kill the vote of 100000 white men.
Last November it was only by such a cam
paisn as exhausted every resource of the
white men in the state that white Supre-
macy was secured. That victory was a s e
nal one. but as long as there are 100000
ignorant negro voters entitled to kill the
vote of an equal number OF intelligent white
men. Just so long are we i'll danger of be ng
remanded to the terrible conditions from
which We have just esca ped.
1T is n condition and not theory that
confronts us. White supremacy cannot be
made permanent until the irresponsible
negro vote is removed. 1t cannot be re-
moved except ny adopting the constitutional
amendment that will shortly be submitted.
When they go to vote on the amendment
the overshadowing issue will be: DO you
desire permanent white supremacy or do
you desire a return to the negro rule that
cursed the state from 1898 TO 1892 That
issue VIII he clear cut and plain and those
who doubt the passage of the amendment
doubt the sincerity and earnestness of the
white people of North Carolina to maintain
and perpetuate white supremacy in the
state.
Amendment Constitutional.
1.-THE amendment as prepared is consti-
tutfonal To that proposition there is no
difference of opinion among the many able
lawyers in the general assembly. 1t is
based upon fundamental principles of law
that can withstand any attack from any
source. An amendment proposed by one
senator to extend the time of registration
of white voters without limit would have
been adopted if the lawyers had not felt
that it would make the whole plan uncou-
StitutionaL The amendment as presented
represents the best thought Of the party,
and is a result of such interchange of opin-
ion and concessions to varying opinions as
could he safely made.
1T will he observed by every thoughtful
person that this amendment is seif-execut-
ing, is honest, is simple. is plain 1t does
not depend upon the construction of any
election officer. 1t leaves no door open for
fraud. 1t leaves no voter at the mercy of
n poll holder. 1t requires no understanding
The right to vote is guaranteed and Sc
cured TO every white voter in the state.
Every negro who could vote in Massachu-
sets can vote under the amendment, and,
therefore. has no right to complain. The
best thing about the amendment is that it
is so plain and so clear and so transparent
ly honest that no demagogue, however
shrewd and plausible, can make any head
way opposing it. The issue is clear cut
The amendment means permanent white
supremacy. Its defeat means imminent
danger of return to negro domination