The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-10
THE NEGRO AND
THE FRANCHISE.

The Southern Society for the Pro-
motion of the Study of Race Condi-
tions and Problems in the South" is
now holding the first of its annual
conferences at Montgomery, Alabama.
Among those who made addresses
before it yesterday was Ex-Governor
William A. McCorkle, of Charlestown,
w. Va. one of the leading figures in
the Democracy Of that State.
While Governor McCorkles views
on the Negro Question correspond
with those of the Southern white peo-
pie generally, the solution he pro-
poses differs very materially from
that now offered in this State. He
defines his position as follows:
II am candid in saying that do not be-
lieve in franchise discrimination against
any class of people | am in favor of
giving the negro everywhere the right to
vote with property or educational quail
ificaticn, the requirements of which eX-
tending alike to both races. The negro
is becoming educated, and his intelli-
gence is growing apace with the progress
of the country and the future seems
for this very reason, TO hold solu-
ton of the problem which may now seem
to some quite unsolvahle.
This is the natural view for Cover
nor MacCorlle to take. In West Viz
oinia he is not thrown with the ne
gro and threatened with his domina-
ton as are the people of North Caro-
lin. South Carolina. Mississippi and
Louisiana. Beside the Governor is u
type of man of the South who places
practical things on an equality, at
least. with those OF theory. He has
studied deeply the possibilities of our
country as well as the capabilities of
our people, and feels that it is our full
duty to make the most of what we
have. AS a consequence he is much
more familiar with trade conferences
than with political conventions. He
has become the evangel of the new
gospel of thrift and labor and feels
that he is best serving his people
when he is pushing the story of our
undevelOped resources.
From this Viewpoint Governor Mac
Corkle constructs his argument. He
admits the conditions of which we
complain. declares that the problem
must be solved but insists that this
solution shall be industrial rather
than political. and should affect both
races alike.
Reviewing the history of the South
Governor MacCorkle uses these elo-
quent words;
1T is from this anomalous condition
of political affairs that the South must
be released; and every Southern man.
without regard to his political tutcre
should rise to that height Uf love for
country where, caring not for the c'anior
Of the hour, despising present utiIita"an-
SIN, he can contemplate a country unbro-
ken in it's love, rich in material glory and
domestic peace. over whose happy. con-
tented and united people is the shadow
Of a Constitution which, under the mercy
of God, needs not 20 be broken to serve
the higher law. If there are any faint
hearted and who would shrink, I would
remind him that the day is surely pro-
pitious for the coming change; that there
is upon the South one of those great cy
cleS where
"'All are raised and borne
BY that great current in it's onward
sweep,
Wandering and ripping with caressing
waves
Around green islands with the breath
OF flowers thatn ever wither'
This cycle of industrial glory and
generation, broadening like golden
river through the South, is assisting,
with the resiStless power, the coming
change. When the South was practically
stationary in its development, when the
planter waited for the rain to distill
its drops into the cotton and the grain
to imprison the gold of the sunshine,
political anomalies. comparatively speak
ing, were unimportGnt. Today the old
South is being resurre cted in new form
and exceeding glory. New peoples are
G. asping our hands, ard. as bone of our
bone we are bidding them welcome to
fine dear land. Millions of dollars start
the music Of the machine and the en-
CINE Mills are distilling their cloudy
incense over our increasing fields. New
cities lift their towering walls TO the
glory of our prosperity. Golden genli
rise from the dark mines of the earth
and hold out to us their offerings or
commercial greatness. Our waterfalls
are enfhralle1 to add TO our fulness, and
the unerring winds of modern commerce
have filed our harbors with the ships
OF the world
THE first demand of this industrial
regeneration is the absolute settlement
OF POLITICAL cOlDploAlllcS' Ito uCAheihu 10
even now inSistent and we cannot, If
we would longer deny it's potential re-
quest. The State which does so delay
will not march abreast with it's fellows
in the industrial progress. This demand
is as absolute and certain as any condi-
ton which ever touched a commercial
and industrial existence.
Concluding his discussion OF an
educational and property franchise,
Governor MacCorkle uses the wise
words:
II believe that the changed condition
of affairs today demands that the South
should settle emphaticaly and once for
all this great political question.
Relieved from its paralyzing effect, what
country could equal cur achievements!
In the words of great English states
man: Or shall we expect from time, the
physician of brutes. a lingering and I'M
certain deliverance? Shall we wait to
ba happy till we can forget that we are
m serable. and owe to the weakness of
on. faculties a tranquility which ought
to be the effect of their strength? Far
otherwise Let us set all our past and
present Affections at once before our
o,,oc of nc resolve to overcome them,