Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-25
EIGHT PAGES.
WEDNESDAY. JULY 25. 1900.
THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH
CAROLINA.

/. 1T Is a remarkable campaign that Is
drawing to close in North Carolina.
HOn August the people of that State
EVIL vote upon a constitutional amend
s1nent. emhodying the Louisiana method
Sof restricting the suffrage. the practical
ieffect of which is expected to be the
elimination of major part of the
inegro vote. At the same time State
Aofhcers and members of the General
Assembly will be electeds the General
lAssembly to choose the successor to
Hon. Marion Butler in the United
Stntes Senate. The Republicans and
Populists have effected a fusion on all
Apfices and the organizations of the two
EDarties are united in opposition to the
Eproposed amendment, which the Demo-
Hcrats support.
Such. in general, Is the situation and
Ffhe issue. AS to the merits Of the suff-
Hrage amendment, it is merely the old
s%uuestion of getting rid of the negro
txwote and of safeguarding the unlettered
Swhite vote. 1t is familiar proposition
gin every Southern State. In North
%Carolina, however. 1t is complicated
lSend accentuated by elements which
y make the contest one involving the
Il civilization, order, stability progress
h and fair name of the State. It Is not
Z an ordinary political contest at all. 1t
Nts struggle in which there is arrayed
on one side the intelligence, decency
and responsibility of the State. largely
regardless of party, and on the other
the negro and the ignorant and vicious
4 indictments of the whites, led and in
spired by politicians who are the Iega-
tees of the carpet Dagger and the
-scalawag of other days.
There ought not to be, under such
circumstances. any doubt Of the result.
Inc character of campaign the
"fusionists" have conducted has been
such that. whatever their professions
cor pretensions. 1t is Uncomfortable that
the people of a great State should en-
trust its government to their hands. 1t
is not at all question of the Demo-
scrats doing some things that may not
meet the approval Of every citizen; 1t
is simply that the opponents of the
& democracy are Of such sort that their
triumph would inaugurate n reign of
X terror that. however, brief. would cost
n the Ola North State twenty years OF
intellectual material and moral pro-
fgress. If the Democrats were wrong
on the Issue and their opponents were
nflght' the situation is such that the In
felligent and respectable citizen would
nave to vote the Democratic ticket. on
the principle that an honorable man,
with erroneous views. is preferable to
a pirate who faunts the ten command
inents. AS matter of fact. however.
the democrats seem to have done what
the intelligence and patriotism of the
State overwhelmingly demanded. The
proposition upon which they go before
the people is perfectly clear and ex
Dlicit, and they have the added adj
vantage that Misrepresentation of their
position has been carried to an extent
that has made the whole opposition
ridiculous.
II the people Of North Carolina have
not lost the sterling good sense from
which they have seldom lapsed in the
past, landslide may be predicted with
confidence for the Democratic ticket.
and what IL stands for. We should re-
gard any supposition to the contrary az
an insult to the intelligence, patriotism
and probity of neighboring Common
wealth.
r. Nj