The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-28
COURT 0USEOVERfL0WS
LIE LEAVES PRITCHARD MOTH
ING TO STAND on.
RESPONSIBILITY or ALL THE PEOPLE
To Make lmpo, sibIe Recurrence Of the Dis
graceful Scenes That Marked the Dark
Days Of Negro Domination in
North Carolina.

6-HON. w. H. BOWER g. g. g..
Newton, \. c., Feb. 27.-(Special.)-
Today Hon. W. H. Bower, ex-Repra-
sentative from the Eighth district, adj
dressed the people of Catawba for one
hour and a half in the court house.
Court is in session. The large court
house was packed and many were I'm
able to get in. His theme was the
amendment.
This is a section III which the negro
cuts but little figure. The speaker re-
ferred to the exciting scenes of the last
campaign when it became known that
Eastern North Carolina was again in tn :
rhroes of negro domination, and how
Catawba rushed to the rescue. His Re
publican friends told him that now upon
the Democrats devolved the responsible
ity to settle this question and 30; ever
render impossible a recurrence of these
disgraceful scenes. The Republican pa
pers and the 'Caucasion took up the same
cry. He showed at length that with
the State alone rested the power to say
who are voters and that natural citizens
Of the United States are not necessarily
voters.
After reading the Fourteenth and Eff
teemth Amendments he demonstrated
that, with twenty thousand of the
States best white men DISTINGUISHED
and all the negroes voting, the white
men of the State could never have rati-
fed the amendment.
He told also about the infamous Cam
by election. They accuse US" he said,
''of springing the negro question. Ii it
H1oI 70 bn hi hpv
never would have been any negro ques-
t1on, fer they saddled the negroes upon
us. The Democrats have always striven
TO lessen the power of the negro. In
1875 they changed the constitution so
that the legislature might regulate q
system of county government, The next
year under the leadership of Vance it
was ratified, Catawba giving a majority
of fifteen hundred for it.
I'm 1894 the demagogue got in his
work, and another revolution took place.
The negro was not slow TO exercise the
power restored to him. In 1893 the out
ragged white people arose in their might
and set their seal upon the natter"
Mr.. Bower read the proposed amend
ment from a copy of the Progress We
Farmer, which he says he has been
reading for ten years, but has not yet
lost his religion. In this connection he
expressed his faith in the righteousness
of the Chicago platform. 1ne speaker
analysed the amendment clause by
clause. 1t was an able dissertation, and
his arguments We're the plainest and
most convincing l have heard. The
speech was full of eloquence and humor,
no idea of which can be given in a short
dispatch.
Mr.. Bower is a man of imposing fig
lire, great personal magnetism and one
of the best campaigners in the State.
His many friends would like to see him
back in his old seat in Congress now be-
ing disgraced by Linney, and l think
from all over the State will come the
response $50 mote it be-" Tomorrow
Senator Pritchard will reply to Mr.. Bow
OF. but l assure You no ground has been
left ON which the willy Senator may
stand.
II. A. CHAPPEIL.
8 q doesn't toIa r,aipc