The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-04

primaries by law That is the fountain
head. Unless it is kept pure, no mat
ter what else is done. the waters will
be muddy" He talked with great earn
estness and force upon the need Of per-
fectly fair dealing, and inveighed against
any tampering with the ballot. He be-
lieved, he said, that in primaries and in
elections everything ought to be so fair
that there could be no suspicion that all
was not just and right.
TO the same effect is the testimony
of Senator McLaurin, of South Carolina.
After giving the results of the limitation
of suffrage by the South Carolina Con
stitution, Senator McLaurin said:
But, in my judgment, while these
safeguards are effective, the primary
election system is equally as potent in
the maintenance of white supremacy in
South Carolina. Our elections are near
~ all settled in the primary, and if a
man desires to exercise any influence
in governmental affairs he must go into
this election and take his chances. These
primary elections are protected by an
Act of the General Assembly, providing
that they shall be conducted in accord
ance with the Constitution and rules of
the Democratic party, and that illegal
voting in them shall be punished.
"In South Carolina we always accept
the deliberate judgment of a majority of
the white people speaking in the prim-
airy election and everybody falls into line.
In fact, all candidates are required to
file a pledge that they will abide by the
result Of the primary election No de
feated candidate would dare violate his
pledge and run at the general election
BY means of the primary system the
twelve thousand registered negro elec-
tors are impotent, because as Republi
cans they are not allowed to vote, and
as a consequence lose all interest in POI
ltical matters.
THE white people of North Carolina
must learn to settle all their political
differences among themselves If three
fourths of the negroes should be dis
franchised and the contest be left to
general election, the remaining one
fourth would be solid, and holding the
balance of power, be able to dictate
terms. One side or the other of the di-
vided white people would always bid for
their support. With proper suffrage
primary system, there will be no danger
in North Carolina of negro domination in
the future. either from fusion or other
wise
Summing up the result of the inter-
views with the ablest Senators and rep
resentatives in Congress, the editor of
this paper closed his editorial correspond
ence with these two reflections:
1.-The restriction of suffrage by consti
tutional amendment in three States is
success, promotes honesty, and secures
peace and good government Restriction
by any other means is attended with ills
and evils that confront the white people
upon every recurring election. Therefore
| am convinced that constitutional reg
ulation is the only permanent and safe
method to be employed. And | am also
convinced that legally conducted pri-
mary is necessary adjunct to insure
against division among the white men
who compose the party. In these two
convictions | have been strengthened by
talks with the ablest men who represent
the Southern States in Congress"
The only certain way to insure white
supremacy is to eliminate the ignorant
negro vote, the only certain way to Sc
cure permanent good government by the
party of the White Man is to give to
every white voter an equal voice in the
selection of candidates, and to insure
him equal voice the primary should be
legalized. These are propositions that
cannot be controverted