The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
MATTER MADE PLAIN
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER SHOWS THAT
ALL MUST STAND OR FALL TOGETHER
It is Plain That f the People Adopt the
Amendment, They Adops It as Whole
Grandfather Clause and ALL.

OTdIQIdttiSI OlduoC dild iNil'
The Progressive Farmer is serving the
cause of truth when it exposes those VINO
ignorantly or corruptly try to make the
neople believe that if the' constitutional
amendment is adopted the fifth section
Will be declared unconstitutional ana
then there will be plain educational
qualification for suffrage. \ man, not
trained in the law. might without retec-
ton accept that erroneous view, but
study of Interpretation or careful con-
SideratiOn from q cOmmon-SenSe stand
point would convince an mlearned man
of the fallacy of such a position.
When the amendment was hrst SUD
mitted. the Progressive Farmer fell INTO
the error of believing the assertions free
ly made by its opponents mat sectloll
five would be pronounced unconstltu-
tisnal. IT declared that if that conten-
ton were true il could not support the
amendment The editor, Mr.. Clarence
H. Poe, thereupon began to study the
.trnpstion for himself, and as a result OF
his Investigations he became convinced
that the whole of the amendment sub
United would stand or fall together.
When he came to that conclusion, he
was honest enough to his readers To state
his conclusions and give his reasons Tor
his change Of opinion. 1T was brave
and manly act. and no matter how much
orga may disagree with Mr.. Poe about
othar matters, mis- outsp9ken defense OF
The truth will bring him the commenda-
lion uf men who love to applaud man
Who has the courage If his convictions
to.such an extent as to publicly acknowi-
edge HIS mistake.
The Progressive Farmer. upon the con-
tenticn Of the opponents OF tae amend
ment. says:
I'VE notice that number OF our cor
respondents oproSp the proposed conSti-
tuti0nal amendment because they fear
that the grandfather clause will be de-
clared invalid, leaving the remaining sec
fions In force and thus establishing I'M
educational test for both races. At first
we also held this opinion (and EXPRESSED
such olfnion in the Progressive Farmef)
hut have since carefully studied the
question and have arrived NJ a different
conclusion. We are therefore anxious
to correct any false impression which
may have been made by our first express
sion Of opinion.
at is plain that If the people adopt
the amendment they adopt it as whole
grandfather clause and ALL Suppose
then the Supreme Court should declare
fhe grandfather clause unconstitutional
To do so and leave the other sections
in force would establish an educational
test for voters of both races. But would
the Supreme Court or anyone else dare
say that the people OF North Carolina
had declared in favor of this educational
qualification for voters both white and
black?
LET MS remember that in voting on
the proposed amendment the people do
not even have an opportunity of express
ing themselves on that question. And
il they had not at that time 50 much as
had the opportunity of voting upon the
question how could the Supreme Court
in the name of either law. honesty, or
fairness declare that the people had
adopted such rs the law of the State, as
il would necessarily be, We're the grand
father clause declared unconstitutional
and the remaining sections left in force?
"lais statement proves the truth of
the following assertion:
'"That to declare section ) unconstitu-
tional leaving the remaining sections in
force. would establish as the supreme
law of the State that which the people,
who make all constitutions. will have
neither adopted nor voted upon.
''Ihe writer is not a lawyer, but he is
convinced that to do this would be to
violate the most common and sacred
principles of law and government.
1--WE wish to- make this matter plain.
The constitutional amendment deserves
the careful. unbiased and serious con-
sideration Of every voter and as it is 50
grave and weighty a problem the people
Of all parties should frown down all at
tempts at deception and all efforts to
arouse prejudice and passion in it's con-
sideration. 1t is a serious question to be
seriously considered. And the people
should study it this year-not delay its
consideration until the campaign Of 1900,
with all its heat and confusion is upon
us