The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-07
Nerro Suffrage rxcitos the South.


There is widespread interest in the
South as to the outcome OF the
suffrage amendment contest IN North
Carolina, in which Che right OF about
one hundred and twenty thousand
negroes to vote is involved. Georgia
and other States contemplate restrict
ing the negro vote after the manner
North Carolina has adopted. II the
amendment now before the people OF
that State is ratified aud sustained
by the courts, 1t is believed that
similar amendments will be adopted
by other Southern States, which
practically means the elimination OF
the negro from politics.
The Atlanta Journal has obtained
from H. NJ. Simmons, chairman Of
the Democratic Committee of North
Carolina. statement, in which he
admits that fully one hundred and
twenty thousand colored persons
will be disqualified by the North
Carolina amendment, against which
tho negroes are now waging a politl-
cal life struggle. Chairman Simmons
declares the North Carolina Demo
Gratis will send solid delegation for
Bryan to the next National Conven-
ton and demand the realli nation of
the Chicago platform.
Mr.. simmons statement, which
will be campaign slogan in the
South, part is as follows
"The last campaign in North Caro-
lima was made chiefly upon the issue
of white supremacy. The heartiness
with which the people responded to
this issue is shown by the fact that
we overcsme n majority of 10 600,
polled against the Democratic party
in 1897, aud carried the State by
ms jority Of 10000. We feel that we
nave temporlzed with the race ques-
tion in politics long enough.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE MEASURE
THE salient features Of this mes-
sure are contained in its fourth and
fifth sections, which provide that
every person presenting himself for
registration shall be able to read and
write any section of the constitution
ia the English language, and that no
male person who was, on January |,
1867, or at any time prior thereto.
entitled TO vote, under the laws I
any State in the United States whert.
IN he then resided, and no lineal de.
scendent Of any such person, shall
be denied the right to register and
vote at any election in this State by
reason Of his failure to possess the
educational qualifications prescribed
in section of this article, provided
he shall have registered in accordance
with the terms of this section prior
10 December /, 1908. The Genera
Assembly shall provide for per-
manent record of all persons who
registered under this section on or
before November l. 1908, and all
such persons shall be entitled to
register and vote at all elections by
the people in this State unless dis
aus Lifted under section , of this art
cle provided such persons shall have
paid their poll tax as required by
law
az will be seen from these sections
of the proposed amendment thst
every negro who can read and write
will be entitled to vote. 1t is estl-
mated that between -, 900 and 30, 900
negroes in the Safe can now comply
with this test. There are probably
in the State two or three thousaI d
negro voters who are lineal descen-
dsnts of what were known before the
war AS free negroes who were en-
titled to vote in this State under the
constitution IS it existed prior to
1885. These will be entitled to vote.
There are probably a few hun
dred negroes in the State who were
residents prior to 1867 of States IN
which negroes were allowed to vote,
and they also eau vote under the
fifth section. fhe rest of the negroes
about l20, 900, will not be able vote
until they have qualified themselves
by learning to read and write
THE amendment will receive the
united support of the Democratic
party and that part of the populist
vote which has not, by fusion with
the Republican party, become
thoroughly Repubicanized. la addi-
tor to this large number of white
Republicans will support the amend
ment, because they believe il to be
to the best interests of the State and
both races that it should pass, and
because they see no hope for their
party in North Carolina so long as it
remains under the control of the
negro, as it necessarily will so long as
the negroes constitute four-ffths of
ito vofinO atrenOth0