The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-23
MEEK AS A LITTLE LAMB
THE VICIOUS DEMOCRATS HAVE
PREYED UPON HIM.
DEMOCRATIC NOT WHITE MANS PARTY
TO Crowded Senate For Two and Half Hours
Pritchard Abused the White Men of the
State, Declaring They Wish to
Destroy Popular Government

Washington, u. c., Jan. 22.-(SpecialJ
Senator Pritchard today delivered his
speech in the Senate in advocacy OF his
resolution declaring the proposed amend
ment TO the Constitution of North Caro-
lima is in conflict with the 10th amend
ment of the United States Constitution.
The entire House delegation remained on
the floor of the Senate throughout the
speech. Senator Prtchard began his
speech at 1890 and concluded at 3 p.
ent and the galleries were crowded.
About fifty visiting North CarOhnians,
many Republican leaders among them,
occupied front seats in the Senate gal
leries
The speech of Senator Pritchard was
throughout rather a reply to the speech
of Senator Morgan than an independent
discussion cf the amendment and he also
quoted copiously from newspapers and
speakers Of North Carolina just previous
to the election OF 1898. He addressed
himself mainly to showing that the pro-
posed amendment would conflict with the
United States Constitution, suggested
that part might be held constitutional
and part unconstitutional. and expressly
declared that it is the intention of the
proposed amendment to disfranchise the
uneducated. whites as well as the blacks.
He made frequent and caustic refer
erices to Chairman Simmons and other
prominent Democrats.
Mr.. Pritchard agreed that the ques-
tiOn involved the peace and welfare OF
the nation and the stability of our in
stitutions. The Constitution in plain.
mandatory and unequivocal language,
guaranteed to each State a republican
form of Government. But according TO
Mr.. Morgan'S contention, said Mr..
Pritchard. the Constitution could be
violated if it became necessary to vio-
late it in order to maintain Democratic
rule in the South. That was nullifica-
ton. pure and simple.
'fIf the Senator from Alabama Is
right" said Mr. Pritchard, lin his con-
tention that the negro is not entitled
to exercise the elective franchise. the
Democratic party should have the man
hood to propose the abrOgation of the
fifteenth amendment. This would af-
ford the people of the United States an
opportunity to pass upon the question
the only lawful method by which the
colored people can be deprived Of the
rights which are now guaranteed them
by said amendment"
Mr.. Prtchard then declared that the
result of the adoption of the amendment
would be the curtailment Of North Caro-
fina's representation in Congress. lie
denied that the Republican party had
forced negro suffrage upon the South
and said he could show that the Demo
cratic party was mainly responsible for
it. He said that there is Il manifest
disposition in North Carolina to ignore
the liberty of the individual and 10
invade the right of property. and that it
has been the intention OF the Demo
cratic party ever since 1868 to disfran-
chise ''the poor and illiterate white peo-
pie of the State" In order at last to
accomplish this he declared that the
amendment has been framed and an
election law passed with the sole view
of manipulating the election and thwart-
ing the will of the people"
Mr.. Pritchard then passed TO dis
eussion of the constitWtiOnality of the
proposed amendment He said it is
as clearly unconstitutional as though it
declared that no one of African descent
should be entitled to vote He cited
long list Of decisions as tending to show
how the Supreme Court of the United
States will regard the question and de-
MED that there is any similarity between
the proposed amendment and the amend
ment of the constitution Of MasSachu
sets. The former he characterized as
a "well devised scheme to forever pre-
vent the common people from participat-
ing in the government Of the State"
To the provision requiring the voter to
pay his poll tax the Senator devoted
particular attention. saying it was his
information that the trainers of the
amendment after they had inserted the
educational qualification became alarm
cd lest our poor people should all learn
10 read and write" and so put in the
poll tax clause.
The speaker stoutly denied that there
has ever been any danger of negro
domination in North Carolina" The
negroes" he declared. ''have never acted
Extensively nor have they shown dis
nosition to interfere with the white peo-
nle in the management of State affairs
II is true that there are exceptions, but
in no instance has the conduct II the
negro been Of such nature as TO chal-
lence the SERIOUS consideration of the