The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-05-10

tons make complete, constitutional
operative scheme? Yes. Now, II you
put this section back into the amend
ment, what Ii the result? A conflict.
The fifth section then. owing to legal
circumstances, must fan, and the re-
mainder OF the amendment must stand.
This position Is backed by Constitu-
tional lawyer conceded TO be the ablest
in the United tSates-ex-Senator Ell
munds OF Vermont; Senators Allen,
Pettigrew, Teller, Stewart, all able and
honorable men, hold TO the same po-
sition. The empire State Of the South
in its last Legislature voted down
similar amendment and as one of its
reasons because il believed IL To be IN
constitutional. According to a former
promise these facts alone will defeat
the amendment
In the consideration Of proposition 2
would the amendment carry out the
purpose which il claimed for It? Viz:
| To eliminate the negro from politics,
without endangering the vote OF white
men, Il il seen at once that the latter
clause Of this purpose qualities the for
mer 20 far as the intent Of the Sta "
is concerned. This clause as has been
| seen, must he amended affirmatively.
| That the vote OF white men will be en-
gendered. Therefore both In effect II
law and in the intent Of the people the
| clause TO eliminate the negro from poll
/ tics becomes void.
| The amnedment fails Of its apparent
| purpose in one other respect, in that
| II no one but the negro should be dis
| franchised part Of his race would
continue TO vote and could hold office
land that the most disagreeable ele-
ment-the younger generation because
a part OF the present negro voting pop
ulation can read and write as prescribed
IN section of the amendment. Hence
the amendment fails Of Its apparen,
purpose from a two-fold point Of view
and added to this it Is fraught with
serious danger to the State. which
will be seen inanswer to proposition 3.
Does the amendment tend toward TIN
growth OF Democracy? In a word tha
State 81 the farthest on the road 70 az
ideal Democracy when the people, n
the free exercise Of their rights, arr
the farthest removed from the infuen :,
and power Of designing politicians. Thi
extended influence and power may be il
Illustrated by the fact that that part!
which is in power and has the o
pointment Of examining boards for tn
, test Of the ability to read and write
=. | such boards are able to make the tes
not the ability to read and write, bu
the test, "Will you vote my ticket :?
Such a power is dangerous in the hand
If any political party. Democracy nm
, der this arrangement instead OF grow
ing and developing. would deteriora
two stages and land inevitably in tina
, form Of government known as ii
oligarchy--a corrnnted aristocracy.
, rrorosition 4. Would the amendme n
. ma terially benefit the whole State?
, follows that II this instrument is 70 pre-
Auce an oligarchy, then the corporations
railroad attorneys and government off
. Gals only Will be benefited. and thes
= have not common cause with the cres
MASSES of the people Of North Carr
lra.
The reader. in the face Of these fact
y must be the ndge as to whether II
G nronosn1 amendment to the Constitute
q Of North Carolina is n political schn
,. ont ~ which can come no good, 81
o momnntou evil
W IT. TY'iER.