The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-28
SALE OF THE GAZETTE.

On Thursday of last week, in a
speech delivered before Democratic
meeting in the opera house at Ashe-
vile, Mr. Aft. S. Barnard president of
the White Supremacy club, repeated
a charge that has often been made in
North Carolina, to-wit, that the edi-
tor of the Asheville Gazette had sold
out to the Republicans.
BY way of reply the aforesaid edi-
names and added:
No gentleman would utter in public
such serious imputations as those
without the most ample proofs of the
tfaath of what he utters. We give a.
S. B9rnard three days in which to
produce these proofs. He will do this
or stand publicly branded as a liar
and sneak.
Taking the Gazette at its word, Mr..
Barnard on Monday sent the Gazette
a letter i'm which he set forth the
proofs of this charge. This letter
Editor Norton denounces as "a lie out
of the whole cloth and the writer of
it as "a cowardly sneak"
Mr.. Barnard's letter, after stating
the words that he used at the meet
ing, is as follows:
When men meet for disreputable
purposes, and enter into dishonorable
/, contracts, they do not assemble on the
public square. They choose dark
corners and take every precaution
that their meetings and their deeds
shall be kept secret. 1t is, therefore,
always difficult to adduce positive
proof of such transactions, but my
statement was based upon the follow
ing facts and circumstances, which
convince me of its truth:
First. During the campaign of 1898
the Gazette was violent advocate of
.''White Supremacy" and proclaimed
itself a Democratic paper In Octo-
her, 1898, it published an editorial adj
vocating an educational qualification
for suffrage, applicable to all voters,
taking the position that both ignorant
negroes and illiterate whites should
be disfranchised. There has been no
change in voting conditions in this
State since 1898. but there has been
n very sudden and complete change
in the attitude of the Gazette. 1t now
bitterly opposes the Constitutional
Amendment because as it contends,
it will diSfranchiSe the illiterate white
man. the very thing the Gazette for
merly advocated. There is no public
reason for this change, therefore we
may fairly assume there is a private
reason.
Second Tn the last campaign this
same paper denounced the practice of
coloniZing Illegal negro voters in
North Carolina. In the present cam
paign 1T charges all the election
frauds to the Democrats, and extols
the Republican party as having all the
fairness and honesty. Here is another
radical change without any apparent
reason.
Third. In 1898 the Gazette ardently
admired and supported the men and
policies that it now condemns. 1t is
now supporting the very men and
measures that it then opposed. In its
issue of February 3, 1899, the Gazette
spoke in it's editorial columns as fol-
lows: 1--WE claim no knowledge that
would cause us to take issue with such
men as Judge Connor, Judge Round
tree, Mr.. Winston, Mr.. Stubbs, Mr..
Simmons and james Ii. Pou, who are
all lawyers. and who. after giving
much time to the consideration of the
proposed Amendment advance it as
the solution of the suffrage problem
in this State"
And again on February 4 we find
this: I'VE have faith that the intelli-
gent and influential men who have
the suffrage matter in charge will pre-
sent to the General Assembly a bill
that will satisfy all elements OF the
party in control, ana to which the
white voters of the State will give
their cordial support"
This changed attitude Of the Gazette
can be accounted for by the following
facts, of which l am reliably inform
ed and which / believe can be estab-
lished in the courts:
First Tn 1898 the Republican lead
ers and the editor of the Gazette had
practically agreed upon a proposition
by which, in consideration of $500,
the Gazette was to render certain SER
vice to the Republican party. This
agreement was not consummated by
reason of the opposition of an infiuen-
tial Republican who lives in Bum
combe county.
Second. 1t is known that in 1898
the Gazette was in desperate financial
circumstances, and applied to promi-
nent Democrats for financial aid.
About this time the editor of the Ga
zette went to Marshall, in company
with Colonel V S. Llsk, and the two
went Immediately to the office of Sen