The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-06-14

tard.d the progress OF the whites. Con
seauentlv. from that cause. and Others
connected with his misuse OF the ballot.
bal feelings have been engendeled be
tween the races. So the ballot that
should never have been given him. Ger
tanly not until h. was fit to Use 1t. does
him no harm. except to his feelings. III
being taken away. | would not Tor 4
moment hold that the members OF the
Democratic party are blameless. Tor they
are not. for we have. as has all parties
trick>ters, demagOgues and other bad
men among us. And. Us Mr.. John K.
Webster truly says, the Democratic
party * not ii perfect party because COM
posed OF imperfect men. but it is the best
party the sun shines on. nevertheless,
and the same thing a. applied to the Dem
ocratic party is applicable to the white
race.
Undoubtedly the danger OF irresponsible
rule in the State has retarded material
progress by keeping away capital and
desirable home seekers. us well as in
many other ways.
No.. cannot think there is as much dan
ger from bad rule by from 10000 to
80. 600 negro voters as from 100000 to
100 900. OF course. no man can tell
what split may come III the whites non
what the future may have III store for us
but we do know that now the danger OF
bad rule on this account is eyer present
with us.
One of the best features OF the amend
ment is the educational one-dcnying the
ballot to every boy not OF age i'll time to
register once before December ] st 1908
unless he learns to read ana write This
will stimulate parents to send their chill
drcn to school. and consequently many
boys will acquire an education who other
Wise would never have known Il letter i'll
| book. besides the thousands of boys
| and incidentally girls, that will get sont
education. It's useless 10 name to any
man who has Il thinking machine in use
and especially one OF your superior abll
lty, the advantages OF an education III
| this progressive age. \ few days ago a
| man was objecting to the educational
| requirement for the boy who is not OF
age by December LIST. 1908. saying he
| could not spare his children from work
| to attend the free school. Being reminded
| OF his duty us parent he owed them, ht
| said he would try to send them. but sale
| suppose | should die and leave my wife
| and several little children. | could bu1
think that. holding the views he did edu
catinnally. suppose the rife should die
then would pity his poor little children
| for it $ Il matter OF fact that the iHOther
| are more anxious to educate and other
| wise elevate their children than TIN
fathers are. and will do it. too. if lef
alone In proof OF this YOU see poo
| widow LETT with a lot of little children
and everybody says. Poor woman
| what is going to become OF her and TIL
children?" Well they have Il hard tim
of it. but they pull through some how o
other, omd tie childran oH 90 to school. TIL
| parent who will not send his children t
school, at least long enough to learn t
every community, should be made by h
| parent, Tor lawful cOrrector) the Stat,
to do so. for the State makes him feet
clothe and care for in sickness the bod
OF his child. and should not let him periS
its mind, especially when the State full
nishes the mind food free.
Even the Republican party that did tn
irreparable wrong in giving the ne9r
the ballot in the South, virtually acknow
edges it now by discriminating again>
them, in this respect. in our newt
acquired territory.
L
is reasonable and just to the voter, fC
then poll tax is a lien only on assesse
property. SO a man who has no assesse
property is not compelled by law to pa
poll tax. but ii he does not pay poll ia
unless tax free or eNcusedforphysical di
| ability. he does not vote. And the ah
bodied men who are really too poor t
pay this tax are very, very few and al
to be pited. but the able bodied men VIII
will not pay this tax, because not con
PEELED to. are many times more, and thes
men who could but will not pay the
goes to the public schools from which Il
poor get, and should get. the most ben
fit then such person, be he white ,
black, read or unread cannot and shOu
not vote.
With the adoption of the amendmel
one would feel confident of the State b
ing in safe hands. with either party elec
ed. consequently would feel free to exc
else his politics in National matters-n,
change my National politics.
, With apology for such long intrinsic
, on your time and with high regard, AZ
Very truly yours.
e. l.. BLACkNALL
| An exchange heads an article c
the Chinese affair: Fine prospe
) for a miNup." and that makes fiji
prospect for divide up.-Raleie
| POSI-