The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-11-30

Mr.. Editor Recalling your request
o8er some views On the proposed
suffrage amendmedt To our constitu-
tion. Its main sections are:
Section 4. Every person presenting
himself for registration shall he able to
read and write any section OF the con-
stitution in the E nglish language and ,
before he shall be entitled to vote he
shall have paid, OF OF before the first
day of March OF the year in which he
proposes to vote, his poll tax as pre-
.cribed by law, for the previous.
year. Poll taxes shall be ifen only
on assessed property, and no process
shall ISSUE to enforce the collection of
Ihe same except against assessed prop
erty.
Sec. s. No male person who was. Of
January /, 1857, or at any time prior
thereto, entitled to vote under the laws
of any State in the United States.
wherein; he then resided, and no l,neal
descendant Of any sttch person, shall
be denied the right to register and vote
at any election In this State by reason
of his failure to possess the educa-
tional qualifications prescribed In Sec
tion 4 Of this article: Provided. He
shalt haye registered in accordance
with the terms OF this section prior
to December l, 1909. The General As
sembly shall provide for a permanent
record of all persons who register un-
der this section on or before Novem-
ber first, one thousand nine hundred
and eight, and ali such persons shall
be entitled to reg;ster and vote in Ell
elections by the people in this State,
unless disqualified under section 2 Of
this article: Provided, Such persons
shall have paid their poll tax az re-
quired by law.
Its adoption vii! stimulate education
With 1t peace and safety will prevail
In the east as in the west. Many OBJ
structlons will be removed from the
discussions of national questions. Hon
est believers in the principles Of their
national platforms should be willing to
leave their fate in this STATE to those
who will vote under it.
Many negroes will not be, but it Is
estimated that 25 900 Will be qualified
to vote under 1t. Under 1t no man
who or whose ancestor could vote prior
to 1867 will fall to vote on account of
not being able to read and write. A
few foreign-born white men, unlettered
in our language, will not be benefited
by section 5. Section will benefit a
few unlettered negroes who or whose
ancestors could vote in this State prior
to cur constitution of 1885, or in Wis
oonsin, Massachusetts, and other States
In 1866.
In my opinion the great majority Of
Populists realizing the importance Of
national Issues. and desiring our cam
paigns to be more thoroughly On them
will follow wise aud patriotic leaders
in support of the amendment regard
less of the position Of those whose In
terests may lead them to oppose it..
Some Populists have "sworn in their
wrath" never to vote another Demo-
cratic ticket. These will probably ally
themselves with the Republican party
upon It.
Ordinary Republican politicians must
oppose il, for they want to preserve
their party strength and besides the
unlettered negroes who have often
helped them required their opposition,
and they wish to retaiu the influence
of the negroes who will contint1e to
vote. But these considerations will
not control white Republicans who do
not aspire to office. Some OF these
however, will oppose it tor the sake
of their political friends, some from
prejudice against ali things Democratic
and some because they really think
that ignorant negroes who will be dis
qualified under 1t, are as capable in
governmental affairs as are the un-
lettered with men who will vote un-
der it. But macy white men in North
Carolina homes to-day, hearing the
laughter of their fl::le children, and
lovingly regardtul of their future,
while Republicans On other questions
are Democrats on thie. They will,
with the approval OF many staunch
and able Republican leaders increase
the majority by which the amendment
will carry and their posterlty will
cherish their conduct.
For thirty years white Republican
leaders have said with us that this
was, because of his higher qnallfica,
tions, white mans State and that
white men should rule it. You cannot
recall one who announced contrary
proposition. Next August will present
the first opportunity that the men OF
orr State have had during this gen