The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-02-01

PIopOsSI 10 dSIfa1cn1Se any cilZen
1of that State.
They souglt 70 show that Il waS
absurd TO even iniinate that the
Democracy c. North Carolina would
favor the abridgment c. the right O.
suffrage in the slightest degree. ard Il.
order to remove all doubt as 10 the
sincerity OF their professions, they
called attention to the fact that the
Constitution (Ieacing thereoy the
Ccna,i:ution CT tlse United States
would not permit them 10 do tha,
which the Republicans were alleging
they would do in the event they should
succeed. They said among other
things:
There is not a Democratic convep-
ton that wo:lld not spit upon the man
who would attempt to make such a
proposition
What Proposition? The proposition
TO submit 10 the people a proposed
amendment to the Constitution which
should kave fer its object the dissran,
chisement c. the negro. II was nc;
only the Democratic committee that
made these pledges, but almost every
Democratic candidate for the Ieg:sla-
ture made pledges to the voters in
their respective Coun1ieS that, ii
elected, they would oppose any and all
measures that might be presented fol-
the disfranc chissnen. OF any class G..
our citizens.
l do not wish to be understood As
saying th2I- every Demo cratic leader
N North Carolina has been guilty oi
dupi.city in dealing with our people
because there are several honorable
exceptions; and notable among these
was my distinguished predecessor, the
late Senator Vance, who was respected
and admired by all parties for his
honesty and strict integrity. So long
as he remained ac the helm Of The
Demccnatic party in North Carolina al
attempts TO Gisfltanchisa the poor ani
il1iterate classes OF both races were
futile. l am informed that On one oc.
c2S:on when it was proposed by that
element of the Democratic party which
now dominates it's actions TO pass ar
election law which would enable than
by manipulation 20 .thwa-t the will G
the majority c. the psop.a, that ht
went in person to the city Of Raleigh
and by his wonderful influence pre-
vented the conSum aa:on CT the CON
spiI3cy 10 deprive the people CT the.l
liDel t.2g.
1t is a remarkable fact that the mo.
mant Senator Vance passed away tha
the element OF the Democratic parry
which had been held in check by his
influence ct orce a;5lrted Itself and as
sumei control c. the party machinery
in that State.
If we are to profit by the lessons
taught by the election methods in the
States OF South Carolina, Louisiana
and Mississippi, We are justified in tins
assumption that the adoption of the
pep osed amendment in North Caro-
Gina will sound the death knell to tht
aspirations CT every Zeb. Vance Demo
crat in the State. While the proposed
amendment is intended to crush out
the principles c. Republicanism, it i
likewise INTENDED to eliminate thost
who entertain the liberal views Of the
late Senator Vance, as Well as thost
who are not willing to submit to the
dicta,ion Ctf the machine.
NOtWiths landing the many pledge:
made by the Democrats in order to in
duce the citizens OF that State to vot,
fer them and thereby enable them te
obtain control of the legislature, VIZ
ere confronted with a proposition K
amend cur constitution, which, i
adopted. will, in my Judgment, dis
franchise the poor and illiterate classe:
Of beth races. They were not cCnten
with submitting this proposition under
the fair and impartial election law
which had been enacted by a legisla
lattTe consisting OF Republicans ant
Populists, and under which they hai
$50 recently obtained control OF the
tlagl:I2'ture, but, in order to carry into
effect the scheme OF disfI anchisemen
Cf the unfortunate classes Of our peo
pie to whom it refers. they enacted al
election law which is framed with tht
sole view Of manipulating our election:
so as to thwa1t rtthe will of the people
and thereby enable them to dotha
which the people would never consen
to if given a fair opportunity OF eX
pressing their views at the ballot bo,
and having the same recorded as ex
pressed.
There is much in the proposed
amendment which is calculated t
crea5e apprehension and alarm C,
pant of the ill;terate and poor whit'
people OF North Carolina, as we'll a:
| the coloIed race. 1t is a carefully pre-
parsd ard we'll devised scheme b,
which it is sought to forever preven
the commi2n people Of North C2rolin:
| from Participating in the manage
ment and control of her affairs. Will
it is pretended by those who advocat
| the proposed amendment that its OBJ
| ject is tC secure white supremacy, a
the same time. thsre turks beneath tn
surface a purpose to disfr2nchise thou
sands c. cur citizens, both white AM
| colored, and thereby enable a certain
class in cur State to hold the office
and enjoy the emCluments OF the same
| The proposition which they propos
to submit is an attempt TO confer tn
right OF suffrage by Inheritance,
plan which is repugna1t TO every prfn
ciple CT the organic law OF the land
and one which ignores all that i
sacred and dear to free ard indepen
DENT people If it were possible to en-
force this unwise provision, it wtoul
sooner Or lattsr result in the complet
overthrow CT that Republican form O
government 10 WHICH we dTc cuo.ltSt
under the Constitution CT the Unite
States.
The.e ere pscils attending the sub
mission c. this amendment which, il
my Judgment, can not be escaped b
the pco- and iritea ate white people Q
North Carolina, and IN order that
may be fully understood when | max
this declaration | cali attention to TN
a3cs tflat in the event the SuprSm
Court CT the United States should de
eide that the ancestor and grandfathe
clause CT the proposed amendment i
unconstitutional. there IS danger tha
they may go a2ep further and 6ecii
THAT the educaticnel and pcRtax quail
fcat;ons can properly be ssgresase
from the other provisions, and thereb
permitted to become part Of the or
ganic law o. our St2ite, End as sue
apply to all CLASSES and races CT peo
pie alike, and as result thousands G
white farmers and labc-ing men woul
be d:sfllanchIsed and denied tae right