The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-07-27

this free Gift from the State we offer
az a nrize for learning TO read and
write narticipation in the government
nf the State" Can any man doubt the
Splendid results of this provision.
Each marty will vie with the other In
mrovidine for public schools-all other
exnenses of the government will be
rigIdlv ser,1tinized and appropriations
will be held down to the nlost eco
nomical basis in order to save money
with which to educate the children of
the State. This political virtue will be-
come likewise a private VIZ alDu clca-
zens everywhere in the oolusiS OF the
State will begin to cut OH useless and
Injurious expenses in order Gnat their
children may become vef1'"ols Engs
and rule the State.
WHEN DEMAGOGY WILL FAIL.
Economy. self-sacrifce. the seeking
to work out through our children
greater and better things than we have
heen able to do Will be some OF the
fine results which will come to US
from this provision. Against these
things that awful demasogy which
seeks to perpetuate illiteracy In the
State will beat in vain. l nave Known
few men, whether they coulo read and
write or not, who were Wllhng for
their children to grow up IN ignorance.
Il have never known one mother who
did not earnestly desire for her or
spring something better than she had.
The teachers Of the State Will surely
be with us on this question-the moth
ers and churches are WITH us. Who
can prevail against US? But say the
Republican leaders: I'VE are afraid
that the Supreme Court will declare
the descendant clause unconstltudon-
al, and the other clause constitutional,
and thereby bring upon the State
white men as we'll as negroes-a suf-
frage qualified by the requirement to
read and write"
OF WHAT COURT ARE UHEY
AFRAID?
It IS pertinent to ask OF what Su-
preme Court these leaders are afraid
Surely not the North Carolina Supreme
Court, q majority Of whom are Repub-
hcans! Certainly Senator Pritchard
and Governor Russell and the other
Republican leaders in the State who
are so afraid that some white men
who habitually vote against them may
be disfranchised, do not expect a Re-
publican Supreme Court to be anxious
to do what these leaders are so anx-
ious shall not be dome. And unless
the court Is anxious to do so how will
they be compelled so to decide when
almost every constitutional lawyer in
the State worthy of the name, who
has Investigated the question, believes
the amendment constitutional. Then
it must be the Supreme Court Of the
United States Of which these gentle
men are afraid. But that too is Re
publican and equally anxious not to
disfranchise anybody unless compelled
to. Three Southern States have adopt
ed constitutional amendments looking
to the settlement Of the negro Ques-
ton. The Supreme Court Of the Uni
ted States has been appealed to in
vain from South Carolina and Missis-
kppi to save the negro from exclusion
from the ballot box.
THE CONSTITUTION STANDS.
These constitutions stand and the
negro does not vote and the whites
do vote. In Louisiana a constitution
similar to ours was adopted in 1897,
and has been in operation ever since.
Under its provisions the whites do
vote and the negroes do not vote.
Where is the Supreme Court Of the
United States and what Is it about
The Republicans In Louisiana had
fears tdentical with those Of Senator
Pritchard and Governor Russell. But
the constitution of that State still
stands. The truth Is that the negro
has proved such a failure as a voter
that q great change of opinion has
come about In the United States and
that change has been 50 marked and
strong that even the courts have been
affected by 1t. The whole country at
hast realizes that the destiny of this
government, State and national, Is to
be wrought out by the white man-tt
Is Ids burden-the negro himself is q
parta very large part Of that bur-
den.
CONGRESS TOOK THE IN1TnA-
TIVE,
Congress 6rst took the matter in
hand and solved the problem in the
District of Columbia, by DISTINGUISHING
every citizen, white and black. South
Carolina, Mississippi, louisiana, North
Carolina have all in turn taken up the
question. Congress has come back to
1T In dealing with Hawaii and elimi-
mates the negro without the slightest
hesitation and without exciting on the
part OF Senator Prttchard any fear
OF the wreck Of matter and the crush
OF worlds" In Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Rhili nninAs the nooro ., ~ .,.l.x d<ou