The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-11-29

section 3, Known ~ the grandfather |
clause" in said amendment, but also
Of the great danger of that unoonstitu.
tional sectional section falling, leav-
ing the remainder OF the amendment
to stand, thus disfranchising by IN ed
ucational qualification Atty or sixty
white voters Of North Caro-
lima, who In 1893 gave the Democratic
party power In the Legislature, and
whose ignorance 10 no fault Of their
own but IL chargeabIe to the neglect of
the Democratic party, which now seeks
to disfrAnohise them and make their
ignorance . crime aknGside that Of
tho felon.
But even il the proposed amendment
were not unconstitutional Gas it clear
~ is), still it 10 especially objection
able in the following particulars:
(a) In that it 6ignifies with the right
Of suffrage the most vicious, trouble
some and obnoxious olsss of the negro
population, and completely disfran.
ohises the most faithful, kindly and or
derby element Of shat race.
(b) In thai, while olamoring for white
supremacy and declaring shat no white
man shall be disfrsnchised under this
amendment, they have 90 written their
amendment that every white boy be-
coming Of age after 1908 stands on the
same footing with the negro, and can
not vote unless he 10 able to read and
write.
{c) In that by the latter provision,
they have made 1t possible for she cd
ucated negro after 1905 to cast his bal
lot while the unfortunate son of the
white men who have been the strength
a.
vote % the ballot box. They slaughter
the suffrage Of the son whose father
they dare not openly attack.
(d) In that this suffrage amend
ment does not remove the negro from
politics or settle the negro question in
North Carolina.
TO In that every voter who has not
paid his poll tax as much ss i've
eight months before the national cleo
II he were convicted Of felony or were
chic provisi0n 10 not only TO disfran-
unfortunately cannot pay his taxes by
the first Of March preceding the cleo.
ti0n, but further to try to bride the vo-
ter to surrender his suffrage 1t the ex-
pense Of the public school fund of the
state, which 10 derived from poll taxes.
There turks behind this proposition q
still greater danger to the public
schools Of the State, for with the adop-
sion Of the amendment the opponents
of free schools In North Carolina will
at once raise the CRY that every dollar
raised for public instruction means the
increase Of the number of negro vo-
tors, and thus tho poor white mans
con will be chained In bondage of ig-
nOrsnoe and disfranchised to prevent
the education Of the negro voter
There IL no white supremacy In this.
The constitutional question pre-
sentsd BY the proposed amendments is
one that must be determined By the
Judgment and conscience of each indi-
vidusl voter. Therefore, We Dc not
make It party question. We state the
evils and dangers and leave the voters
Of I'll parties to pass their verdict in
the light Of those facts. The question
IL above party, and no one should be
more active and anxious in our jud9.
ment TO defeat It than the rank and
die OF the Democratic party.
The Peoples Party 10 and has always
been more distinctly than any other
party In North Carolina . white man.
party, and Ii more anxious than AM
other party to solve the race problem
and to force al parties TO 4 discussion
Of she great economic issues % vitality
affecting the welfare Of Ill wealth pro.
dnoers Of the State and nation and de.
cenoy in politos.
Therefore, We propose In lieu of thit
dangerous Amendments, the best eoIu.
ton Of the race question that 10 posi-.
BILE % long - the 18th amendment te
tthe Constitution Of the United States
stands solution Which depfives nC
white man In North Carolina now OF
hereafter Of his right q. suffrage, to.
Wit.
Amend Section 9, Art. 8, Of the Con
stitution Of North Carolina By Insert
ing among the disquali dcstions foI
office, enumerated therein, the follow.
ing, viz: All negroes and sll.persone
Of negro descent to the thirdf9enera-
ton inclusive.
II the Democratic Legislature which
meets in June will Offer this safe, CON.
stitutional and wholesome amendment,
tnlliou Of the present scheme It viii
have our hearty support. II they will
not, We appeal to the people to rally e
our assistance 10 elect . Legislature
pledged 70 support suohi an amend.
ment.
We congratulate the peopls:oaNort
Carolina upon the decision of.the State
Supreme Couvt in the case Of Harrie
". Wright (l3t n. G. r., l79), deolsr-
ing that the General Assembly has
power to provide different systems OF
county government for various ooun-
ties Of the State. Acting under this
decision, We pledge the People's Party
to the maintenanoe Of the system Of
local self-government in Ill the white
counties, towns and cities in the State
- established By the General Assem-
bly, Of 1895, and ct the same time "a
provide and maintain legislative sys-
tenn Of ooonty government for ali the
negro counties Of the state, 20 that
there can never be any Question that
the white people shall always have full
and complete oontEol Of county IN. thu
State.
We 1eaounce the DemooratIc IAxis
lstufe Of 1859 for passing anseleotlou
Law, every peovision Of Whichlis care
fully and cunningly planned: and de
vise1 70 thWart The sovereign will OF
the people of NoEth Carolina by.whoie-
sale tnaa AnA eahAnaAaey a The bal
! lee ~. We d6Slbss, vithsus foa5 q