The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-13
A PLAIN QUESTION.

What have been the effects of negro
suffrage in North Carolina? For thirty
odd years the negroes have voted, and
nan of them illegally, and more than
once in the same election. Has their
exercise of the voting privilege benefit
ed them or the whites, or the state?
Has any body except ~teat-suckers and
p~ie-hunters eve been benefited by ne
gro votes? Every white man not con-
scienceless and not oblivious of facts
and truth must answer that negro suf-
frage has been calamitous to all con-
cerned. 1t has done vast wrong to the
the state at large. 1t is not unkind or
inimical to the negroes 20 say this. bu-
it is the simple truth. CandOr and
truth are preferable always 20 decep-
ton and lies. You may fiatter and de-
ceive, but generally it is at the expense
of truth and manhood.
If voting on the part OF the Ne
groes has lone such great harm-Dut-
ting in incompetent, reckless, bad men
and helping to run up the states In
.debtedness to s33, 900, 900 and increasing
greatly the expenditures whenever
their tools are in place and power-what
will be the result Of heir not voting.
Will it 1ot be a great protection to the
people. a great saving to their pock-
cts, a blessed help in many directions?
1t will relieve North Carolina of a great
Incubus and r~eproach. Every b
breathe freer, including the foolish,
greedy hot heads who are o striving
to continue the reign of the lawless ne
groes instead of the reign of law and
order.
We sincerely believe it will be for the
betterment of both races to have the
amendment adopted. Whilst it cuts off
but a part-the illiterates-it opens the
way for wider, more universal educa-
ton and the creating of an educated
electorate. 1t will aid the negroes very
much by incentives to industry in
stead of giving nights and days to po-
litical lodges and clubs, and to the ser
vile attitude of strikers 70" EIean, sell
fish, unprincfpled white ,len who at
heart do not have over half
as much respect and honest
good feeling for them as the
whites who tax themselves for the ben
eft Of the negro children, md give con-
slant patronage and employment to ne
gro men and women.
Good government is a blessed thing
for any people, and more particularly
for people who live in a republic. that
is based on character-on the virtue,
industry and intelligence OF the people.
Eliminate these great qualities-so pos
itively fundamental-and you would as
we'll be under a halfway enlightened
monarchy. Everybody knows that
the negro has none of the qualities and
capacities necessary for government.
They neither govern themselves mol
any thing else. Book at the magis-
trates' courts and the criminal courts
n see who fill them. Ex-Governor
Jarvis writing of the amendment some
time g said this:
Neither the negro nor his corrupt
white allies can again dominate our
oca governments and re-enact the
scenes OF strife and riot and ruin of
1868 and 1859. Good government is an
absolute ESSENTIAL to the peace and pros
perity or a state. This is too plain to
need argument We AVE seen it in our
own state. The negro has de-
monstrated the fact that he cannot
govern. 1t is likewise true that the
man who is dependent upon the negro
for his place and who is dominated and
controlled by him is equally unfit to
govern. The adoption of this amend
-ment eliminates that class of white
men as we'll as the negro from promi-
nence in political matters in the state
and ENSURES to the Intelligent, wort
white men the management of public
affairs"
IT will prove a great help and benefit
4 all races and conditions to have the
amendment become a law.