The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-03
THE TRUE WORDS OF AN ABLE
JURISTS

JURISTS
Last November h Messenger pub
lished an elaborate ape from the Pen
of Mr.. Chief Justice VIM Shepard
Bryan, of Baltimore. He is a native
North Carolinian, a distinguished
alumnus of our university, a ripe schol-
ar, an eminent jurist, a gentleman Of
honored character, upright, true, pure,
noble. The Messenger made some COM
ments at the time. As W. are nearing
so rapidly the close of the long suffrage
discussion and the final battle is to be
fought on Thursday for civilization n
order and good government, We have
turned to Judge Bryan's able, lucid
discussion for a passage of inspiration
The venerable jurist concludes with
these words that show that his heart
goes out in sympathy and admiration
and love for the people of his native
North Carolina upon whom he invokes
the blessings of our Heavenly Father:
Though long resident beyond the
limits of the state of North Carolina, 1
am connected with many of its citizens
by the tendereSt ties Of kindred affec-
ton and friendship. L TAX deep in
tereSt in whatever concerns the well
fare and happiness of its people. I
know that they are worthy of the
choicest blessings which Heaven ever
b5s:ow on mankind. They deserve an
administration of public affairs which
shall comprehend in its social and po-
litical benediction whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are hon
est, whatsoever things are just, what
soever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report; if there be any
virtue and if there be any praise I
cost 1ervently hope that the people of
the state may adopt this most wise,
just and Salutary amendment, and
Secure good government to themselves
and their posterity forever and for
ever"
He makes a cogent argument in re-
view of the amendment question, but
as we are so nea the battle-day it is
hardly necessary at this time to enter
upon h legal aspects of the subject
so we'll understood now after so much
of c~anvassing, writing and thinking.
H. Will NC dOoplCu oNSl Wy
the people. No daring judicial hand
without the fear of God be<ore it will
dare to attempt to stif1e the voice of
the people which is the voics of Cod
VoX populi, voX Del. The supreme
court of the United States as now or
ganized will scarcely undertake to set
aside the opinions heretofore delivered
by it in order to help to continue in this
goodly commonwealth the reign of ig-
and incompetency.
We must make one more extract from
the a: gument of Our learned and old
friend of some So years. emitting the
legal part and quoting that which
more particularly appeals to us today.
Judge Bryan writes:
cit is surely su~perfluous to argue to a
free people hat they have a right to
provide by law the peace order, hap
piness and good government Of their
own country. If they nav not this
right, they have lost their liberty. The
most beneficent and effectual exercise
of this right is to exclude unworthy
persons from all share in the govern
ing power. The source of this power
Is ne ballot box. Up to this time the
state of North Carolina has always
freely and without question regulated
h elective franchise By the consti-
tuition OF 11I6, no one was allowed to
vote for members Of the senate unless
he owned fifty acres of land. Many
now living recollect when this ~restric-
ton wa sremoved- Up to the year 1885
free negroes voted; although their
right was much questioned. By the
amendments proposed in that year, and
adopted by the people, they were dis
f~ranchised. The people are now, and
Of right ought to be. as free as their
fathers were in 1776; although in some
instances their rights have been down.
trodden and abused"
When the notorious republicans turn
ed loose Walls of their wrath upon the
southern whites they this by free
ing the negro and then at once lifting
him into the high plane of citizenship
N clothing him with the tremendous
power of the ballot. Then hell yawned,
n the internal powers were active.
1t was to be a glorious time for the
Negro and liberty, fraternity and
equality Were the cabalistic watch
words. But Of the promise of hope
came the most disastrous results. In
stead Of liberty an iron despotism