The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-03-27
a REPUBLICANS VIEW.

a lifelong republican i'll western
North Carolina, in the county of Hen
derson, some weeks ago, wrote TO The
Raleigh Post about the amendment,
warmly favoring i The editor vouches
for the writer IS 4 man of character
as well as always a republican" He
writes with. proper insight and evi-
IDENTIFY with honest convictions He
favors the amendment an; states at
length his reasons. He is Il true white
man as well as republican, and repudi-
ates the black and tan light against
white mans supremacy in North Car
olina- How, indeed, is it possible for
any true white man and republican to
do aught than to oppose negro rule and
all it's vicious and unfortunate cOrse-
quences? This republican says open
ly, squarely, that white men will not
be touched in their rights or disfran-
chiSed by the amendment. That is
true and all the white liars who say
otherwise know this. This particular
honest, upright, indepedenent repub-
lican writes this:
Il am, as 1 have already said, re-
publican. and l expect To- remain one;
but 1 am not one of the sO-called re-
publicanS, such as Senator Pritchard,
+ Congressman Iinney and others are
proving themselves to be, who seem TO
think that in order for a white man to
be a republican he must consider him.
self no better than negro, ana be
willing t. submit TO negro domination.
Now, if il took that 10 make a repub-
lican / would not vote a republican
ticket so long as / had any respect for
myself or my race, or any anxiety TOR
the welfare of the white people of the
state, and l believe these are the sem
timentS of most of the republicans OF
Henderson county, for most OF them
are honest men and white. \ true re-
publican Is far from being in favor of
negro equa lity or negro domination
and will not cast his vote against
measure lie is convinced will make
white supremacy permanent and negro
domination an impOSSibility, even
though it be called a democratic meas
IIre and is opposed by unprincipled re-
publican Gffice holders, whose selfish
interests lead them to work against
the best interests of the people of the
state.
That is spoken like an honest, self
respecting man, a true North Carolin-
ian. There are many such republicans
in North Carolina who favor white
mans government and not the balefui
bossing of the ignorant. corrupt negro.
This republican in the west says that
the, whites are not diSfranchlSed by
the amendment. We do not believe 1t
possible for any sincere. we'll informed
white man of any party to say other
wise Office seekers say so, and they
laugh when they lie. Their game is to
deceive and blind and use. He says
the amendment is not unconstitutional
and has patiently studied both sides
and the arguments. We quote this,
and what is suggested will be done. as
already foreshadowed:
s.I am satisfied that if Section :
should be declared unconstitutional, IL
and Section fall together; but doubts
on this point certainly exist in the
fail to remove them. This being so, II
is necessary that the legislature amend
the amendment as proposed, ana
hope it will do so. This Will knocF
the chief argument of the enemies o.
white supremacy into cockea na'
and convince the illiterate whites be
yond shadow of a doubt that th'
amendment, if ratified, will not dis
franchise them.
Il agree with Senator McEnery tina
the solution OF the race question II
the United States is one of the mos
serious problems that ever confronteE
a nation and 1 believe the most eff
fectiye way to settle this question is &
eliminate the vote of the negro, and es
peciaIly of the ignorant negro. Th'
longer he is permitted to exercise tn
right of suffrage, the more impudent
,lnruIy and offensive he will become
which will result in a race war. So tn
ratification of this amendment will b
best for all concerned. If the negro b
permitted to vote IN the Iuturs a
has haen in the past the time will com
when he will wish he never had bee
allowed to vote.
We give this to let our readers 81
what a sensible, informed, patraoiie II
publican thinks about the amenonel