The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-10
REPLY TO BUTLER.

SOME OF THE FLIMSY ARGUMENTS OF THE
Willy SENATOR EXPOSED.
The Poll Tax BugabOo and Other Scare
crows set up by the Opponents of
the Amendment and White Su-
premacy-They Want to See the
Race Question Settled They Say,
Bat They Oppose neasure Brought
Forward for That Very Purpose.
{Webster's Weekly.)
The Caucasian, Senator Marion But
ler's paper, says it agrees with the
Weekly in wanting the negro question
settled, but does not believe the
amendment proposed by the Demo-
cratic party will remove this disturb
ing factor from politics. We will
give what it says by way of comment
upon the Weeklys position, in order
that we may not be accused by any
of our Populist readers of stating its
arguments unfairly:
"Webster's Weekly, in a recent edi-
torial, said: We are tired of the ne
gro issue; we want it settled upon
permanent basis The Caucasian
cheerfully and heartily endorses that
sentiment. The opportunity to raise
the cry of negro-to raise race pre-
| iudice and call the attention of the
people from great economic issues,
has been a great stumbling block in
the path of the States progress. 1t
has made it possible for politicians of
the type of Mr.. Simmons, who are
without political convictions, or who,
if they have any, are against the in
terest of the masses, to forge to the
front on the cry of the negro. 1t was
politicians of this kind who repudated
the advice of Bryan and Chairman
Jones in 1896 to unite the silver forces
and make a large white mans ma or
ity for silver and antimonopoly. They
knew that if the chance to cry negro
was removed and the great economic
issues that affect the welfare and pros
perity of the people were brought to
the front, that they would be rele
gated to the rear. The choice with
was between silver and negro, and
they selected negro because ii suited
their selfish ends best.
eve agree with We6ster's Weekly:
we want to see this question settled
and permanently settled. If the pro-
posed amendment would do that we
would support it. viii it do it? Look
at the Louisiana State campaign
which opened two weeks ago, where a
similar amendment has already been
adopted. What is the only campaign
cry raised by the machine Democratic
leaders? 1t is Niger! Nigger! Mig
ger! The supporters of the amend
ment in Louisiana promised the peo-
pie that if they would adopt this
amendment that they would stop bal
lot box stutfing and enact an honest
election law. Did they do it? No.
Their last Legislature made the law
worse and opened new avenues for
stealing. The election law is so cut
rageous that a com bination of Demo-
Gratis, Populists and Republicans has
been formed to try to overthrow the
machine and enact an honest election
law. All these elements have Joined
in nominating for Governor Donelson
Catferey, Jr., the son of Senator CAT
ferey. On the stump, each day, he is
denouncing the election law and ap-
pealing to the people to vote for a
Legislature to repeal it. Do the
Democratic machine politicians at
tempt to answer this argument9 No.
Their only answer is to cry Niger.
Niger. Niger!
$50 it appears from the experience
of Louisiana that even if the present
amendment were Constitutional that
it would not remove the cry of negro.
But in spite of the experience OF
Louisiana and in spite of the many
OBJ ectionable features in the amend
ment, if we were not fully satisfied
that section is not only unconstitu-
tional, but that the court would
knock it out, leaving the remainder
to stand, thus disfranchising fifty OF
,, sixty thousand white voters of North
Carolina, we would be disposed to
:: strain point and support it. If the
> last Legislature had wanted to effect
, ually remove the negro as factor in
: politics they would have submitted
an amendment to prohibit him from
holding office, which would have been
Constitutional. This they were urged
TO do by prominent lawyers in theil
: own party, but they refused.
: I'VE are satisfied that it was the
purpose of the machine leaders of the
last Legislature to draft an amend
ment which would result in disfran
chising these illterate white voters
! and in the next issue OF the Caucasian
we will give some Of the reasons that
impel us to believe this"
Our readers have in the above the
: worst that Butler can say against the
e amendment. 1t will be noticed tina
: conditions that made it possible fol
A the last campaign to be fought upor
the negro question and made it neces
sary for the Legislature to submit
this amendment. His complaint i:
$ that the Democratic party uses the
: negro issue to keep economic ques
e tions in the background. He com
: plains of effects and ignores the cause
, Who is responsible for the negro be
q ing disturbing factor in North Caro-
e lima politics? Who was it that fuse,
Y with him and made itpossible for hin
/ to dominate the Eastern counties ant
0 towns where he outnumbers th'
K whites?
k The Democratic party did not tel
the fusionists to elect 40 negro mag
istrates in New Hanover county
1. twenty-six in Craven, and a swarm 0
e negro policemen, deputy sheriffs
= school committeeman. etc, in othe
: Eastern counties snd towns. 1t dit
: not tell them to gerrymander Green
5 vile so as to make one negro equa