The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-10-20
becloud the situation, and thereby
obscure the real questions at issue.


obscure the real questions at issue.
AS an evidence of their Inconsistency,
call attention to the fact that the
democratic party obtained exclusive
control of affairs in North Carolina in,
1876, and continued in power until
1895, during which time there was no
effort made by them to deprive any
of our citizens of the rights guaranteed
them by the constitution of the United
States, but after the campaign Of 1896
it became evident to the leaders of the
democratic party that thousands of
business men, as well as farmers and
laborers, were beginning to realize
that the principles of republicanism
were best calculated to promote the
real welfare of the country, and then
it was that the leaders Of the demo-
cratic party raised the cry of negro
domination. BY use of force and fraud
lulent methods they succeeded in, OBJ
tanning control of our affairs, and Sc
curing the adoption of an amendment
to our constitution which is in fragrant
violation of the fifteenth amendment
to the constitution of the United States.
The situation is one that demands the
earnest attention of everyone who is in
favor of republican form of govern
ment.
The American people are confronted
with the proposition as to whether or
not it is our duty as a. nation to enforce
the fifteenth amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States. If we
are not to enforce the amendment in
question it should be abrogated at
once. It would be unwise and unjust
to abrogate the fifteenth amendment,
and while the democrats favor its re-
peal they are afraid to say so in their
platform. The issue is raised, and can
not be depressed or evaded, but de-,
mands an immediate settlement at the
hands of the American people, The
welfare of the people of the south is
involved in it's consideration and there
can be no settled condition of affairs
in that section of the country until the
question has been settled one way or
the other.
The democratic party of the south
yields a wonderful influence in the
electoral college as well as in the house
of representatives, by virtue of the fact
that our numerical strength is aug
mented by counting the negro as citi-
zen in the federal enumerat ton. It is
unfair to count the negro in the fed
eral enumerat ton, and thereby in
crease our representation. in congress
and in the electoral college, and then
refuse to count his ballot. The propo-
sition is illogical and is in conflict with
the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments,> and sshould not be tolerated for
a moment. ~s,. ,@.,a.-s -. As
1t is amusing to hear our democratic
friends talk about the consent of the
governed" in view of their conduct in
North Carolina, South Carolina and
other southern states, wherein, by re-
sorting to unlawful methods, they have
denied thousands of white and colored
voters of the rights guaranteed them
by the constitution.
IN that section we are confronted
with the rankest kind of imperialism,
and the wonder is that Mr.. Bryan does
not take time to condemn those Within
our borders who deny the citizens of
the United States the privileges and
immunities to which they are entitled
under the constitution which he has
taken an oath time and again to MAIN
tain.
1t is now in order for Mr.. Bryan to
inform the people of the United States
as to whether he Is in favor of the en-
fOrcement of the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments to the consti-
i, tuition of the United States.
When the republican party was Or
ganized it's mission was to free the
slave, uplift the down-trodden and pre-
serve the union, and to-day it stands
for the enforcement of the rights of
every American citizen in accordance
with the provisions of the organic law
of our land.
In its treatment of those who have
become our wards as result of the
war with Spain it has been actuated
by the same spirit which inspired it's
conduct at the time when it struck
from the limbs of four and a half mil
lion human beings the shackles of
slavery. It stands for human liberty,
and where'er the stars and stripes are
unfurled I believe it has the courage
to secure the enforcement of all the
rights that are guaranteed to an Amer
loan citizen.
=. C. PRITCHARD.