The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-18

The bill does not discriminate against
the black man. 1t is not intended to dis
franchise the negro as a class-only those
negroes that are untitled, by reason of
ignorance and crime for TAtrcislng the
, duties of citizenship and exercising them
wisely.
Touching this vcrD oint the United
States Supreme court, passing upon the
Mississippi suffrage law, has said: VIII
iams VS.. Mississippi Z. $. Rep. 110l:
Within the field of permissible action
under the limitations imposed by the
Federal Constitution, the convention
swept the field of eXpedients, to obstruct
the exercise of suffrage by the negro
race BY reason of its previous condl-
ton of servitude and dependencies, this
race had acquired or accentuated certain
peculiarities of habit, of temperament,
and of character. which clearly distin-
guished it as a race from the win y
patient, docile people: but careless, Ind
less, migratory within narrow limits.
without forethought; and its criminal
members given to furtive offences, rather
than the robust crimes Of the whites.
Restrained by the Federal Constitution
from discriminating against the negro
race, the convention discriminates
against the negro race, the convention
discfiminates against its characteristics.
and the offences to which its criminal
members are prone. If weakness were
to be taken advantage of, it was to be
done within the field of permissible ac-
tion under the limitations imposed by the
Federal Constitution and the means of
it were the alleged characteristics of the
negro race, not the administration of
the law by officers of the State. Besides.
the operation of the constitution and
laws is not limited by their language or
effect to one race
There lust then he no discrimination
against race as race; and in this
amendment there is none. Under it all
the negroes would not be disfranchised.
Descendants of free negroes who could
vote will not be disfranchsed. And on
the other hand white people born i'll other
countries foreigners cannot read
and write can not vote.
but all white people living in North
Carolina can vote, whether they be able
to read and write or not. The ignorant
white man and his descendants are as
capable of voting as you and l."
Mr.. Rountree read from the Constitu-
ton of Massachusetts, which state has
the descendants of all persons who could
vote on Nav list, 1897 can vote.
"There is not the slightest difference in
principle between that law and the one
we now have under consideration. Ours
is to protect us against ignorant negroes.
The Massachusetts law is to protect that
State from ignorant foreigners.
''The law proposed for adoption here
to-day is modelled after the Louisiana
law, which is said to have been drawn
by that distinguished jurist Thomas J.
Sims. 1t may not be all we desire, but
it will be effectual. 1t will guarantee to
North Carolina for many years to come
decent government. 1t is founded on CON
ditions and principle. 1t does the white
race justice and it does the negro no
injustice"
4 perfect whirlwind of applause, last
ing nearly a minute, greeted the conclu-
sion of Mr.. Rountree's speech which had
been delivered with powerful effect.
He was followed by Isaac Smith. of
Craven. Isaac, Of course, spoke in be-
half of his race.
OF all sad thoughts, to him the saddest
was that the very people whom he had
held up to his race as their best friend
were now about to disfranchise them.
The negro, he said, regarded the right
to vote as the dearest thing on earth.
.He regards the ballot as the one
thing in life worth having above al
others. And now it is sad that he's
about to have it taken away. 1t comes
down hard on this weak race We have
been slaves once and we know what it
means to be free. We have been denied
the rights of freemen, and now the enjoy
ment of those rights is sweet.
.'To me this is the most serious thing
on earth. / ask you most kindly to con
slider well what you are about to do.
Take away from the co1ored man this
privilege and he will never again consid-
or you his friend.
Il tell you in four years from now
you'll want to reconsider tOday'S action,
and can't. | don't know much about
law, but | wouldn't give my judgment
of the future for all law. G4aughter.)
Il can tell you now who'll be the next
President as good as after he's elected
04aughter.)
Il wish, however, to address myself
on the law. U4aughter.)
''You may laugh, but this is very
sad thing to me, gentlemen, very sad,
It's no laughing matter.
you say this law don't discrimin-
ate against the negro. Why your Dem
ocratic paper says right along it's for
that and I'd swear it and sign it, You
know it's done for that and you'd swear
it and sign it. Is it possible then that
a judge wouldn't decide it that way?
''You say it's not done for that? Then
bless your sweet souls, what's it done
for? Not for your race certainly.
.'You give the white race nine years
before you let the reading and writing
strike them. Why don't you give my
race the same time. You don't give
the colored race no grace ut all. Now
ain't that discrimination .aughter.)
a Democrat paper says the negroes
amt taking no interest much in this
thing and the white Republicans ain't
taking none. Don't YOU know why!
They know it will put YOU i'll a hole.
| know it will and | tell you so. You
know I've always been your friend.
Qau2hter.)
SOMEBODY said the other day ii
wouldn't disfranchise me. But it will
do it in effect and I'll prove it to you.
Suppose there's bank with ten direc-
tors and You pass law making nine of
them withdraw, don't that break up the
! business. Iaughter)
This law don't get the young negro
that is so ohnoXious to Won 1t cuts out