The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-01
TIRED OF THE NEGRO
A Republican Who Will Vote
For the Amendment.
For Two Years Until Recently He Was Chair.
man of the Republican Executive Com
mittee of Moore County.

Many Republicans and Populists in
North Carolina are going to vote for
the Amendment. The News and OBJ
server has already published letters
from many such. Here is another
one. 1t fully explains itself and is
well worth a careful reading:
Sanford N. c., April 2Sth, 1900.
Hon. F. NJ. Simmons, Chairman Demo-
cratic Executive Committee, Raleigh,
N C.
Dear Sir:-Snce the proposed constitu-
tional amendment was submitted by the
Legislature of 1899, / have favored the
same and wanted to make a public an
nouncement to that effect, but l hesitated
to do So
l have adhered to the Republican prin-
ciples of protection and sound money
since my first vote. but it has come to
the parting of the ways with me.
was elected chairman of the Republican
executive committee of Moore county two
years ago and held that position until re-
Gently, when / resigned it. Now / pledge
myself that I will support no candidate
State, county or otherwise, that submits
himself to any convention in which the
negro has voice or vote. l have decided
that we have but one party in our State
that has a fixed platform and principles,
and that party is the Democratic party;
that all the alliances between the Repub-
lican and Populist party of our State and
the surrender of political principles are
solely for the sake of office. Don't we
all know that Republican and Popuist
principles are as far apart as the East
is from the West and that when fusion
is brought about, except upon the basis
of principle, it destroys all principle of
both parties to it. | cannot and will
not support any such principleless COM
hination. When we think of the Second
Congressional district OF our State now
represented in Congress by a negro, it
should make us hang our heads in shame
Where are the farmers, merchants, doc
tors and lawyers Of ability culture and
character of that district? What party
is responsible for passing them by and
putting a negro up to represent this dis
trict? Who is responsible for this negro
Congressman? Is it to be supposed that
white men will submit to this? Is it to
be supposed that white men will continue
in a power party that does this?
Can party that does this in one district
in the State with straight face ask white
men to support it and sustain it any
where else in this State? What party is
responsible for the negro Senator and the
negro members of the House of Repre-
sentatives that one who visited our last
Legislature saw at Raleigh? These ne
groes were elected as candidates of the
Republican party to represent white men
as we'll as black men. One of them rep
resented the good white people of Warren
county, the home of the immortal
Macon; and one represented the white
people of Craven county the home of
CASTOR and Manly Think of these negro
Senators and negro representatives sit
ting in the halls of our Legislature repre-
seing our white men and mothers, wives
and daughters of white men. Shame upon
the party that nominated and elected these
negroes and shame upon the good old
North State and it's white people if tits al
lowed again. Let me ask of my white Re-
publican friends when they go to Raj
eigh to stop in at the public building, go
up into the office of the Internal Reve-
nue. Collector, in charge of Mr.. Duncan,
one of Senator Pritchard's appointees; in
there they will find the negro Jim Young
and the negro Jim Sheppard, holding
clerkships with desks in the same room
with white men. These white Republic
canrs must either work in the same
rooms with these negro officeholders
upon terms of practically equality, or they
must give up their jobs. This is what
Republicanism in North Carolina means.
What white man with proper self-respect
can continue to support the party that
brings about such conditions as this? We
have gone far enough in this negro bust
ness.
ness. 1t becomes every white man to
arouse himself and for the sake of his
children to see that we go no further If
there ever was time when men should
rise above party, that time is now
Someone asks what we will do with the
negro. l answer this: Remove him from
politics and let only those vote who show
sufficient ability, character and qualifica-
tons. We are willing to help the negro
to acquire character, comfortable homes
remunerative employment; we are will
ing to help him educate his children; We
are wiling to tax ourselves to take care
of his poor and afflicted and unfortu-
nate; and as he acquires sufficient knowl-
edge to cast an intelligent and indepen-
dent vote, we are willing to give him the
DdllOj. Dul lie must tame HIS pldce anu
keep this place. We will not now or at
any time have him to rule over us.
1 am with the Democratic party for the
amendment. l wish to see it ratified and
feel sure it will be ratified, but the
friends of the amendment must be at
work, for its opponents are resorting to
every device, both honorable and dishon-
orable to secure its defeat and regain con-
troll of the State.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH K. PERRY,
Sanford, n. G..