The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05
A SOLAR PLEXUs BLOW.

A SOLAR PLEXUS BLOW.
We publish elsewhere a letter written
by Hon. Thomas Settle, ex-Republican
Congressman from the Fifth district, to
Hon. r. w. Kinney, Republican Congress
man from the Eighth district. From be-
ginning to end it is ''socdologer" to
those pie-ealting Radicals who met recent
~ in Sttesville and issued proclama-
ton outlining the attitude of the Re-
publican party with reference to the
election law and the constitutional
amendment. When they read Mr.. Set
ties letter each one will feel like say
ing:
'.If am so soon done for
What was ! begun for?"
There is one point which Mr.. Settle
makes clear that gives solar plexus
blow to the opponents of the amendment.
We quote:
1.-THE CHIEF APPEAL WE
NOW HEAR is ADDRESSED TO
THE JENIEARNED WHITE
VOTER, AND is THAT HE
WILL BE DISFRANCTIISED
BECAUSE THE GRAND FAITH
ER CLAUSE WILL BE DE-
CLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL
BY THE COURTS. HOW? IF
TT BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE
COURTS, IT CAN ONLY BE
xsxA
AS I HAVE SPOKEN OF ABOVE,
AND FOR SUCH 4 CONTEST
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
WOULD HAVE TO STAND
SPONSOR. IL THE COURTS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, WHO
WOULD BE HELD RESPONSE
BILE FOR DISTINGUISHING
THOSE UNLETTERED WHITE
PEOPLE? MANIFESTLY THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY, SPON-
SOR FOR THE SUIT THE
DEMOCRATS PROTECTED
THEIR FRANCHISE BY A PRO
VISION IN THE AMENDMENT,
AND THE REPUBLICANS
STRIKE IT DOWN, LEAVING
THE BALANCE OF THE
AMENDMENT STANDING.
WHO HITS BILLY PATTER-
SOM"
When the Republicans get TO shedding
tears for the white illiterates'' who they
ssly-ald say falsely-will be dsfran-
chised, Mr.. Settles who hit Billy Pat.
terson:" will make them dumb and
expose their insincerity If they We're
right in their contention, the illiterates
will not be disfranchised unless the Re
publicans secure their disfranchisement
In an article published in this paper
in June last, Hon. G. B. Aycock, touched
upon fhe idea that Mr.. Settle emphasizes
We quote:
But say the Republican leaders
We are afraid the descendant clause is
unconstitutional. and the other clause
constitutional. and will thereby bring
upon the State white men as well a.
negroes-a suffrage qualified by the re
quirement to read and write
1T is pertinent to ask of what Su
preme court are these leaders afraid
Surely not the North Carolina Supreme
court, a majority of whom are Repub
licans. Certainly Senator Pritchard ane
Governor Russell and the other Re
publican leaders in the State who ARK
SO afraid that some white men wh'
habitualiy vote against them may b.
disfranchised, do not expect a Repnbli
can Supreme court to be anxious to d.
what these leaders are SO anxious shall
not be done. And unless the court j
anxious to do so how will they be com
PEELED so to decide when almost ever.
constitutional lawyer in the State wor
thy of the name, who has investigated
the question. believes the amendman
constitutional? Then it must-be the Su
preme seburt of the United States 0
which these gentlemen are afraid. Blu
that, too, is Republican and equal
anxious not TO disfranchise anybody I'm
less compelled to-
The Democrats have nothing TO fea
in the amendment discussion if they Wi
early and persistently let all the voter
understand its true intent and purpor
and expose without waiting for the can
paign to open the miserable subterfuga
and absurd inconsistencies of its OF
ponents.