The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-13
SOME POINTS ON THE CONSTITU-
TIONAL AMENDMENT.
As to Democratic Promises.

Mr.. Butler says the democrats prom
ised not to curtail the suffrage and
quotes Chairman Simmons and Others
to that effect. So did Mr.. Lincoln
and the republican party declare in
1860 that slavery was not to be touch |
ed. should Lincoln be elected.
But when. in the midst Of a bloody
war. NJ. Lincoln decided III the
cause of it all must be removed, he
did not hesitate TO do violence TO his
word and that of his party in conven-
ton assembled. Conditions had chang
ed. So al the opening OF the CAM
paign two years ago no one contemp-
lated an amendment to- the constitu-
ton: but as the campaign progressed
ii became more and more clear hat
the old state must do something which
would prevent the repetition OF such
conditions as were The cam.
paign became a revolution. Thousands
OF men broke party lines because the
question at issue was racial. not poll
teal although accompanied by politi-
cal results When the nightmare was
over, every democrat, republican, and
populist who had voted for White su-
premacy. and many who had not.
served notice or the democrats that
something must be done to prevent
the repeIlIlOn OF the SuIIerlng or the
white people in eastern North Caro-
lima. The good of the state demanded
the constitutional amendment: the
people demanded it; and in August
next the people will ratify il with an
overwhelming ratification. For thirty
years we have wrestled with this
problem. We must be lone with 1t,
for fear we become narrow as a peo-
pie. While the problem main we
cannot develop the other ideas of GOV
eminent. 1t is the sword Of Da-
mocles hanging over every movement
Of economies, industry and political
life in the state and in the south.
While it remains neither the republi-
cans nor the democrats are likely ever
to produce a great political leader.
The republicans have produced none
in thirty years in the south and the
cause the party lacked leaders from
the north.
THE REPUBLICANS SUDDEN
AND GREAT SOLICITUDE FOR
H WHITE MAN.
The republicans exhibit great ankle
ty about the possibilities of disfran-
chising some white men. Pritchard
and Butler shed crocodile tears over
this part of their f~orebodings. One
would think to hear them talk that
the republican party is the special
emissary for the salvation of the
white man. This is so sudden! That
party didn't seem quite so solicitous
for the white man in 1S66-1S74, during
a part of which time fully forty thou
sand of the most intelligent white
men in the state were disfranchised-
men of the greatest intelligence and
loftiest character while the recently
emancipated slaves, armed with the
ballot, rushed the state head-long to
ruin. Bad as was the war Of '61-'65.
If UaC nnfhino hnCi1n tho NY -
and ruin of the years from '67-'72. For
four years the north tried to conquer
us and at last succeeded in over
whelming us by force. but did not
crush OUR SPIRIT. 1t was a brave
enemy that fought in the open, and it
had ended blind republican partisan
ship, LED by carpet baggers Of the
Tourgee stripe, in order to break the
spirit of brave men, d~isfranchised
thousands of white men and turned
over the state of our fathers to be
robbed and ruined. Was the republi-
can then he party of the white man
Is it the friend of the white man in
the south today? No, it cares nothing
for the white man or for the state
1t is only intent on getting office fol
the few who live on the spoilation OF
the state. Butler, who in his more
decent days named his paper the eau.
casian, implying that he stood for tn,
white man, now, ~deSpairing of agar
being able to win by dividing th'
white vote, comes out for the suprem.
acy of the negro race.
IF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY Hal
LISTENED TO REASON.
If l a had the ear Of the few lead
: ers of the republican party who die
tate it's policy I should have advised
l it to keep hands off in this matter
The white men of the state are deter
: mined, by the help of God, to settl
l this question. They want to be free
) In the nature of things there ca
be no great democratic or great re
publican leaders or PRONUNCIATION O
principles so long as the o
; the race question hangs over us.
{ We cannot go before our people an,
discuss the principles Of government
: as they arise. We dare not divide
When the republican party (grea
party as it lisp is so fortunate as t
= win an election in the south the disas
l ter nat overtakes it is no less thai
, that which befalls the state. There
u fore, l would have advised the leader
OF the party not to advocate a con
u %tinuance of negro illiterate suffrage
to welcome those voters in the stat
: who believe in republican principle
{ and would be attached to that part
u if it would stand for the supremac
of Anglo-Saxon civilization. A part
with 1900 0 negro voters and thirt
= thousand white voters, is constraine
u to enact legislation demanded by it
majority. In the legislation of 1Se
= negroes dictated to the republica
and popuflst party and they Cor il
. dared not refuse. The negroes hel
the balance of power in the legisla
ture, and although there were onl
y eight or ten of them they soon mad
1T known that they must be consulted
= This year presented a great opportuni
ty to the republicans. They had bee
= saying that they were as much OF
posed as the democrats to negro rul
and that the democrats were the res
y negro party. The party had every
= thing to gain and nothing to lose b
= Joining h democrats for the amend
: ment, and making their fight on ma
y tional lines, where they have strengt
as they nave absolutely none lin vie
Q OF their record on state issues.
THE NEGRO VOTE NOT POLITCA
BUT ONE OF RACIAL ANTAG-
nNJCM