The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-04

to the danger of continuation OF u
state of affnirs where white men nomi-
naliy but not actually rule is this: No
man. no matter what be his color or
party, who depends upon the ignorant.
the Vicious and corrupt for his support
ano elecuon, can escape in the admins
tration OF his office the faint of being
vcious and corrupt himself. Under the
American political party system il Is
not thought an evil for officials to re-
ward with office their friends and sup
po,ters in their own parties. So when
man is elected largely by the ig-
norant and venal voters OF a State he
must be to n certain extent subservient
to them or TO those who control them.
If he is honest and patriotic he knows
to give such men office is fatal TO the
welfare of the people and fruitful OF
scandals upon his own administration.
Yet TO refuse TO do so or to appoint
instead worthy and capable men is to
lose his political influence. which means
that most feared of all things by poll
tlclan. retirement at the end Of his
term of Office. Few men stand the
temptation. Thus administrations de-
pendent Tor srppoet upon an iliterate
constituency are unpopular among the
people. for in endeavOring to avoid an
open endorsement Of incompetency they
compromise good and evil. SO il is
berter to be assured of government
administered by honest and capable men,
to have mn administration dependent
upon the support Of honest and capable
men. And if the proposed amendment
to the Constitution is adopted the people
will always he assured Of this. The
white voters confident that no matter
what party be successful, their affairs
Of state will he honestly and economi-
cally administered will divide upon DO
litical principles just as they have al
ways done in States where the negro
vote does not exist as prominent
factor. That such a division is natural
and necessary to the best administration
of government is apparent from a study
OF the history of the country. 4 con-
segment result would be renewed and con-
stantly increasing activity not only in
political affairs, but also along every lin.
OF business, agricultural commercial and
manufacturing. Great material pros
perity would follow. Every man would
feel perfectly secure in every political
right. Confidence at home would beget
confidence abroad and there would be an
influx of capital into the State. Then
the State would begin rapidly to take
that place among the States of the Union
from which for over thirty years the
unsettled state of her political affairs has
kept her and no which her natural re-
sources entitle her.
To urge the adoption Of the amenarnent
is not an attack upon the principle OF
majority rule. / believe in majority
rule, burt for the good of all the people
and the successful management Of the
affairs of State that rule must be the
rule OF an Intelligent majority. And to
SECURE such rule forever what more po-
TENT than the incentive to all men to
secure an education for their children
Furnished by the ratification of the
amendment. Knowing that after 1908
every man whether white or black, not
on the permanent roll must conform tn
the provisions Vf the article there is Il
great stimulus to- all the children of the
State to learn to read and write at all
hazards that they may be able TO par
ticipate when they become OF age in the
governmental affairs of their State and
country. ta
One other objection urged against the
amendment by its opponents is the provi-
sn concerning the payment of the rndl
tax. They urge that, it is burden that
poverty can not always carry. This OF
all objections to the adoption OF the srti-
Gle seems most trivial. Given from June.
thu month taxes are listed, in one year to
March OF the following year to pay a
poll tax of about two dollars. given by
law an opportunity for relief in cases OF
extreme poverty or distress from his
county commissioners, what self-reSpect-
ing voter can ask from the authorities of
his State greater indulgence in the pay
ment of tax to be used chiefly in edrl-
eating his children and fitting them tor
Intelligent citizenship? The payment Of
the poll tax-about which there should
be no cayil-is q duty owed to the State
by every citizen of every race. And IL
an educational qualification be required
Of voters what more necessary or logi-
cal than that the tax enabling their chill
dlen to meet THAT qualification be coll
fecteti: The educational tax of all taxes
levied is the ONE tax people ought, 1t
seems, ITO be willing and anxious to pay
promptly.
And now having answered, / think.
properly some OF the objections urged
against the adoption of the amendment.
and having advanced some reasons why
| favor its ratification, let me appeal tn
men of all parties for the good OF all
parties to lay aside passion and pre1u-
dice i'm it's consideration. For more than
thirty years there has been strife and
turmoil every election year between the
races 1t has become evident to all men
that in governmental affairs one race
or the other must be supreme. The set
tlt1rle1M Of this race question IS the one
great problem of the South. That it must
be settled finally i'm favor Of the white
race no one who has read the inspiring
history of the Anglo-Saxon people can
for one moment doubt. Though being
Republican, having always given my
best labor to that party, for what be
lieve to be for the ultimate good of that
marty, for what believe to be for the
highest interests of the negro race and
above all for what | believe to be the
duty Of citizen of North Carolina who
loves his State I shall vote for the rati-
fication of this proposed amendment to
her Constitution that ! may aid others
Of my fellow-citizens in what trust is
the final settlement Of this much-vexed
question and in removing the last bar to
the progress Of the State, and the peace