The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-21
NEGRO CHEERS PRICHARD
Gilmer's Speech Was a MASTERPIECE Of
Argument.
IT APPEALED ONLY TO WHITE MEN
$50 Negroes Listened 10 PritcSad's Attempt
to Deceive White Men in Order 10 Save
the Negro Vote That Put Him
in the Senate.
in the Senate.
Especial to News and Observer.)

Franklin, N. c., July 2G.-Hon. R. D.
Gimer, Democratic candidate for Attor-
ney General, and Senator J. c. Pritchard,
met here in point debate today. Mr.. Gill
N. c., were billed to speak here today by
the State Democratic executive commit
ice, and it so happened that Spencer B.
Adams, Republican candidate for Cover
nor, and z. Y. Walser, Republican candi-
date for Attorney General, were also bill
ed for the same time and place by the
Republican committee. The conjunction
of the appointments was purely acciden-
tai as the Republicans have carefully
avoided Joint discussions through the en-
tire campaign. AS soon as the situation
was observed the county Democratic
chairman undertook to arrange with the
Republican county chairman for a joint
debate, as Mr.. Gilmer and Mr. Walser
were candidates for the same office. But
the Republican chairman refused to con-
sent till he could communicate with his
political boss, Jay Bird Holton," who is
engaged principally in procuring negroes
to swear out warrants for white registrars
who refuse to register Illegal negro voters
But strange to say, 'Jay Bird issued the
permit for a joint discussion. But 10!
and behold Adams and Walser failed to
show up. Adams had swallowed fish
bone at Webster and couldn't come, and
nobody knows why little Zeb Vance Wal
ser did not come. But anyway they sent
Dr;4 o,J hn bOio Of bn
great Republican party from whom all
false representations flow."
A Joint debate was arranged between
Mr.. Gilmer and Mr.. Pritchard to the great
delight of Mr.. Gilmer's friends. Mr.. Gil
mer opened the discussion and for one
hour spoke as if by inspiration. His pow
erful arguments, wrapped in eloquence,
for white supremacy and good government
held the vast crowd spell bound. His
pathetic reference to the Confederate SOL
dier electrified the crowd and brought
tears from the eyes Of strong men. His
powerful arraignment of the Republican
party for their outrages upon the white
people Of the State elected the heartiest
applause. He reviewed the terrible con-
dition OF affairs under Republican rule
from 1868 to 1870, when the State was in
tested by carpet baggers and negroes. He
declared with powerful effect that the
amendment to the Constitution, which
enfranchised the negro was the most un-
constitutional law that had ever been
incorporated into our system of govern
ment. That the sovereign people did not
adopt it because the manhood and intelli-
gence of the State were disfranchised,
and not allowed to vote upon the propo-
sition, while, by the acts of reconstruc-
tion the negroes were permitted to vote
upon the question that made them per-
maDent electors. He declared that $4,000
white men, Confederate soldiers, were
disfTanchised by the Republican party,
the only party since the foundation of this
Government that had disfranchised white
men, and that of the 125,C00 votes cast
in the election on the proposition to en-
franchise the negro, $4,000 votes were ne
groes, and that if white people could live
for 80 years under Constitution adopted
by a majority of negroes, surely the ne
groes could live for awhile under Con-
stitution adopted by the white people.
Coming down to the conditions existing
under fusion rule from 1894 to 1898, he
arraigned the fusion gang for placing
LOCO negroes in office. His review CT the
conditions under negro domination showed
conclusively the necessity for the adop-
tion of the Constitutional Amendment.
He recited with magic effect how a one
armed Confederate soldier was turned out
of office in the county Of Caswell to give
place for negro.
He arraigned Senator Pritchard for rec
commencing and procuring the appoint
ment of twenty-five negro postmasters to
hand out mail to white ladies' In press
ing Pritchard fer an answer as to why
he had perpetrated such an outrage upon
the white people, Pritchard said he did
not procure their appointment, and did
rot endorse it; that the negro Congress-
man Geo. White, from the Second district
had them appointed. This explanation of
Pritchard to screen himself from the dis
grace was an admission On his part of the
inability Of the Republican party to give