The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-29
OBJECTS TO BE ATTAINED
IT is CLEARLY NOT IN CONFLICT
WITH THE FEDERAL CCN-
STITUTION.
WHY AN ELEc ION LAW WILL NOT ANSWER
The Correct Text of the Constitutional Amend
ment Under Considerat on by Demo
cratic Caucus. The c NC IS
Will Submit il.

Will Submi it.
The Democratic caucus, though it has
made up its mind to submit the amend
ments submitted by the committee SUBJ
stantially as presented, was wise to
take time to deliberate carefully before
taking final action.
White Supremacy will be perpetuated
in the only way that is permanent, to
wit: by a Constitutional enactment
that disfranchises no white man, and
leaves no open door for anything that is
not honest and above-board.
Judge Connor, Speaker of the House,
has given much thought to the question
of suffrage, and his speech in the caucus
on Friday night in advocacy of this
amendment was the great speech of a
great man. 1t is pity it cannot be
printed. As that cannot be, Judge
Connor gives his views in the following
interview:
What in your opinion is the princi-
pie underlying the proposed amend
ment!"
The fixing of a standard, upon a
sound, safe basis, of the elective fran
chise. The State havig for the past
twenty years enlarged and strengthened
its public school system, affording to
every child an opportunity to obtain an
elementary education. has right and
the duty is imposed upon it to require
the citizen to at least be able to read
the Constitution and write. not only as
an evidence of his capacity to vote
but as an evidence that he values the
privilege sufficiently to be willing to. in
some measure fit himself to exercise it
wisely.
again, it will stimulate the interest
of the people in education. To my mind
it is a most decided step upward. 1
confidently expect an endorsement of
this principle by the people of the
State.
"Why was the payment of the poll
tax required"
Because it is in harmony with the
principle upon which the educational
qualification is imposed. All poll taxes
are, by the Constitution, applied to the
support of the public schools and the
poor. 1t seems to me eminently wise
and proper to connect the two require
ments. a man who is not willing to
contribute the amount of his poll or capi-
tation tax to these purposes. exhibits
such total Indifference to the high and
sacred privileges and duty OF a citizen
that he should not participate in the
government or selection of it's officers.
/ cannot understand how there can be
any reasonable dissent from this propo-
sition. Political rights should be always
accompanied by political duties. When
they are not so accompanied, but little
value is attached to them and they are
soon abused or lost"
Upon what principle is the exception
in section of the amendment based|
''As was stated by Mr.. Rountree in his
very admirable and lucid speech in pre-
senting the amendment, the capacity for
self government seems, in the light of
history to be peculiar to certain races
or types of men. The Teutonic, or as
we have it, the Anglo-Saxon, has
shown and developed the power or ca
pacity of self government, over and
above all others. They alone have de-
veloped the power to preserve and main
tam liberty regulated by law. The eX-
ceptions to the general rule prescribed
III the amendment recognizes the truth
that this quality of mind and character
is transmitted, hence the sons and grand
sons of those who. since the origin of
our government, have exercised the
right of suffrage, but who have not. di-
ring their minority enjoyed the oppor-
tunities for acquiring an education, are
secured the right to vote Every man
can vote under the proposed amend
ment and exception, who could vote in
any State in the Union on January 1st,
1867, or prior thereto. This privilege is
extended to the son and grandson of
such person, provided he is 81 years of
age at the time of its adoption. Those
who enjoyed this right and their descend
ants may be safely trusted with the
franchise"
why is the exception limited to those.
who at the time of the adoption of
the amendment are y years or age or
over?
Because those who are less than. or
under that age, have ample time and
opportunity TO qualify themselves. 1t
must be remembered that prior to 1867