The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-10-11
The guarding of our Constitutional

amendment from interference on all
sides is to us the most important
question with which we as North Car
olinions. are confronted, not because
it is more important to the whole
country than several strictly National
issues, but because it more deeply
concerns US, and because the danger,
yet awhile, of attack on it is more
imminent than it will be later on, and
the result to us more direct and dis
astrous if an attack on it on any side
should be successful.
Again, let it be borne in mind that
it behooves us not to rest on our oars
at this time content with what we
have accomplished. We should not
be satisfied to simply stand on the
defensive. The time is ripe fol further
action. We have acted through the
State; we should now act through the
general government. The repeal Of
the XIV amendment to the Federal
Constitution will make it so that each
State can deal with suffrage ques-
tions exactly as it sees fit. with no
outside power to interfere in the
slightest degree. We can then pass
direct laws to accomplish what we
want in either partially or wholly
denying the inferior races access TO
the ballot box, without any round
about methods and temporary cx-
pedients whatever. Nothing short Of
the repeal of this amendment will
ever settle this question completely
and satisfactorily. A serious move
ment for its repeal is already on foot.
A resolution to that effect has been
introduced and strongly presented by
the talented Alabama Congressman.
Hon. o. w. Underwood, and he will
find no better co-laborer in this work
than Hon. f. M. Simmons, if he goes
to the Senate.
That Mr.. Simmons is one OF the
ablest men in causing hurtful meas
ures to go down in defeat and in guild
ing helpful ones to a successful con-
summation, cannot be doubted. He is
man of strong convictions, great
power and ceaseless efforts. Natur-
ally gifted to take broad and correct
views of great questions, he still does
not, like many others naturally gifted
to large degree. rely chiefly upon
the insight which his inherited ability
gives, but he carefully prepares him
self at every point, and then, doubly
convinced on every side of the cor
rectness of his position, he would. if
necessary, unflinchingly and con-
vincingly face the world in its behalf,
and accomplish everything that any
individual man could accomplish.
| The needed Information and eX-
perience along the special line spoken
Of which he has acquired in his COM
petent management of the recent
white supremacy campaigns in North
Carolina has already prepared him, as
few men are ever prepared. for still
higher achievements. He, even now,
has arguments of every kind, both
legal and moral, at his tongues end.
with which to still further defend and
| advance this movement, and the
courage to use these arguments any
where and against anyone.
With questions of such moment to
us as these before the country. and
with such fitness, both natural and
cultivated, as MIR. Simmons possesses
for dealing with them aside from
every consideration of personal pre-
ference and aside from questions Of
reward for party or public service, he
is pre-eminently the man for these
times and the man for that place. He
ought to receive at the hands OF the
| Democratic voters as fattering
ma jority as he has succeeded in piling
| up for the whole Democratic ticket in
every campaign he has ever conduct
ed. He is the horse that pulled the
plow.
"The horse that pulls the plow should
eat the fodder"
But, beyond and above this (without
| one word of detraction of anyone else)
Mr.. Simmons is the man Judging from
| the past from whom the whole State
and the whole South will receive the
greatest benefits in the Senatorial
| halls, and this alone at such time as
this should be enough to insure his
almost unanimous election, regardless
Of everything else.
&. +. HANCOCK.
New Bern \. G.. September 2S 1900.