The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-26
BUTLER COMPOUNDED.

The best answer so far made in this
campaign TO the opposition to the
Amendment made by Butler and
other so-called Populists appears in
this weeks Webster's Weekly. 1t not
only demolshes their sO-called reas-
ons for opposing the only measure
that can secure White Supremacy. but
quotes Butler & Co.. as advocating
eliminating the negro as nearly
every Southern State except North
Carolina has done" 1t is so com
plete an answer that we make room
for it in full as follows:
Senator Butler says that disfran
chisement of the negro has not re-
moved the negro issue from politics
in Louisiana. South Carolina and
Mississippi. That is what he says
now. but the Populst Hand Book
said the very reverse two years ago.
In that campaign document, issued
by the Populist State Executive Com
mittee. the Democratic party was
denounced for being too weak and
cowardly to stand up as men and en-
act laws DISTINGUISHING the negro
vote, which laws would have been
constitutional" We will quote from
the Populist Hand Book:
I'm nearly every Southern State
except North Carolina the negro
is DISTINGUISHED. with the result
that racial antagonisms cannot
be aroused because of the absence
of u basis on which to proceed.
The same power that diSfranchiS-
ed the negro in these Southern
States has been welded by the
Democratic party in North Caro-
lima for twenty years and yet no
advantage has been taken of that
power"
The Democratic party was thus
power to remove the negro from pol
itics, as had been done in Louisiana,
South Carolina and Mississippi Race
prejudice could not be appealed to in
those States. because of the absence
of basis on which to proceed"
THE election came on and the
people gave the Democratic party an
overwhelming ma jority in the Eegis-
itself: Shall we leave the negro ques-
ton unsettled. to be foGght over ev-
cry two years. or shall we settle it by
Il Constitutional Amendment as 9th
err Southern States have done? What
was the sentiment of the Populist
party at that time? Cyrus Thomp-
son, Senator Buffers ablest lieuten-
ant. said. after the smoke of battle
had cleared away:
1T is evident that the Demo-
Gratis will have to eliminate the
negro question now. | do not
think that the people who have
given the Democratic party pow
er will be satisfied with anything
else than the elimination Of the
negro from politics in North Caro-
lima"
THE Democratic Legislature met
the responsibility of the occasion and
framed a measure that Senator But
ler's own representatives in the
House voted for. Why does he oppose
it now? The answer to the question
is found in the fact: He esteems the
chance of being reelected to the Sem
ate by negro votes of more import
ance than the future peace and well
fare of the State. The Democratic
party has done what his Hand Book
said it was too cowardly 10 do. and
what Cy Thompson said the people
demanded should be done. viz: laid
the axe at the root Of the tree. It
has done this without endangering
any white mans right to vote 1t
not only protects the white man who
can not read and write. but says his
ballot shall not be killed by one of
Pritchard's ignorant servile negroes.
lnder the present arrangement it
takes two white men to outvote one
negro. The Amendment says the
votes of both white men shall live
and neither be killed.
Tell us. pray what more the Dem
ocratic party could possibly do to
protect the white man and eliminate
the negro than it is now straining ev-
cry nerve to ACCOMPLISH