The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-29
THEN GIVES US A SAMPLE
Seawell Harangues an Audience of
Negroes at Rockingham.
Or NORMENT PRESENTED AS AN ANGLE
This Pretty Pair Of Heavenly Twins Assist
Pritchard in Preaching Negro Rule to an
Audience Composed Largely Of
Negro Women.
Negro Women.
Especial to News and observer.)

Especial to News and Observer)
Rockingham, n. c., April 2S.-Yesterday
wired the News and Observer a short
dispatch about Senator Pritchard's
speech.
Every other anti-amendment speaker /
have heard admits that the negro vote
ought to be eliminated. and that he would
vote for any measure that does it. but
that this measure will disfranchise white
men. This is their only ground of oppo-
sition. The Senator argues too that it
will operate TO disfranchise white men
but makes the square issue that the negro
is capable of exercising the right of fran
chise, and to deprive him Of that right
would do him great wrong, In this he is
honest while others falsify. We all know
that the Republicans oppose the amend
ment for no other reason than that it cuts
eff the vote which elects them to office.
Senator Prtchards plea yesterday for
the rights and franchise of the negro was
like a fire bell in the night. Since the
red shirts appeared in Richmond county
the negroes have been quiet and submis~
sive. going quietly about their business
like white folks, giving ladies the side
walk After the speech that day they
gathered about the court house laughed.
talked, and monopolized things generally.
Some of them danced for joy. The negro
women catching the infection grew bols-
ferrous and talked to each other across
the street II was like upSettinS gum
of quiet bees.
Senator Pritchard whom some of them
styled President Mckinley, was to speak
again at night. The news spread abroad
and there was a great outpouring at night.
They brought their wives and sweet
hearts While the Senator spoke squads
off negro women kept filing by him look
ing for seats and before the speaking
was over the prospect which confronted
the speaker was largely pretty dark.
was told that some of the women carried
bouquets in their hands, but / d'd not see
any Of the distinguished speakers receive
a bouquet and l don't believe they were
intended for them. There were more negro
women present than there were white
people.
The Democratic candidates have been
hattering themselves that they are hav-
ing the ladies and flowers, but it seems
that the fusionsts are to divide these
honOrs
I recently heard Mr.. AycocE say tIot
the women, the preachers, and the
teachers are with us, and you cannot de-
feat US and you cannot defeat that COM
bination.'' Mr.. Aycock has now to learn
that not all the women at least arc with
him.
| do not know whether this program Is
to be followed up, but imagine the exer~
cises Of Or. Thompson's side-show being
opened Iby lot of coons singing THE Old
North State"
few more Republican speakings in
Richmond county will put every red shirt
in the saddle again. Not that the red
shirts want this, but the peace ana dignity
of the State will demand II.
True, Senator Pritchard tells them to
be quiet and let the white folks fight this
out, but how do you expect even negro
to keep quiet when you tell him thar
'if he is debarred he will be an outcast
and without hope" In vain may you an
peal to even negro to keep quiet when
you tell him that voting is his right and
no man can lawfully take it from him.
The people of North Carolina know bet
ter and Senator Pritchard ought to, even
if he was raised beyond the mountains
where they won't let a negro live. 1t IS
strange thing how the farther a man
is removed from the negro the better he
loves him. This is truly case in which
distance lends enchantment.
Mr. Prtchard's speech at night was mJch
along the same line as that in the after
noon. He was again declared
that he would be obliged to whip his
boy if he (the boy) should become con-
vnced that the amendment was constitu~
tional. This time he said he would whip
the shirt off his back" Mr.. Dockery re-
NAMED as stolid as ever and showed no
thinking.
The speaker also recollected to inquire
again if Simmons or Aycock marched
up the heights of Santiago This thing
seemed to weigh on his mind. The con-
census of opinion as expressed by large
number of his audience was that they
did not. This amendment he declared,
would disfranchise many soldiers OF thls
| war. AS he said this | had recollections
| of the negro regiment returning from the
| war. shooting from the car windows at
| any and everything they saw, killing
| COW. shooting at Mr.. Plummer as he stood
| in the door of the Massenburg Hotel. TAX
| ing an old helpless darkey and pouring
| liquor into him until they killed h,p-. Yes.
| 7 thought of Jim Young's regiment OF
| CONTINUED on Second Page)