The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-30
THE AMENDMENT
WILL Be RATIFIED
Under the Flag of White
Rule Well Win.
APPEALS TO PREJUDICE
REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING
THEM But IN VAIN.
THE PEOPLE CANNOT Be DECEIVED
The Amendment viii Disfranchise no White
Man Because Of His Inability to Read and
Write. Capt. R. B. Glenn Writes
a. ~
TO Chairman Simmons.

to Chairman Simmons.
Hon. r. b. Glenn, Of Winston one OF
the States strongest lawyers and best
known citizens has given his views OF the
constitutional amendment in the fo.fow-
ing interesting open letter:
Winston. n. c., Jan. %, 1900.
Hon. T.. NJ. Simmons, Chairman Demo-
cratic Executive Committee.
Nv Dear Sir:-The old adage, In time
Of peace, prepare for war;" doubtless APP
plies with equal force and good sense
to political struggles as to real battles,
still il has seemed best to me after d
heated campaign TO allow time for re-
Election and a return TO business. before
again agitating the voters mind by new
issues Therefore when last fall, | was
requested by you TO give my views on
the Constitutional Amendment, l replied,
that | would wait until the campaign
opened by the holding OF conventions,
and then on the stump would willingly
do all / could for good government, in
North Carolina.
Since our opponents however have
commenced work, and are busy -ircI'rF-
ing every kind of malicious and foolish
report 10 influence and prejudice the
minds of the people, think it time for
all good citizens TO bestir themselves
TO expose these falsehoods by showing
The voters, what are the true facts In
the case. As a sample OF these niisrefr
reservations. I was asked by prom
nent Republican if il WAS true t''at
the members Of the Legislature had
=. -
amendment, and when they met intended
to repeal it, and then immediately adj
iourn. Answering such false charges,
and without attempting from legal
standpoint, to argue the amendment II
having been heretofore so fully con-
strued by able and conscientious lawyers,
| will briefly give the history that led
to it's passage, and then all sensible
men will appreciate the utter fruitless-
ness Of the assertion that the Legisla-
ture is ashamed of this, its greatest
work and most commendahle act.
Need | recall 10 any truthful mind
the condition Of affairs prior 70 the
election of 1898? Negro domination being
made possible by Fusion success in 1894
and '9G, must / take your time by pic
turing the outrages. committed in the
soon, the mis-rule in Ncwbern, Green
vile. Wilmington and other places, with
its blighting and ruinous effects upon
the liberties and property of our .citi-
Zens? Knowing as we do that ladies
were insulted. children knocked from the
streets, and white men hand-cuffed and
dragged to Jail on slight pretext by ne
gro policemen, while negro justices.
county officers and school committeeman
disgraced their Offices, and did all in
their power to humiliate and degrade
the white men and women of or- 'and,
how can we Shut our eyes to the truth
that negro rule was once Il real Y?
With these, and even more horrible
facts known TO Senator Pritchard 10
he true. and seeing as he has. negro
insolence in his conventions, and among
their office holders. how could he for
get his manhood. and the high position
he occupies, to denounce the t-ue MEL
of his own race, and declare that "the
negro has never been offensive. tut
was q prey to the vicious Democrats o.:
his State?" Personally, ! ilaye alyay =
liked the Senator, but i'll his zeal he has
forgotten himself, and in slandering and
maligning his State and his friends. made
n record that some day lie will he
heartily ashamed Of. Such conduct as
given above. Joined to the mismanage-
ment of a State administration that by
its disgraceful conduct won for itself
the new name of "Russellsm,' caused
all the loyal men. irrespective OF party
TO arise and put the seal of condemna
ton on the outrage made possible ~
negro rule.
Our oldest citizens never before wit
messed such campaign. Aged men, wht
for years had taken no interest in poll
tics. dragged themselves to public gath
eriuga. and aided by their counsel ant
influence.
True Christian women took lively
interest in the conflict, and when they
could doJlIothing else. humbly prayed thu
God Of Right TO be with us in this strus
gle for the States honor and glory.
On election day, such scene was
never beheld as we then Witnessed
Long before sunrise. merchants. farm
ers. lawyers, mechanics. doctors ant
ministers of the gospel were ut then
voting precincts. to make every possible
effort to win the day. and the Creek
at Marathon We're not more determined
TO conquer the PersianS or die han OIL
people were determined to wrest the
government out of the hands of eorrup
and incompetent men.
We were fighting for our liberties, on,
homes, the safety of our dear ones. ana
the protection Of our State, and there
fore no insults, no threats deferred IL:
from doing our duty.
The victory was ours the people won
negro domination forever overhrown
and white supremacy inaugurated i'll at,
stead.
The Legislature Overwhelmingly Dem
ocratic. met in Raleigh, January. 1899
hearing the highest Of all commissions
a commission from the people, and in
structed by them to enact such AZ
amendment as would forever forbid de
signing men from ruling the State.
There were some who favored extreme
measures. for God knows we had borne