The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-17

R-ASu % S1uL L1Pzr eyes 10 pcIitiCaI
methods % doubtful morality in the
dread presence of a menace to the
perpetuity OF respectable government.
and the sad reflection is unavoidable
that nobody but h contributor Is
corrupted.
In those old times intimidation OF
voters was unknown How has II been
for thirty years? Self-defenSe in many
states. n and towns OF the
south has neceSsitated frequent resorts
10 violent means Of suppressing negro
suffrage.
in the results OF elections: bit
during the last thirty-three years
many bitter. violent and even fatal
conflicts nave shocked southern COM
munities because CT the defeat OF some
candidate or some party. the las. IA
NOUS case being he assassination OF
the man who had been elected gov
e-nor OF kentucky@ crime for which
negro suffrage alone perhaps Is re-
sponSibie. In short the descent from
the peace, good order. and hopefulness
OF those old times IS 50 great that IL
d the heart OF the man who has
witnessed all these things, causes him
TO look with fearful forebodings on the
future, and 10 doubt whethe a repub-
lican form Of government is any more
likely to be p~erpetuated in modern
times than il was two centuries ago
~ SACt|C VI IA
Such was the purpose for which ne
gro suffrage was brought upon the
south. and brought too while no negro
outside of Massachusetts was permit
ted TO Vote in the northern states until
this amendment was adopted; n
while the act and the motive should
warm the blood Of every self-respecug
southern man whose ancestors fought
for the freedom OF these colonies or in
1S61-5 for the sovereignty. freedom,
and independence" OF these states.
North Carolina Ia no representative
in the senate Ito speak for her. On the
contrary Senators Butler and Pritch-
ard, who sat in their seats and heard
Senator Chandler admit what the OBJ
ject of the 18th amendment was, pre-
pared elaborate arguments justifying
a continuance of the punishment of
our people, and are now engaged in
the work Of perpetuating it. as far as
they can, on unborn generations of
North Carolinians. Mr.. Butler has in
his employment as a campaigner a
man whom he is reported to have
quartered on the treasury at Wash
ington at s120 per month. h pre-
tence being that he is a messenger in
the office of the Sergeant-at-arms of
the senate. He has also in his en-
plOyment, il is believed, a man who
is understood to be his clerk, who for
doing nothing in return for his salary,
is drawing 500 per month out of the
treasury OF h United States. And he
is abusing his Thanking privilege by
using the United States mails, without
cost to himself, for the dissemination
into every nook n corner of North
Carolina of the trash delivered in con-
greSS by those who are anxious to per-
petuate the curse brought upon the
SOUTH"
Many young men, grown up in the
south since 1865. have gone into the
pOpuliSt Organization for honorable
purposes. They have been in quest of
a better state of things than that to
which the war and political
cry had brought their fathers; and
being loyal to their party they have
been kept in its ranks by the esprit
du corps even when they saw il going
whittier they would not have it to- go.
These young men have had few oppor
tunftieS to famfliariZe themselves with
the past, to understand the purposes
of those who inflicted negro suffrage
on the south. indeed it is difficult for
them to realize that in this age of the
civilized world the representatives of
a people who profess and call them
selves Christians could be guilty of
such an u~nmitigated offenSe against
the laws of morality. Nor can they
form any estimate Of the degradation
which has been brought upon us by
that crime.
To these young men 1 appeal. ask
them to keep in mind whose blood Ii
is that courses through their veins;
to remember that they belong 10 a
race which has never willingly bowed
it's neck TO a tyrant; TO never forget
tina their race has never submitted
TO be governed by an inferior race,
and that by the help of God it never
will.
But MIR. Butler and his assistants
are attempting to deter the uniformed
from supporting the proposed amend
ment on the ground that it is "uncon-
stitutional," being in their alleged
Judgment in conflict with the 18TH
amendment. Well; if it is
| tional, it can 500 be so declared, and
| it's passage al do no harm. But now
| does Mr.. Butler kno so much? The
| supreme court of the United States
| decided about 1866 or 1867 that con-
| gress had no constitutional authority
| to make the "greenback' a legal
| tender; out in 1869 or soon thereafter
| that court decided that congress did
| have such a power. Now what would
| Mr.. Buffers opinion on this question
| have been worth before or between
| these two decisions? Just about as
/ much as his present opinion is worth.
| The proposed amendment makes no
| discrimination "On account OF race
| color. or previous condition OF Servi-
tude." Certainly there Is no more
discrimination than there is in Mr..
Buffers plan of comforting on the
white counties of the west the right 20
e1act their own justices of the peace,
commissioners and boards of educa-
ton, while it denies the right to the
negro counties in the east.
But even if there were any reason
able doubt as to its constHtutionailty'
the necessity for its adoption Is so Cd
vious that it passes all understanding
that any self-respecting white man
can vote against it, if he knows any.
thing of the history and he evils OF
3. F. GRADY.