Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1900-01-25
BUTLER'S ARGUMENT.
Vigorous Reply 10 His Letter to Mr.
Wilcox,
HIS PRESENT POSITION

On the Constitutional Amendment
The FaIIacies of His Reasoning Are
Fully Exposed.
Senator Butler has published in The
caucasian OF January letter to Mr.
George Wilcox. defining his position
IN reference to the Constitutional
amendment. In brief. he says that he
has seen much OF the evils OF the race
issue being injected into politics; that
the Democratic leaders have used tho
race issue as 4 most effective barrier
to the advancement Of the PRINCIPLES
OF the Peoples party. and. IN fact. 10
prevent any independent thought or
action along any line; and he says. in
effect. that the Democratic leaders do
rot desire TO remove the race scare
crow from campaigns" To do so
from their standpoint he says. would
be foolish
Again. he remarks that while he
knew that they did not. in submitting
the amendment intend to rob them.
selves of their only effective campaign
issue by removing the negro cry from
! politics, yet | decided if the proposed
amendment was constitutional ana
would result in any way in making il
less possible for then 10 use that DEM
, agc3lcal and dishonest cry. 2ni II there
were no danger lurking behind il. that
J | would support i. or at least NO. ac,
! lively oppose il.
Senator Butler then proceeds 10
point Out-frst. that under the amentl-
] ment the country negroes will be dis
franchised while the town negroes
will not be: that about fifty thousand
negroes will not be disfranchiseC-
among them the town negroes. And
he objects that the town negro can not
only vote, but still can held Office He
insists therefore that the race is1ue'
viii still be kept, alive.
REMARKS
The Constitutional amendment vas
uot proposed, as Mr Butler seems TO
think, as q partisan measure. 1t WAS
proposed TO remedy 4 great evil and
accomplish a great patriotic object It
was proposed to eliminate the bane-
full and runous influence Of irraspca-
sible negro suffrage A large part Of
! the negro population is as every ore
knows utterly unfit for popular SUI
and their want Of natural capacity;
ard fer these reasons their voting
power is a menace TO the best interest
Of the people Of North Carolina. The
amendment is>jntsnded to cure that
evil. If the adoption Of the amend
.neu+ does not entirely remove tho
race issue it Will become Of but lite
I Importance.
Mr.. Butter seems to think the greet
evil CT the day il North Carolina IS
the race issue. we think the great
evil OF the day IS the fact that a mai
t:t'lde Of ignorant and irresp pOnsioie
negroes exercise SO much power at tAe
polls and pollllte publc affairs. 10.
only IN their strCnghOlds. but through
! out the STATE: that they ard few
mean leaders. by their political action
blight the prosperity OF the State, aaa
IN many sections make the si.u3.Ien
OF white families within 1hei; .nfI-
ence UnbearaDle.
Mr. But.er says that ne had 30
cided that ii adopting the amendment
would result III any3 way II making il
less possible for the Democrats -
raise the negro cry anA ii there We're
no danger lurking rs mind i. thai ~
would supp0rt tho amendment, ~ ~
least not oppose it.
Not once does hc advert % -1o
/ grievances and public evils that tie
! amend neat IS Intended TO remedy 9-sI
cure Always with him j; is partisan
] politics. partisan politics. partisan p3l-
tiles.
The race issue. n says nalcs
I against the Peoples Party. ana re
wouI ,herefora Oe. willing TO >er the