The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-15
FAV0RS WHITE SUPREMACY
SAYS THE BULK OF POPULISTS
ARE FOR AMENDMENT.
AND WILL NOT FOLLOW BUTLER FURTHER
Who is After Reelection 10 the Senate. Some
Things More Sacred Than Political
Pfeferment and White Sup
remacy is One y

Washington ID. c.. Feb. 14.-(Special.)
In reply to letter from Mr.. II. II.
Hayes. of Pittsboro. " c.. asking him
to attend Il citizens meeting which
was held there yesterday Congressman
-Atwater. of the fourth North Carolina
district has sent the following letter de-
fining his position on the proposed Con-
Stitutional Amendment
Dear Sir: | received this morning
yours of the 10th inst inviting me to
he present at Pittsboro tomorrow at a
meeting Of the citizens of my county. l
regret that my work here at this partic-
uar time requires my personal attention
and will prevent me from accepting your
invitation.
With yorm permission | will embrace
this opportunity to state briefly my posi-
zion upon some of the questions now up
ncrmoSt in the minds of the people Of
North Carolina. Regarding my own per
Sonal position. | can state that there has
been no change. | became a Iopulist
because Of my sincere convictions upon
certain public questions. and upon the
main issues. which induced my change
seqnently aligned itself by the adoption
of the Chicago platform at its National
convention in 1896. During the entire
time. since | became a Populst. | have
never knowingly allied myself with the
Republican party for the sake Of thc
spoilS Of office. and ] claim that my
record in this respect has been entirely
consistent.
II state most cmpnatically that | am
for white supremacy. for the rule Of the
white man in North Carolina. and for
the elimination of the vicious and ignor
ant negro vote. which has for years
stood as an open menace to good govern
mCnt in the State.
Senator Butler. nor any other man
can lead me to antagoniZe my own race
or to oppose the present movement i'll
North Carolina TO amend the ConStitn-
ton of the State so as to diSfranchise a
portion of the ignorant negro voters or to
sacrifice the principles Of the Popnist
party by fusing with the Republican par
~. 1t is an opportunity which hes moi
come to the people of the State since
the franchise was wrongfully conferred
upon the negroes. and every white man
who loves his race and his State. should
without hesitation embrace this oppor-
tunity. and in my opinion if he follows
his own conscience and his individual
Judgment he will do So.
There are thousands of other Popu-
lists who feel upon this issue as | do.
and they will he found in this contest
with the great bulk of the white men OF
North Carolina. Senator Butlor has
made the mistake OF his life He may
have regarded it as the only alternative
which promised him reelection to the
Senate, but there should be some things
dearer than political prefermont AMI
more sacred than the spOils of office.
and this question Of white supremacy
is one. He had better have faced dc
feat, and have gone back to the ranks
Of the thousands of honest white men
i'm North Carolina, than to have beEed
his own past record. and to have anita
oOnized the best elements of his race in
the State.
AS for myself. my voice and my SER
vices are enlisted in the cause of the
supremacy of the white man in the gov
rrnment of North Carolina. and as sure
rs the day of election comes. so surely
will the amendment be ratified by the
people at the polls.
There are some good men in the State
who have feared that if the 9th section
Of the proposed amendment should he
declared Unconstitutional the re-
mainder Of the proposed amendment
would stand and thereby result IN dis
franchising large number Of honest
white voters in the State. While the
great majority of the best lawyers in
and out Of the State have given 1t as
their opinion that the amendment would
either stand as whole. or he rejected
rs whole, and that the 9Th section
was entirely constitutional: still naturally
Il doubt among the people may have eX-
listed upon this question, it being entirely
an issue of law.
However. if the Legislature at its ad-
iourncd session in June shall adopt an
other section TO the amendment. rs is
proposed to he done. providing that tao
amendment shall stand or fall as q whole.
Ill opposition to the amendmept will
thereby be disarmed and the only plaUsi-
BILE argument of the opponents Of the
amendment will be eliminated.
Yours truly.
j w. ATWA T'ER"