The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-24
A FEW MORE ARGUMENTS FOR THE con-
sTITUTIOEAL AMENDMENT.

Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
So deeply am I convinced of the
paramount Importance of this meas
that to the utmost of my limited
power I feel constrained to help in
securing its adoption. And in so
doing / feel that I am working for
the good of the whole body OF citi-
zens, black and white, for the ballot
in the hands of ignorant and mis-
guided Africans is a menance to those
who hold it as we'll as to others.
But I find that some of u good,
patriotic people are being influenced
by opinions which show good hearts
united with serious misconceptions
of history. "Our fathers fought the
Revolutionary War" they say, las
a protest against taxation without
representation, and the Constitu-
tional Amendment violates that fun
damental principle" This objec-
ton, [ repeat, does great credit to
the heart, but shows a misconception
Of history. Our fathers are no lon
ger here to tell US just what they
meant by taxation without repre-
sention," but fortunately their
actions give us full information as
to what they were fighting for.
1. And first of all, u fathers. did
not give the ballot to one half of the
best and noblest citizens in the land
the women. Surely no man de
MES that among them are to be
found a majority of the best and
purest citizens. Now, are they
wanting in intelligence and patriot
ism. Yet the sires of the Revolution
decided it best for all citizens, in
cLudjDg the good aUOmen, that they
should remain away from the excite
ments and chickering's of political
contests. We of North Carolina
agree with our fathers in their judg-
ment, and, therefore, for the public
good the better half of our citizens
have never received the franchise.
Many of them pay heavy taxes
Many of them are not represented at
the ballot box by a husband or by
any near relative and yet, with
wonderful unanimity, the better
half of u white citizens heartily
acquiesce in the Judgment of the
Revolutionary father and say 'All
things. consiuered, we see that it is
for the public good that we remain
quietly in our homes. We prefer
not to vote and can trust our men to
do US Justice" And so, when a few
years ago the women of Boston were
called upon to say at the ballot box
whether they wished to have the
ballot, they made answer by re-
naming at home that they were IN
tirely contented to abide by the an
cient landmarks.
Now, can any mar of sober mind
deny that our pUre-hearted, patri-
otto women are infinitely better
qualified to vote than the u%nlettered
Africans whom the constitutional
Amendment socks to exclude for the
good and for their own good?'
Surely no man would deny this self
evident truth.
2. But our revolutionary sires in
terpreted for us their understanding
of what they meant by taxation
without representation" by with
holding the ballot from Indians,
from minors, from imbeciles, from
the insane and from convicted fell
ons. And in forbidding these per
sons to vote did our noble fathers
not act in a wise and statesmanlike-
manner? We fortunately have re
tanned all these persons on the non
voting list.
Agaigst better Judgment
based on personal knowledge we
were forced to place the ballot in the,
hands of ignorant negroes. Has not
experience amply indicated III
fears? Surely the man must be in
tensely prejudiced or personally in
terested who denies these facts as to
votes that have been burned
deeply into the history of our times
Intelligent men of their own race
say that the misuse of the ballot by
the negroes has caused tmmeas1rable
harm to themselves as well as to,
others.
8. Moreover, ali the world knows