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

1t was a history-making day-yester-
day in the House.
A radical change was wrought in the
organic law of the State, so far as the
House can make such change.
The suffrage amendment to the Consti-
tuition was passed by more than the re-
quired three-fifths vote.
Many have been the years since those
gray historic walls have witnessed such
scene as they saw yesterday.
Lobbies and galleries We're crowded
and there was a nervous quiet upon the
floor. One need not have been told that
the most important business Of the entire
session was about to be transacted.
1t was just 1855 when Mr.. Rountree.
of New Hanover, called attention to the
fact that the time for the special order
the Suffrage Amendment BiIl-had ar
rived.
The bill, with the report of the COM
mittee thereon, was read by Mr.. Win
ston, of BERTHE.
Though the bill had been thoroughly
considered in caucus, the debate ON it
yesterday lasted for nearly three hours.
Speeches were made by Messrs. Roun-
Hampton. Smith, (coll, Eaton. fcol),
Wright, lcol.), and Williams of Graham,
all Republicans. against it.
Mr.. Rountree's speech was an eloquent
presentation of the conditions that lead
to the drafting of the amendment and
now compelled its adoption He explain
ed the provisions of the bill in detail, the
reason for each and discussed in learned
~, nnn rinr
tions involved.
Altogether Mr.. Rountree's speech was
one OF the most able and powerful that
has been delivered in the House this
session.
AS for Mr.. Winstons Speech more
eloquence could hardly have been crowd
ed into the brief FIVE minutes allowed
him. He realized fully the Importance
of the occasion and rose equal to it in
every particular. Almost everyone of his
terse, epigrammatic sentences were APP
plauded.
In the speeches of the three colored
members--Smith, Eaton and Wright
there was a touch of pathos For the
short comings of their race, which they
acknowledged. there could be but sorrow;
for their services as slaves and as free
men, Appreciation; and for their hopes
and aspirations, sympathy. But above it
all stood the argument of their having
been tried for 80 years and found want
ing.
As the debate proceeded the feeling
began to grow more tense and the sitna-
tion became dramatic, until one could,
during the roll-call, easily have imagin-
ed himself in political convention where
a contest hot and close was being wag-
cd
There were q number of prominent
Democrats who had manifested Il doubt
as TO how they would vote. There was.
therefore, some fear of the result,
though the required 73 were pledged to
stand by the amendment. When one of
these doubtful members voted for the
amendment he was wildly applauded
by the Democrats. If he. voted against
ii he won applause from the Republican
side. But when the three Populist mem
bers-Crumpler, Tarkenton and johnson,
of Sampson-yoted for the amendment,
the applause was long and deafening,
shouts and yelis being added to the hand
clapping.
The vote on the second reading was
80 TO 30 and on the third reading it was
81 to 27. Messrs. Patterson, of Caldwell,
and Reeves. of Ashe, who did not vote
on the second reading voted on the third.
increasing the vote to 81. Messrs. Flem-
ing and Currie, of Moore who voted
against the bill ON second reading re-
Trained from voting on the third, cutting
the negative vote down to -
The bill was sent over to the Senate
without engrossment and win probably
come up for passage by that body today
The first to speak upop the bill in the
House yesterday was Mr.. Rountree
The bill before the House was, he said
substitute for the original Winston
bill. prepared by the committee.
Not. however without earnest study
of conditions and many concessions 1t
rs, as all such instruments are, a com
promise measure. But it is measure
approved by all the members of the com
mttee, by all the lawyers of this body
=, and by those outside of this House who
Nbave examined it.
1 III is, in short. just. legal and effec-
tive measure for securing TO North Caro-
lima the blessings of good government
for many years to come.
In the early years OF this young repub-
lie, under the enthusiasm caught from
the French republic, men dreamed of a
political millennium based upon universal
suffrage. For awhile it did seem as il
some day that dream might blossom int
reality. But thirty years ago and more
the negro was enfranchised. No doubt
many of those who assisted in this
thought they were doing right. Blu