Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1900-03-29

uoao OHlce anu marry the white people
oy his insolence and corruption.
The negro, whether educated or un-
educated, will find himself a man
without a party. Learning that he has
iotning TO gain by voting, he vii!
stay away from the polls and cease to
interfere in politics. Those who are
ambitious will emigrate TO other
States. If the Republicans, after the
adoption OF the amendment, persist in
their present insane policy OF negro
suffrage and negro rule, they Will be
wiped of the political map and what
ever elements antagoniZe Democratic
principles viii organize themselves
into white party Of the opposition.
The doctrine that the white race must
reign supreme in North Carolina will
be enforced by public sentiment which
no party can defy, and live. The op-
ponents OF the amendment publish
under glaring headlines hysterical
articles purporting to give true pic.
ture OF the awful state Of affairs in
Louisiana where the amendment is
ilready in force. and warn North
Carolina to shun the fearful fate of
her sister commonwealth In the lat
vote has been annihilated. They also
contend that under the operation OF
the amendment there will be no diff
ference in the political condition of
the two States. Yet in the next breath
they argue that the same law which
dest- Dyed the negro vote in Louisl-
ana, will not accomplish the same re-
suit in North Carolina may be
pardoned for inquiring how these
things can be. | am unable to see
now. any proposition can be both true
and at the same time not true
Leaving them to reconcile their
mass Of contradictions and absurdities
| proceed to consider whether the
amendment will disfranchise
ILLITERATE WHITES.
Let the measure answer for itself.
The fifth section explicitly provides
that every male person in the State
who had in 1867. or at any time prior
thereto, the right to vote, and every
lineal descendant Of such person, shall
De a voter notwithstanding his in
ability to read and write. That sec
ton undoubtedly cOnfers suffrage
upon the ignorant white man unless.
as its enemies contend. it is contrary
to the fifteenth amendment of the
constitution OF the United States.
What says the fifteenth amendment?
The right Of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged or account Of race, color OF
previous condition Of servitude." OF
course the bulk of the negroes had
never been enfranchised in 1867 and
SO are excluded from the benefits OF
! the 18th clause. This fact the op-
position claims brings the so-called
| Grandfather Clause into collision
with the fifteenth amendment Moth
ing they argue, "can be done in
directly, which cannot be done direct
ly"-a premise which rests upon d
foundation about as stable as quick
sand. The answer is that nothing
done by the authority Of the constitl-
ton is contrary to the constitution
And if law is itself constitutional
the effect Of the law upon individuals
cannot make it unconstitutional The
negroes Of Mississippi could not bt
disfranchised as negroes. They were
disfranchised by the results Of con
stitutional law. within the limitations
set by the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments the power to
REGULATE SUFFRAGE
resides exclusively with the States.
was one Of their original powers from
which they have never parted O.. S
Constitution, Art. 10). The power o
a State to confer and regulate suffrage
has been repeatedly recognized by tn
courts. Nota bly, in the case OF I.
VS.. Cruikshank. So if State, actin:
within the sphere OF its jurisdiction
should choose to prescribe foolish o
even wicked qualifications for suf
f-age. there is no authority in th'
federal government 10 interfere. Tn
fifth clause Of the amendment is baSet
upon the reasonable presumption tha
voters OF thiTty-three OF more years
standing and their descendants, hav
the capacity for intelligenuy eXercis
ing the privilege to vote. Their fitnos
Consists in their experience and train
ing in public affairs. When the peop.
OF North Carolina adopt the amend
ment, no successful appeal lies from
their decision. il the act can be con
strued in harmony with the fifteent.
amendment. wherein does the fiftl
section discriminate against the ne
gro, in violation OF the
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT?
on account OF his color? No: for tn
free negroes and their descendants. o
whom there is small number il
North Carolina, can register and voc
under that section. Does il aDTldge G
take away the negroes right to vote
on account Of previous condition o
servitudeo Not SO, but because b
vas not a voter IN 1867 OF al any tim
prior thereto and IS not descendan
Of such voter. However it IS urge
that he could not vote al tbs dat
mentioned because ne hal been q
slave and that argument j. advance
10 prove that the fifth section denie
him the right OF suffrage on account .
previous condition OF servitude.
Here the opponents OF the amend
ment lay the greatest stress. One tata
fact they fail 70 note. Slavery IS On
!. thing; suffrage another. and an en
tirely different thing. They ma
exist together Or they may exis, SEP
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