The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-24
A TRULY GREAT SPEECH.

"a knVA OhGh Ok CGO44'
Upon first blush, without careful eX-
animation and consideration, some of
the best lawyers gave it as their opinion
that the grandfather clause" so called,
in the Louisiana Constitution was not
constitutional. When some one wired
Senators McEnery and Caf1rey, OF
Louisiana. TO know if law that dis
franchised all uneducated negroes and
did not disfranchise the uneducated sons
and grand-sons of white men who could
vote prior to 1867, these Senator's wired
Il horseback opinion that it was the
sentiment of Senators, in which they
concurred that such an announce
ment would be in conflict with
the Federal Constitution. 1t is
upon that horseback opinion that
opponents Of the amendment i'll
North Carolina have been resting all
their arguments that the amendment is
unconstitutional. These Louisiana Sen
ators and others Went on the presumption
that in its terms the amendment was in
conflict with the amendment that THE
right of the citizens of the United States
10 vote shall not be denied or abridged by
the United States, or Ey any State ON
account of race. color, or previous con
dition of seryitudc." Upon a more care
full examination of the amendment and
the decisions of the Supreme court. Sena-
tor McEnery has come to the conclusion
that the amendment is not in conflict
with any amendment to the Federal
Constitution. and. what is more to the
point. he has shown from the highest
authority that it is as constitutional as
it is necessary and wise.
We commend TO the careful considera-
ton of every thoughtful voter in the
State the able argument by Mr.. Nc
Emery in the Senate in answer to Sena-
tor Prtchard. 1t is "a calm and just
survey of the evils of Negro Rule which.
while bringing disgrace and disaster to
every Southern State, reserved its deep
est disgrace and ruin for Louisiana. The
contest in that State to dive out the
carpet-bag government that was q
Stepch in the n0strilS of honest men is
a matter of public record. THE recol-
lection Of that period" says Mr.. Nc
Emery, who had il leading part i'll driy~
ing out the scoundrels, lis like a hell
born dream, and one is almost tlnnerved
at the mention. 1t is the darkest and
most shameful period ins the history of
the human race The wonder is that by
force it was not sooner terminated by
an outraged people
The people of North Carolina who put
an end to the drunken dancing orgies
in the capital ut Raleigh and who are
now taxed to pay the debts incurred by
the negroes and carpet baggers, know
how terribly true was this ''hell-born
Dream 1t came back to this State in
much of its ''hell-born infamy'' when
the people permitted second Republican
administration to be installed Rape,
murder, ouuawry theft, peculation.
scandal, bad and corrupt government
these were the results III North Carolina
in 1897 and 1895 just as they were i'll
1S67-6S. They follow in the wake. of
Republican rule in the South as night
follows day. Corruption and Republi-
canism in the South are one and nsep-
arabic
"Annul the legislation of Louisiana,
which has for its sole object the adj
yancement of both races. the Progress of
the State socially, politically and indus
triously, and inaugurate again negro
domination in that State" exclaimed
Mr.. McEnery. land the tragic period of
1876 will be re-enacted" The expert
ence of North Carolina under Russell rs
rotten and degraded administration
proves that Senator McEnery is right
in his prediction.
There is another argument for the
amendment which will have great weight
with business men and manufacturers
The South has entered upon Il career OF
industrial growth and manufacturing
prosperity. Home capital has done
much and pointed the way to still great
or development Mr.. McEnery's state
ment: 'sThe rapid industrial progress OF
the South was impossible under negro
domination" is as true ms Holy Writ and