The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-27
ASIAN ECONOMIC MEASURE.

The Messenger recently showed that
as an economical measure-to save the
taxpayers from pillage and extrava-
gance and to preserve intact the credit
of the state of North Carolina-the pro-
posed amendment to the constitution
of the state vas of the highest inn
portance. 1t would have saved North
Carolina more than $40, 900, 900 since 1867.
If that amendment had been the law
all along. The carpet-baggers and
their vile scallawag allies, unaided by
the ignorant, corrupt negroes, could
never have piled up that mountain
high public debt of $780, 900, 900 in less
than one year. Nor would the extrav-
agance, waste, plunderings of other
years until the state was completely
redeemed from barbaric rule under the
noble, mastery Vance's leadership In
1876, have ever occurred. If that
amendment a been in force during
the people from all Of the stealings and
wastefulness and shameful abuses and
profanations and damning scandals.
1t would have been indeed a wondrous
measure of public economy. 1t would
have shielded the grand old state from
many a crime and many an outrage
and the most pitiless robberies and in
famies.
The amendment is the shortcut way
to reform in all departments. 1t means
a severer public economy, accompan-
led, however, with broader views and
nobler plans for the relief CT appalling
illiteracy n for the extension and
enlargement of the facilities n adj
vantages of the common schools for
all-for the negro as we'll as the white.
The domination of ignorance was
ruinous. 1t meant spoiatlon ano
crime. 1t meant the enslavement Oh
ignorant %unlettered negroes to the will
an of eager, bold, ravenous
white leaders. 1t meant pillage ano
rprofiigacy, power and plumber, lying
and lawlessness, terror and traltor1sm
sauciness and savagery, robberies ano
revolutions. The negro's power tC
vote in his complete incompetency
meant that he should play servil'
part as the tool of the mean white me
who were bent Ion the make ant
careless as to how it was done so l
was done. The amendment Will re
lease him from bondage, give him OPP
,portunities of education, deprive hin
of the means of destroying industries
impoverishing the state and drivin;
out capital. 1t will prevent p~eculation
frauds and wastefulness in govern
ment. 1t will be a great economl
measure of relief and protection.
The gifted eloquent Locke Graf
in an article he wrote some time ag
upon the Evils of Ignorant Negro Sui
frage," said this towards the close {
his discussion, and said it impressively
1.-The adoption of this amendmer
means a purer political life in Mort
Carolina. 1t means that the necesslt
of the fierce and bitter race struggle
of the past will cease; that ruin an
degradation will no longer threaten OF
state and her institutions Though VI
written i'm the established law of tn
land that white men shall make an
administer the Jaws. Its humar
Justice has been demonstrated by TT
bitter experiences of h past Not
write it in the constitution would |
to shrink from responsibility. to n
calamity, to encourage d~isrespect Il
law, and decentralization to posterlt
of our state, to transmit to posterizt
the settlement of the race question
a more aggravated form. VINO
North Carolina Toe not believe
white supremacy. Then now snaA
be established. If not by constitution
amendment? That it will be is as IL
eyitable as the decree of Him WI
built the pillars Of the world