The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-01-04
"DANGEROUs AND UNCONsTITU-
TIONAL."


.DANGEROUs AND UNCONsTITU-
TIONAL."
The New Orleans Times Democrat,
the leading Democratic paper in Lou
isana, has several times admitted
that the DISTINGUISHING constitutions
al amendm ent adopted by that state
unconstitutional and has further ex-
pressed regret that the state adopted
it. That paper in recent editorial.
discussing the proposed disfranchis-
ing amendment In this state, which
was copied from the Louisiana
scheme, says:
"The people of North Carolina
will vote in August on the proposed
constitutional amendment disfran-
chising the negroes from voting. and
which contains the famous grand
father clause" borrowed from the
Louisiana Constitution.
1t seemed probable at first that
this amendment would be adopted
with but little opposition, but there
seems 10 have been some change of
sentiment in North Carolina since
the legislature submitted the 81 ffrage
amend ment to the vote of the peo-
pie, especially since the action of the
Georgia legislature on the suffrage
question. This opposition is not to
the principle of the disfranchisement
of the negro voters. but to the meth
cd by which it is proposed to get rid
of that vote-by the grandfather
clause" and the possibility of its
leading to Congressional legislation
to reduce the representation of the
Southern States. An opposition to
the suffrage amendment has been
organic d, led by Senator Butler,
Chairman Holton, Of the Repu blIcan
State Central Committee, and 9th
ers. An att. mpt will be made to in
duce the legislature, when meets in
June, before the people have a
chance to vote on the question, to
withdraw the amendms Mt, in much
the same manner as Gov. johnson
of Alabama induced the legislature
Of that State to withdraw Us call for
q Constitutional Convention intend
ed to change the suffrage system of
the State and disfranchise the ne.
groes. IL the General Assembly will
not act the question will be carried
before the people, and an effort will
be made to defeat the amendment in
the popular vote, as was done in
Louisiana IN 1896.
Whether the movement will sue.
coed or not it is impossible to say.
The grandfather clause which
the Louisiana Constitutional Con
vention invented, is objected to as OF
doubtful const;tutionality, contain
ing the elements of great danger anG
altogether unnecessary. 1t does mo-
get rid of single negro vote; its on
ly feet is to make voters of those
few whites who can neither read no1
write and who own no property ant
pay no taxes. This class of the
white population is fortunately, very
small in the South, as is shown by
the permanent roll in Louisiana o.
such voters, and there is strong
feeling that these voters are no
worth the risk of having the Con
gressional and electoral representa-
ton of the Southern States cut dowr
one-half and their political strength
reduced to the same extent. THIS j.
the .xplana' ion of the movement il
North Carolina against the suffrag,
amendment and of the defeat of tn,
Hardwick suffrage bill IN Georgia.
The theory that the opposition t.
the grandfather clause comes from
the Republicans is wholly untrue
The Northern Democrats have unan
mously decl4r, d against this plan o
DISTINGUISHING the negro as uncon
stiturional."
Thus it will be seen that the lead
ing Democratic paper in the onl,
State which has adopted this "grant
father clause" disfranchising schem,
admits outright that it is not onl.
unconstitutional, but also "contain
elements of great danger" This i
exactly what The CAUCASIAN ha
contended all the time.
Surely the Democrats of Nortl
Carolina should listen to and prof
by the advice of the leading Demo
cratic paper in Louisiana as to thu
wisdom of adopting this monstrou
absurdity. IL the Democratic ma
chine will not, then surely the Dem
ocratic voters will. Why risk tn
elements of great danger" whicl
the Times-Dsmocrat says that it con
tainsf