The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-07-05
HON W. D. TURNER.
HE SPOKE TO A LARGE .Rowu,
Makes Strong Appeals To Whit c
Men.

| Men,
Last Monday night was the first speak.
ing heard inSco:land Neck touching thu
interests OF Tie present campaign
On that evening Hon. w. D. Turner,
of Statesvllle, Democratic nominee for
Lieutenant Governor, spoke to large
crowd in the lawn tennis court on the
DR.. Wood lot.
The Scotland Neck band struck up
lively music about s is o'clock and
soon the crowd common ced to gather.
They came from the town and the
country, and In the crowd there were
many ladies.
The speaker was introduced by Mr..
W. A. Dunn in the usual good taste be
displays on such occasions. Mr.. Dunn
said that perhaps the most Important
issue ever before the people of No rth
Carolina is before them now. He re-
ferred to the great Democratic conven-
ton in Raleigh in April, and said the
wisdom of the white people of North
Carolina there combined to nominate
good men on the State ticket, and the
speaker Of the evening M. Turner,
was one OF the nominees OF this great
convention. "When you have heard
him" said Mr.. Dunn, "you will be
convinced that that convention made
no mistake" He then presented Mr..
| Turner, who spoke for about an hour
and half.
! From his first sentence he seemed
at home On the topics which he dis
cussed. His spesch was confined for
the most part to the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution.
The speaker began by declaring
that the amendment is constitutional,
showing good reasons for his conclus-
ions. He then took up the question
as it relates to the disfranchlsement of
the white men of the State. He de-
| clared and proved it by the most care
fully Knit logic, that the amendment
will not disfranch1se single white
man in North Carolina. It will give
every white man In the State the
privilege to vote, however ignorant OF
however poor, unless ne is otherwise
disqualified than Us prescribed by the
amendment.
He showed also how all colored men
who can read and write certain clauses
of the constitution will be permitted
to vote under the provisions of the am
endment At length the speaker show
ed how theState will be blessed fnanc1 :
ally and Internationally by the adoption of
the amendmet as 1t relates to both races.
Mr.. Turner laid strong emphasis upon
the inferiorty of the negro,
showing that the race has new
or been able to cope with the white
race, and the negro is now therefore
not capable of making laws and govern
ing the Anglo-Saxon race.
Strong appeals were made to the
white men of the State to take stand
together and put away tor all time
the Ignorant colored voter, and purify
the politics of the State. He said SO
long as the negro is factor in our
State politics the young white men of
the State will scarcely have time to
turn their attention to broarder things.
lie said we dare not forget the fact
that we are ali the while threatened
with negro domination. Put this
question out Of politics, said the speak
or, and the young men of the State can
turn their minds and energies to broad
er things. He covered the ground
vita his exhaustive arguments, and
it would seem that any one who was
i'll doubt before hearing the speech
must have been convinced at the close
that it is the duty OF every white man
in the State to support the amendment.
Strong appeal was made to white
men in the interest OF their homes,
their wives and their children. The
speaker was very explicit In his denun-
Citations against white men who appose
the amendment after they have been
sufficiently informed on the subject.
He said such men are not worthy
the respect of the white race.
In conclusion he said he had spoken
as he saw it, and that If he had said
anything of which he was sorry he was
glad he had said it. Mr.. Turner said
he would go back to the western part
of the State and tell the people what
things he had seen In Eastern CAROLINA
and what kind of Democrats be had
found, especially in Halifax county.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Turner's
speech, Capt. KitchiD was called tor
and responded briefly. He especially
commissioned Mr.. Turner to go back
to the western part of the State and
tell the people OF Iredell that on the
End of August Halifax county
:,l oorr,, tho a,,,op1 mont nm