The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-17
AGAINsT The AMENDMENT.
JOHN GRAHAM.
Warren Co., N Q

correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
Since my last a ticle in The Progress
i've Farmer, l have read several very
Interesting letters both for and against
the proposed amendment. am glad
that some Of the editors are still IN
m; z lied as to giving both sides OF this
all important question, o. whom 1
think the editor of The Progressive
Farmer heads the list.
The article over the signature OF
"Old Dan" in the issue of Sept. II h,
turns O. the light very forcibly. l en-
dorsa his article from beginning to end
And | balieve that he voices the senti
ment OF a large number of the readers
OF The Progressive Farmer, and Ihope
they wijtr58d and compare old Dams"
article 7i5h "Retormer's reply in the
issus OF Sept. 10 b. and draw their
own conclusions.
'Rsformer" proposed to take up
lola Dams" arguments, item by item,
and reason the matter, but before he
could get his reasoning apparatus to
running he flies eff the handle and
says that the chief argument of the
opponents is a talsehood and a miser
able lie.
Yes, it is true, the people are think.
ing, and will continue to think for
themselves.
Nov, Mr.. "Reformer, " too, an open
to conviction. Prove to me that the
proposed amendment would be 10 the
best interests Of the people, and l will
support it. l think the most Of the
common people are open to conviction
on this Question, and want to vote for
the best interests OF the State.
I oppose the proposed amendment,
not from prejudice, but because I be
Iieve il Ia inImIc4l to che best interests
of North Carolina, and an confident
that the proposed Bmendmens is a con.
c,c.ed scheme OF the money power and
machine el5 nent Of the parry that Is
now in control, in order TO foster and
continue the present condition Of in
dustrial slavery; that ia no y crushing
the very energy and life out of the PEG
pie.
Besides, the proposed amendment, if
ratified, will disfranchise the very best
element of the negro race; that is, the
old slaves whose judgment will by far
outweigh the smattering education Of
the young negro element, that can read
and write. Nov, don't understand me
TO be opposed to education, for | am
not. But l believe that ignorance is
as C~eplorable in the white man as it is
in The COlOred man; and, il we are go
ing 10 have an educational qualiica
ton 1T it reach the lUhite man also,
The parry tina is no y in congrol hav-
ing found that they could lot buy or
bllIdCza the old slave, proposes to dis
franchise him, but not for fear of negro
domination.
You say that we need not fear bad
election laws after the ratification OF
Of the amendment, for it cannot then
be said that they must cheat in order
to perpetuate white rule. But l say
that they will cheat in order 10 perpet-
uate the ~aristocratic rule Of the money
power.
You say the party that attempts to
cheat them will go do IN like the Demo
cratic party did in 1894 Now, let US
figure a little juet here. According to
your own figures, the amendment, es
submitted, proposes to disfranchise
eighty thousand negroes. Now, mind
you, those eighty thousand negroes
voted against the Democratic party In
1894 under the charge of bad election
laws. DistrGnchise those eighty thou
sand voters and you lessen the power
Of the common people agait 81 the
money power.
Call this rot" it you want to. but
the people are thinking and will con.
tinue to think for themselves.
Yours truly,
Il. NJ. FILLYAw.
Cumberland Co, N. @.