Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-24

VOWED. lie urged the creation OF q Sep-
arate department to look after the In
terests OF these islands and the re-
mcval of all civil appointments there
in from politics.
NORTH CAROLINA SUFFRAGE
AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Mci5nery (Dem of Louisiana)
then WAS recognized 10 deliver his an
nounced speech on the resolution OF Mr..
Pritchard ORep.. of North Carolina) re-
iatinE to the proposed amendment to
the Constitution of North Carolina.
He said the race question was one of
the most serious which had ever con-
frcntcd the nation. and added:
So far The best intcllects of the South
have cndeavored to fiud some remedy to
make the South prosperous notwith- |
standing the presence of vast number
of ignorant blacks, To make her social
position clear and defined in the sepa-
ration of the races. and to place her on
a political basis that will insure sta
billy TO her institutions: make the ball
'ot-boN the sacred depository of the lib
critics of the people instead OF the char
mel house where. under negro domna-
tion. they were aSsassinnted; to pre-
Vent them by means of the ballot ana
superior numbers from again gettinS
control OF the State and inaugurating
the era of terrorism and corruption,
which prevailed under this government
from 1865 TO 1877.
a TERRIBLE PICTURE.
The recollection of that period x
like q hell-born dream. and one is al
NEST unnerved at the mention. II Is
the darkest and most shameful period
in the history or the human race. The
@ n l,,rf
sooner terminated by an outraged peo-
pie.
"Annul the legislation OF Louisiana.
which has For It's sole object the I'D
vancement of both races. the progress
OF the state socially. politically and in
dIstriously, and inauguratc again ne
gro domination in that State, the tragic
period of 1876 will be rc-enacted.
SOCIAL PRIVILEGES DENIED.
There never has been any tlisposi-
ton on the part of the people of Louis
lana to deprive the negro OF any of his
political or civil rights. There has been
and Will continue to be determination,
fixed and unaltcrable to deny him So
eial privileges on equality with the
whites, to prohibit MIN from aspiring
to an equality in social life, which M
ture forbids."
Mr.. Mclsncry said the suffrage ar
ticlo In the Louisiana constitution was
approved by all citizens of the State.
AN ERA OF CORRUPTION.
From the day that the negro was
enfranchised," said Mr. McIInery, ''and
negro domination prevailed in the State
until 1876. when 1t was overthrown,
there was an era of corruption vice
and tyranny not equalcd in any age"
lie reviewed this situation. and then
spoke of lie beneficial results of white
supremacy. He said the regulation OF
the suffrage In Louisiana did not affect
the negro alone. but a large number OF
persons who had cmlgrated to New Or
leans since the civil war. 1t was n
dangerous power, unreasoning and
without intelligence. and had to be con-
trclled. lie declared that the bestowal
of political power upon the lmpersonal
mass could not be justified. The ex-
clusion OF that mass was not Viola
ton OF any representative law.
NO EXCLUSION.
The proposed North Carolina amend
ment, he said, did not exclude the ne
gro from voting.
He has the right In common with
the white people," said he, ION the con-
di,ions alike applicable 10 both races,
that he can read and write, or that lie
owns certain amount OF real and
personal property. He is deprived of
no right of suffrage by the comforting
OF 1t upon another class"
He maintained that the right to vote
could be conferred only by State, and
there was no restrictio.a apon the State
as TO persons 1t might admit 10 the
electorate. He then said:
"'rhere is nothing in the text of the
suffrage clause quoted to show that
t,Ot.. I'll a. q
the right to vote on account OF race,
color or previous condition. The state
being The sole judge OF the qualification
of electors can discriminae among the
illlteratc as to electoral capacity.
THE souTH's FAILURE.
The opportunities of the South are OF
the nation. Let her alone and her pos
sbilitics for the future can only be
conjectured They are lmitless
The rapid Industrial growth of the
South was impossible under negro dom
nation. Restore To the negro indis-
criminately the ballet and invest him
with power and there will not only be
a check TO the progress of the South,
but the advantages gained will be lost
There can be no admiXture of the
races. This is law of nature. They
must work out their destinies ON paral-
iei lilcS WHICH canilot conlc together.
The Anglo-Saxon blood and brain will
always be the superior. and cannot be
subordinated by the negro.
I'VE of the South are making the
Negroes condition better every day We
do not deny his political rights be-
cause he Is a negro. We regulate the
suffrage because he is ignorant. and at
present the majority of the negro race
has no electoral capacity.
THE question raised is q judicial ono.