The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-02


lieve that when the amendment goes
into operation, thousands of men who
now vote the Democratic ticket will
join the Republican party because
they think thousands are really in "a
vor of Republican principles, but vote
the Democratic ticket because of the
"nigger racket" We do not entertain
this view, but there is no doubt a
small class of very respectable men
who believe in protection and the
gold STANDARD and in a centralized gov
eminent may unite with the Repub-
lican party after the amendment goes
into operation. Certainly, the amend
ment relieves white Republicans of
any party composed of four negroes
to one white man, and it may be that
the time will come when there will
be "a respectable Republican party
in North Carolina. But it will not
come, if it ever comes, in a State that
voted four times for Jefferson, until
the present leaders are retired.
There are some Populists who favor
the amendment because they believe it
will give their party a chance to
grow. AS a matter of fact, however,
the Populist party in North Carolina
has practically ceased to exist. In
1896, when Butler sold it out to elect
gold bugs and a. negro to Congress,
the vote was reduced from $4,000 to
10000, and in 1898 when he sold it out
again to the same enemies of every
thing the Populist party declares for,
the Populists lost nearly all the bal
ance of their vote. This year, when
the supremest question, question
whether a man believes in ending ne
gro rule or the jeopardy of negro
rule, was to be passed on, Butler sold
his party out again to the Republi-
cans. But, thanks to the intelligence
and patriotism of the POpulists, he
could not carry the Populists into the
Republican camp, and few of them
will vote against the amendment.
However, if the time should come
when the Populist party under new
and clean leaders, should wish to
fight for its principles, the passage OF
the amendment would give them an
opportunity of submitting their cause
to a. white electorate without having
100000 negroes ready to vote against
every reform and everything else not
labelled Republican"
Whatever may be the result of the
passage of the amendment on politi-
cal parties-and no prediction is more
than an opinion without experience
to give it weight-one thing is sure:
The white people will rule North Car
DINA for the next twenty years. While
we believe that the white people will
we do not hesitate to say that we
would prefer rule by some other par
ty if necessary to put an end to the ter
rible strain that has rested upon the
voters of North Carolina since 1892
The amendment enfranchises white
men who have had their votes killed
for thirty years By the vote of unfit
negro voters, and it will end the neces
sity for the strenuous and bitter cam
paigns which have endangered the
peace of the State. 1t will give {
! mighty impetus to public education
to public morals, take away the trade
of the demagogue who has
been encouraged to make trou
| BILE by the knowledge tina
he can rely upon the big solid negro
vote. It will not only be best for the
white man but will be best also fol
| the thrifty negro. 1t will do much
| to break down the harsh race antag
onisms, and will enable the white mar
and the negro to live on terms OF
| friendship, each in his own separate
| sphere. But-day by day for eigh
teen months the arguments in favor
of this amendment have been elabo
rated in these columns, and it is not
our purpose, on this day when the
| eyes of all the country rest upor
North Carolina, to say more than:
Finally, Brethren:
VOTE EARLY.
SEE THAT YOUR NEIGHBOB
VOTES.
GET THE SIGN. INFIRM AMI
| AGED TO THE POLLS.
DO ALL YOU CAN TO GET OUT
A FULL VOTE SO THAT THE
AMENDMENT WILL HAVE A MA
JORITY OF $4,000.
Ordinarily a majority of one hun.
dred is as good as 100000, but in this
vote the carrying of the amendment
by decisive and sweeping majority
will have such weight that the little
pettifogging politicians who have been