The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-08-17
THE DEMOCRATIC PATTY ORGANIZA
TION SUGGESTED AS a BRANCH OF
STATE GOVERNMENT.

STATE GONERNMENT.
During the latter part of Decem
Der, 1898, just before the Legislature
assembled, and when there was much
speculation rs to the sort of d;sfran-
chisiug legislation the Legislature
would enact, the editor of the News
aud Observer went to Washington to
interview representatives of those
Southern States which have limi-
ted suffrage, upon the different plans
Of Acknowledgement operative in
these states; and these interviews he
had published in his paper for the
information and guidance of the in
coming Legislators. Among the In
terviews was one from Senator Nc
Laurin, of South Carolina, in which
Senator McLaurin, speaking of the
South Carolina amendment and the
primary plan Of election in that state
said.
Our elections are nearly all settled
in the primary, and If q man desires
to exercise any in tluence in govern
mental affairs he must 60 into this
election and take his chances. These
primary elections are protected by
an Act of the General Assembly,
providing that they shall be conduc-
ted in accordance with the Constitu-
ton and rules of the Democratic par
ty, and that illegal voting IN them
shall be punished.
1t is needless to say that majori-
ty of the voters of North Carolina
would not for q moment, tolerate
such q plan as this; and if the Dem.
ocratic party were to come before
them with the plain and open propo
sition that that organization be le
gahzed to conduct all elections FAC
cording to it's constitution and rules,
that such proposition would NEE
with signal failure.
But tits with this idea ia view
suggested no doubt by the SOutl
Carolina plan, that the News ant
Observer in it's issue of Saturday
under the caption "Legalized Pr
maries kill Boss Rule" editorially
advocates this plan. 1t says in part
When the amendment eliminate
the ignorant negro vote, q nomina
ton by the Democratic party will b
equivalent to an election. In orde
to make that condition permanent
is essential not only that every vote
have an equal voice in the selectio
of candid .tes, but to make 1t impos
sible for any party machinery to d.
ny him that equality of direction I
which he is directed. The exp'
rience Of the Democrats in thos
Southern States where the negro vol
has been eliminated is that the dar
ger of divisloy and formidable ind,
pendent movements can only be ave
ted by a primary having all the SAT-
Carolina ought to profit by the exp
rience of it's sister State and proviC
legalized primary at the next Sc
sion of the legislature.
Which simply means that as
South Carolina the Democratic par
should be clothed by law with Il
power to throw around all of the v
ters Of the State "all the safeguar
of q legal election" and to be in D
sition to avert "the danger of divi
ion and formidable independe
movements"
Here is simply another evidence
the injurious effect of the last cal
paign as shown in the loss of respe
for the boosted love of tolerate
and spirit of fair play which b
characterized the masses of Nor
Carolina for such a suggesti
would never have appeared
the columns Of any paper North
Carolina prior to the last electio
not even in the News and Observe
and it comes now only upon the pr
sumption that manhood is no long
. characteristic of the voters Of Il
State.