Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-06-22

. eSAN ~ w 01 AO9 odAA VIA tH
maa knows that with the adven,
of a braver, stronger Republican
party he will be without a JOB
hence with him the amendment
is unconstitutional. It will be sc
with all bis class, But with that
larger aud more respectable class
of Republicans ia the State, who
really believe in the principles
of the Republican party, and
who are Republicans through
evil and good, the elimination OF
the negro from politics will be
the beginning of a brighter day.
They Will vote for the amend
ment. But the Republican lead
ers are beginning to express
their anxiety lest the unlettered
white voters shall be disfran-
chised. Since nearly all of this
unlettered white vote is uniform.
ly cast against the Republican
party we must greatly admire the
generosity of these Republican
leaders. The truth, however.
oompels me to say that they
have no such fear. rhe amends
ment expressly provides that
every man who could vote in
1867 and the descendants of
those who could vote in 1867 can
forever vote in North Carolina,
whether they can read aud write
or not. This provision protects S
every white man and every boy
over 13 years of age, except per-
haps few foreigners. Children
now under 13 years Of age will.
in order to vote when they be-
come 81 have TO learn to read and
write. To meet this emergency
the Democratic Legislature in>
creased the school fund 800. 900
this year. L will continue to in
crease this fund until by 1903 we
shall be almost if not quite free
from illiteracy among the young.
at least, so far as the whites are
concerned. The Democratic
party through its amendment,
gives to every white man aud
Toy over 13 years of age the abs
soIute and unquestioned right to
vote in consideration of the iu-
adequate facilities which we have
heretofore had for education, and
it says to every child under 13
we undertake to provide you with
full opportunity to learn to read
and write aud in addition to this
free gift from the State we offer
as a prizs for learning to read
and write participation in the
govern nent of the State. Can
any man doubt the splendid re
suits of this provision? Each
party will vie with the other
10 providing for public school
all other expenses Of the goY<
erned Uill be rigidIy scrutin.zad
and appropriations will be held
down to the most economical
basis in order to save money with
which to educate the children of
the State. This political virtue
will become likewise a private
virtue aud citizens everywhere in
the borders of the State VIII begin
to cut off useless and injurious
expenses in order that their
children may become veritable
kings and rule the State. Econ~
omy, self>sacfifice, the seeking
to work out through our children
greater and better things than
we have been able to do will be
some of the fine results which
shall come to US from this pros
vision. Against these things that
awful demagoguery which seeks
to perpetuate illiteracy IN the
State will beat in vain. I have
known few men, whether they
could read and write or no. who
were willing for their children
to grow up in ignorance. [ have
never known one mother who did
not earnestly desire for her off :
spring something better than
she had The teachers of the
State will surely be with US on
this questionable mothers and
churches are with US. Who can
prevail against us? But say the
Republican leaders: I'VE are
afraid that the Supreme Court
Willdeclare the descendant clause
Institutional, and the other
clause constitutional, and thereby
bring upon the State-white men
as we'll as negrOes-a suffrage
qualified by the requirement. to
read and write" Itls pertinent
to ask of what Supreme Court
these leaders are afraid? Surely
not the North Carolina Supreme
Court, majority of whom are
Republicanst Certainly Senator
Pritchard and Governor Russell
and the other Republican leaders
IN the State who are so afraid
that some white men who habi>
tpally vote against them may be
disfraachised, do not expect a
Republican Supreme Court to be
anxious to do what these leaders
are SO anxious shall not be done.
And unless the court Is anxious
to do so how will they be CON
PEELED So to decide when almost
every constitutional lawyer 10
the State worthy of the name
who has Investigated the ques
tion, believes the amendment
constitutional. Then it must be
the Supreme Court of the United
States of which these gentlemen
are afraid. But that too is Repub-
lican and equally anxious not to
disfranchise anybody unless com
pelled 10. Three Southern States
have adonted constitutional