The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-19
BREACH OF FAITH f"

'iN go lew uuyS ,, tllS CudISS DIl5i-
mating with men who advocate Nc
hinley's policies, that any mention of
negro office-holding by the Democrats
during the presidential campaign
was breach of faith" because the
voters had been promised that the
passage of the amendment would elm
mate the negro question from politics.
Let us see what the Democrats did
promise; for every promise made
must be scrupulously kept. The only
reference to it in the platform was
this:
I'VE heartily approve of the action
of the last Legislature IN submitting
the constitutional amendment to the
people, and we urge it's adoption, be-
cause it will promote the peace, pros
perity and happiness of the people of
North Carolina
The Democratic Hand Book, the Of
fetal publication of the State Com
mittee, made this declaration, writ
ten we believe, by the wise and able
Ex-Governor Jarvis:
In the progress of time, it may be,
the white people may choose to divide
on questions of political principle or
eXpediency, and they will not be re-
strained from doing so because of an
apprehension that the negro party
may dominate in their country. *
When the ignorant negro is re-
moved from the political situation,
the white people will feel free to di-
vide on public questions.
In accepting the nomination for
Governor, Mr.. Aycock, telling of the
better conditions that would follow
when the mass of ignorant negro vot-
ers were eliminated by the amend
ment said:
There will be rest from political
bitterness and race antagonism. In
dustry will have a great outburst.
Freed from the necessity of voting ac-
cOrGing to our color we shall have in
tellectual freedom. Error will come
face to face with truth and shall suf-
fer that final crushing which the poet
denie1 to truth. With freedom of
thought will come independence of
action and public questions will stand
OE Idll III tifG COuIl vi ItuSUu llOU
of passion
In his speech calling the State con-
vention to order, State Chairman
Simmons said:
THE amendment is our plan for re-
moving all possible danger of future
negro domination; for establishing
upon a permanent basis White Su-
premacy, and for freeing the white
man to the end that he may vote his
Judgment and convictions upon all
public questions"
These are the official pledges made
by the Democratic party. We believe
that for the party to be untrue to these
pledges would be to be guilty of par
ty perfidy and party dishonor," and
Tor no partisan advantage would we
counsel the least departure from these
solemn declarations. There is not a
syllable in either of these utterances
that commit Democratic leaders sand
Democratic papers not to denounce
Mckinley for appointing negro post
masters and not to say-and say truly
that vote for Mckinley is a vote
to continue in office in North Carolina
a negro Collector of Custo ms in the
States metropolis; twenty-seven ne
gro poStmasters; and many negro
revenue and other Federal officials.
1t is plain statement of fact and has
given offence to nobody except those
who wished to vote for Mckinley and
still pose as Democrats. There has
been a mighty fiuttering among
these. ut is the hit dog that hol-
lers."
These McKinleyites act as if they
thought that because the Democratic
leaders said the amendment would
usher in a day when white people
will be freer to divide on public ques-
TONS these Democratic leaders
would lead in movement to divide
the Democratic party, and that be-
cause when the amendment goes into
effect Chat is two years Off they
will not be restrained from di-
viding because of an apprehension
that the negro party may dolnnatc
in their county," the Democratic par
ty would not criticize Mckinley for
his ''incendiary course" to quote Edi-
tor Bailey, in appointing negro post
masters in Eastern North Carolina
Nobody gave warrant for such sup
position. 1t could be born only in
the brain of a McKinleyite who is 50
anxious to vote for the advocate of
Imperialism. Trusts. Gold Bonds, and
Force Bill. that he loses sight Of two
very important facts:
/. That the amendment is not vet
a part of the constitution and will not
be until 1902, and that every negro
who had right to vote in 1896 or 1898
or in the August election has the
same right to vote in November OF
this year Therefore. if it was right
to stand solid 40 prevent negro State
and local office-holding in August it
is right to stand solid to prevent the
solid negro vote giving the State to
Mckinley in November. If the Re-
publicans had nominated a new man,
who had no record on appointing ne
gro postmasters in North Carolina
towns. a vote for the new man might
not be vote for these Federal negro
officials. but with Mckinley AZ the
candidate a vote for him will be an
endorsement of his policy in this Ill
rection. In 1904, when the amend
ment is operating. even if the white
folks should divide. so few negroes
would vote. that their ballots could
not largely determine the electoral