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

is o bothering himself about politics.
Durham Herald.
The string money corporations, OF
which the republican party is the fos-
ter mother, are now at work TO enslave
the farmers and laborers in all the
United States.-Davis Times
Never before have We seer so many
ladies at political speaking as were
here yesterday. We learn that they
are turning out to hear democratic
speaking everywhere and are all for
the amendment. That means that the
amendment will be carried.-Monroe
Enquirer.
This much We can say with conf
dence that il will not do for the friends
OF the amendment TO risk anything on
the chance OF negro indifference. Or
ganized or not. holding night meetings
or not, attending public meeting or not
he can be depended upon 10 be AT the
polls on election day, 10. 900 al that.
And il would be well for us 20 all re-
member that the foes of the amend
ment nave that much the start OF us
Washington Gazette.
The degree of intelligence represent
ed by the southern republican party
manifests itself when a county con-
vention Of the party assemblies Take
the convention here yesterday. for in
stance. Perhaps there is more toler-
ance for republicanism in GuiIford
county and the party is stronger here
than in almost any of the counties that
are normally democratic. Yet this
convention absolutely had no idea OF
parliamentary law, having proceeded
nearly through its deliberations with
out electing a chairman.-GreensborC
Telegram.
We have been no little SUI orised &c
see the number of honest populistf
m democrats that are allowing them
selves to be influenced against the
amendment by the pie hunting. mig
ger loving, classifying federal office
holders, job promised republicans.
While many of this class are posing
as populists they are like the wolf in
Sleeps clothing and at heart republL
cans. Stop and think a moment. We
max bold to assert there is not q
white man in this county who is GO
ing about opposing the amendment
who has not already had a job or ex-
poets one or has been promised one
by the Observation-Disclosures Ca
zette.
They have appealed to the machin-
cry Of the United States courts to pre-
vent a state officer from discharging
his duty under the state Jaw. The pro-
ceading is instigated by Blackburn ant
was issued by a North Carolina COM
missioner. The affidavit was sworn
out by a negro federal office holder
and all the witnesses are negroes. II
will thus be seen that it is a proceed
ing brought by federal office holders
and negroes and proves what we have
been charging: hat the federal Of
flee holders are running this campaign
on the part Of the fusionistS, and that
this is a fight between the people and
the federal office holders and between
the white man and the negro led and
instigated by federal office holders
Raleigh News and Observer.
Designing men-opponents o. tht
constitutional amendment are saying
that If it is adopted by the people hi:
year the next action of the Legislature
will be 10 pass a law di~sfranchising tht
illiterate white men. This is false IL
every respect. The constitution would
nave to be again amended to effec'
such a purpose, and before this could
be done the act would ave TO. pas:
the legislature by a vote Of three-Efth:
of its members and would then ha
to be ratified by the votes Of the people
A legislature will not be elected II
North Carolina in which three-fifths o.
the members will vote for an amend.
ment to d~isfranchise Any white man
And If such an amendment should pas:
he people would defeat il at the bal
lot box by an overwhelming majority
-Lumberton Robesonian.
The democrat is told hat Mr.. Johr
E. Fowler, fuSionist, mad a speech
in HOneycuttS Saturday and made the
absurd statement that the constitution
of the United States was written in
Lain and that only two men in Honey
cults township could read ii. A mar
who woul so deliberately undertake
to mislead his neighbors by making
such a rediculously false statement
certainly has a poor opinion Of their
intelligence. Any school boy knows
there is no truth in Mr.. Fowler's state
ment. Like many other fusiOnist dem
agogues, Mr.. Fowler has little regard
for the truth in his fight for the negroes
and against white supremacy He
should be ashamed, most of all. to in
suit the intelligence of his old neigh.
Sors by making such a speech as he is
reported to lave made.-Clinton Dem.
ocrat.
When the populist par vas first
organized it was a white mans party
and so proclaimed itself. AS such II
grew to number As, 900 voters. Their
it fused with the negro party and it,
membership began to fall Off. II
Joined With the republicans in putting
one thousand negroes in office. and
lost more han half its members. Il
then. fought the elimination of the ne
gro from politics in order 10 retain
his vote, and lost the confidence 81
half the reminder of its voters. Wher
its leaders carry the remainder mp L
the polls TO vote against the amend
ment,. the last vestige of the pOpulis'
party will have been swallowed up
the republican party. Coming eTents
cast their shadows before" Already
having SO long fused and ~co-operated
with negroes and helped TO put then
in office, the populist leaders becore:
colOr blind n has set up a m0lattG
child as the type of the in~dividu2t
which he is battling in North Carolina
Raleigh News and Observer.
Whether North Carolint shall be
freed from the ncubu Of the ignu~arI
-ad yici1u' neSrc wore, reed up -
her at the point of the bayonet il
reconstruction days, or shall continue
to be chained tn this body Of death
whether future political contests shal
turn upon race prejudice or there shall
be freedom OF thought and action a.
was in the good old days when Whie
and democratic giants strove for tbs
mastery. n the state was safe in tn