The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-30
MR.. GILL ON THE CoNSTITU.
TIONAL AMENDMENT AND
THR ELECTION LAW.

pass the election law passed by tn
last legislature, after pledging them
selves on every stump il elected they
would not try to pass any law to dis
franchise anyone. The election Law
applies to whites as we'll az blacks. II
1892 there were 1900 white Populistl
counted out In that year, too, the
R s~publicans we're allowed about so, OOC
votes, and in 1896 they cast nearly
$50, 900 votes, which shows they lost
nearly 60, 900 votes. The present Law
is much worse than the old law.
Why have the Democrats tried in
every way to raise all manner OF preju
dice against the negro, and under
cover of the confusion raised with
their negro howl, have the cheek to
invite from 60, 900 to 5000 white PEG
pie to walk up to the polls and vote
their rights away, thereby putting
themselves below the so called educated
negroQ The Democratic press say that
the ministers Of the Gospel generally
endorse what they have done. II that
is so it only illustrates and emphasizes
their course in the past. The Bible
says that Christ was cruciied 1900
years ago by the church Of that day,
and history tells US that the church
leaders kept the Bible out of the hands
Of the masses for many hundred years
for no other reason that can be seen,
except liberty and equality was taught
there. Aud il Christ were here today
/ am satisfied that the element Of the
church that are advocating taking the
political rights away from the masses
would also advocate the cruci6xion
of Christ now as the Pharisees of old
did, with their hypocritical cry that
we are better than thou.
l am writing to white men; the negro
must take care Of himself for awhile.
If he wants to lose his rights, just let
him vote with the Democrats next
time as he did the last, and they will
be gone. II there ever was a time for
white men to stand together, that time
is now, until we can put this cup away,
put to our lips under the false cry Of
getting rid Of negro rule, when there
are plenty Of ways to & t rid of them
without taking any white man'srights
from him. Why did not the Demo
Gratis dieftapchise the negroes before
the Populist party was organized by
constitutional amendment Why are
they trying TO do it in the shape they
are now uOless they are trying to GET
rid of the white vote, aud ia fact their
leaders are beginning to whisper it
now that that is what they aim ulti
mately to do. Now l have a regiment
of kinfolks occupying many different
positions i. society down to the humb,
lest there is not one of them but that
l think has as much right to vote and
the country will be as safe in letting
him vote, as it will be to let any bank
president, railroad magnate or trust
lord have bis ballot.
They were afraid to submit an amend
ment that said on it's face it would
disfranchise whites. They thought it
would not carry, but hoped to cloud it
up 80 they might fool the people, but
it cannot be done here. The Revolu
ton was fought to establish the prin
ciple that there should not be taxation
without representation; that spirit is
not dead yet, and we are not going to
be run over. Thousands OF the D mo
Gratis themselves are going to vote
against the amendment. Why was
the 1908 clause put in the amendment
il white people were not to be disfran,
chised9 If it is constitutional to let
ignorant white men vote that are 81
before than time, and negroes not.
would it not be until zoos or until
Gabrisl blowa3 Under this amend
ment after 1908 whites and negroes
that become Of age will all be on the
same footing That being 20, why de
grade me, a white man, If / happened
to be uneducated? I would like to
know who in the opposition would be
able to read and write the C0nstitu
ton 80 that a Democratic registrar
out by the machine would say
it was intelligently done. Half OF the
educated people can't write a good
hand.
This talk about the amendment be
ing an incentive tt educ alton is all rot
How can a poor man educate his fam
now with from one dollar to one
dollar and a half a year per capita
school money And if it we're
a hundred dollars how can he send his
children to school in this trust cursed
land, when we have to work our whole
in the f3ld to get hraad To |