The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-16

contact with the things that pertain to
government, the heredity of country, the
Anglo-Saxon blood and hundred other
environments and circumstances, go TO
make on lie white man capable and in
teligent voter, whether he can read and
write or not.
The more culture and proper education
he has. the better, of course Not so
with the illiterate negro. He has no ira
ditions. He is inferior, naturally. He
has no patriotism. He cares but little
for his home and he has absolutely no
ambition for his children. He has strong
race prejudices, but he behaves himself
in matters pertaining to affairs of gov
ernInent as one who is a wayfarer and a
time-seryer.
He is tyrant when he gets the
power. Let one of his race break loose
from the body of the negroes III a COM
munity. in matters of church or State,
of politics or religion, and the whole race
is down on him. He is ostracsed and
tainted and ridieuled and abused, and
often personal violence offered him, so
that if he is not a pretty game negro
the offense Is not repeated. You tell
white man, whether he can read and
write or not, the martial law is about to
be declared that the writ of habeas cor
pms is about to be suspended. that the lib
critics of the citizens are about to be
encroached. and you at once stir his re-
sentiment and awaken his opposition.
The negro knows nothing and cares
nothing about it. unless You make him
fear for the preferment of his race.
What | have written is the theory of
the subject; practical view. Now what
practical lessons are there in history to
be learned in this matter.
/. That no white man ought to be
dsliranchised whether he can read and
write or not, because his blood. his ma
tivity, his education, his environments,
his family and social surroundings all
tend to make him an intelligent elector
3 That no political party that has the
solid negro vote on its side ran succeed
The ignorance, the arrogance OF agn0r.
ance, of the body of the negro vote rs q
menace and insult 10 intelligence, and pa
triotism and the white people Of no cOlln
try, long tolerate it. 1t has been the one
thing that has kept the Republican party
in the South from advocating the princi-
pies of that party in a way to appeal
alone to the intelligence of the people.
Whenever the Republican party obtains
control of the State, the negro influence
takes possession of the Republican par
ty. and then the reign of terror and ap-
prehension follows for Il little while. and
the white people rise and take charge OF
the government The Republican party
with the negro in the majority has been
in charge of affairs in North Carolina
on two occasions and each time the
peace, safety and quiet of the State was
Threatened: the law was defed, the wo-
men and children put in jeopardy. and
a reign of dishonor, terror and Outlawry
inaugurated that no good citizen wants
to see repeated.
Heretofore whenever the Republican
party was in power the negroes dominat
ed that party and the negro influence con
trolled the State in spite of the better
element of the party. Cities and towns
Of Eastern North Carolina attest thu
truth of this statement. The perilous
days of 1S6S-69 and 1S96-9S ought to bt