The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-05-10
CoMPA RIsOx nETwEKN CANDI-
DATES.

their oaths trampled under foot,
and now while appealing to you to
assist In their nefarious scheme TO
disfranchise thousands OF white
men in North Carolina, they are
holding out the promise that under
their control the public school sys-
tenn shall become more efficient, Its
scope be extended to months The
Constitution already commands 4
months schooling, and the Demo
cratic party only promises to carry
ont the Constitutional provision.
That promise Is made with the self.
evident purpose Of deceiving the
poor struggling white parents who
realize fully that after 1908 their
children coming of age will have
no more voice In the affairs of their
State than II they were Beers In
South Africa. How refreshing 1t Is
to hear these Democratic Office
seekers bowling for better schools
and promising to obey the Consti
tuition, when in the last legislature
they passed bills In absolute disre
gard Of that very Constitution as
the highest court In the State has
declared. According to figures pre-
sented by superintendent Of Public
Instruction Mebane, illiteracy stea-
Oily increased under Democratic
rule from 1870 to 1890. What as
surance have you that the Demo
cratic party will do differently in the
future from It's record In the past 7
Have the leaders chsngedi Has the
party been regenerated Can the
same old leopard change Its spotsi
Indeed every promise OF the Dem.
ocratic party to improve the school
system has been discounted by the
party itself. A few months since the
Democratic press OF North Carolina
resounded with praises OF Superin-
tendent Mebane and his official
course. They admitted that he had
built up the public schools and full
some praise was bestowed on him.
Mr.. Mebane had conducted his Of
fee In an earnest, sincere and thor
oughly non.partisan manner, and
this was approved by the press be-
fore the Democratic State Conven.
ton met. Mr.. Mebane's views on
State issue concerned with the
sentiment Of the Democratic ring,
and he therefore announced that he
would not accept a denomination
except from the Democratic party.
Did the Democratic party then
show its sincerity to the public
schools by endorsing and re-nomi.
mating Mr.. Mebane? Not on your
life; but they deliberately hooted
him down, did not utter one word
in their platform endorsing his adj
ministration, but: deliberately re-
pudiated his course when they
nominated as his successor man
who Is totally unknown to the
teachers and pupils Of North Car
oltna, who has not participated In
the recent educational campaigns.
All honor to the Confederat soldier;
we rejoice to SEE the old soldiers
recognized, but the course Of the
Democratic party In naming for
Superintendent eff Public Instruc-
ton. q man whose only claim to
recognition, according to the nomi.
mating speeches, was his gallant
war record, Is nothing short Of q
crime against the poor children of
the State. How Is the Democratic
candidate trying to At himself for
the duties and responsibilities OF
this important position' As an an
swer read the following in the &C.
count of the Democratic rally al
Wilmington, published In the
Evening Dispatch (Dem.) Of that
city:
"Mr. J. C. Steven son was called
upon to Introduce Gen. Thomas F
loon, Of Robson, candidate for Su.
perintendent of Public instruction.
Mr.. Stevenson complimented Gen.
ToOn's record in the civil war. Gen.
Toon referred in terms Of gratitude
to the action of the Democratic
State Convention in recognizing In
him the Confederate soldier, now
passing away. He expressed his
sympathy with the objects aimed
at by the constitutional amend.
ment, and pledged himself to ex-
tend and improve the public school
system"
Ye gods, what a spectacle! The
party Of brains and intelligence
nominated q man for Superinten-
dent Of Instruction whose only
qualification Is that he could kill |
Yankees thirty-five years ago. su-
perintendent Mebane had referred |
to the great army of school children !
In the State. So the Democratic Oar.
ty thought that they needed a SOL
der, not an educator. to drill them.
We are panied to see North Car
DINA take backward step. When
Superintendent Mebane was nomi.
mated, the Populists realized that
the Office was too SACRED to be made
3 reward Of party spoile. SUI
perintendent Mebane was never
asked to, and he never did, make a
political speech. He entered upon |
his duties free from the faint OF
politics. He gave the best admin