The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-10
WHY He CHANGED
Largely Influenced by Opin-
ion of a Learned Chris
tian Lawyer.
Mr.. R. c. Gully, Who Intended 10 Vote Against
The Amendment, Gives tn, Reasons That
Now ImpeI Him to Give it His
Support.


asked my views as to the Constitutional
Amendment, and at that time | was hon.
estly of the opinion that it is unjust and
that it was born simply of a deep seated
prejudice against the negro, and | SO ex-
pressed myself to every one who asked
me my opinion as to the matter, and
without reading anything Sn either side
of the question, l continued to express
myself thus and it seems that the fact
has been ..borne to the four winds Of
heaven" as it WERE and / ask for space
in your valued paper to say that l am
now satisfied that | was then mistaken,
and l shall cast in my influence for the
Amendment; and l wish to state further
that the change wrought in my mind is
due mostly to some thoughts suggested
in an article in last weeks issue of the
Oxford Public Ledger by John w. Hays,
Esq. of Oxford. This article coming as |
know from Christian gentleman in
whose honesty and wisdom all who know
him have implicit confidence, is SO clear
and pointed that there is no mistaking
its meaning. In one thing, l wish to say,
! have not changed, and pray that | may
never change, and that is my sympathy
fer poor unfortunate mankind of every
race, for l am so constituted by nature
that my SympathieS are always with 1.-THE
under dog in the fight and to such I'M
fortunate ones / wish to say that I'M
questionably brighter day is to dawn for
them in the near future, and all men of
every race who are willing to work and
wait will surely find a part in that
brighter future which is sure to come to
our State largely, not entirely, through
the adoption of the Constitutional
Amendment. Today l honestly believe it is
to be a God-send to our country, and
this to the colored man as well as the
white man, in that it will undoubtedly
awaken our people to the most active
educational interest that has ever been
known to the history of our State. And,
sir, do not care to put myself in a po-
sition that my posterity in the years to
come, nor that of my friends. shall be
forced to say of me after l have passed
into the Great beyond He stood in
the way of our intellectual advance
ment;' as this is bound to be true of ev-
cry man who opposes the Amendment,
and it is with feeling of the best inter
est for the negro as well as fer the white
man that I say let us have the educa-
tional qualifica ton in the exercise of the
right of suffrage The negro will sustain
no injury through it, neither will the
Write man, FOR we have reached the Pc
riod in our history when everything con-
spires to demand that we must have an
educated manhood and womanhood; it is
but the fruit of prayer, and it is just as
reasonable to say that a man ought to
be allowed to practice medicine without
the proper preparation; and, l take it,,
no man is ignorant enough to say that
every one should be allowed to practice
medicine without license or qualification
| have been sincere in what l said
against the amendment, and am now
sincere in what | say for it. have been
convinced that l was wrong and | yield,
and l would not give a row of pins for
any man who says he is not open to con-
victim, and / have no respect for man
who when convinced still holds out and
says he will not yield. l simply take it
that such man is either very ignarant
or basely hypocritical.
If it is fact, as some believe, that
the amendment is wrong because it would
give us taxation without representa-
ton suffice it to say this has always
been true in our government, in that wo-
men who own property and orphan chill
dren are taxed and have no right to
vote.
Again believe that it is expedient
that it shall be adopted, and that it will
result in great good to both races.
humble opinion God rules the world and
that back of all this is the hand of His
omnipotence.
Yours sincerely,
r. c. GULLEY.
Frank1inton N C. June Z 1000