The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-03-07

urs II IL openly proposed TO wipe
rom the statute book by limitation
II the provisions by which thsy en-
~ indicted and punished.
They expend the money Of the
,eople of the State TO defend those
tho violated the Law for their sake
Ind In consequence Of which they
ire indicted In the United States
,ourt, but inasmuch - the State OF
North Carolina Is . party to all pros
for violations Of law or Of
oReuses over which the State courts
have Jurisdiction, 1t seems that our
friends have decided
that the only way to protect their
political associates who Are Liable to |
be convicted In the State courts for |
violating . law, which many Of the |
present members of the legislature
helped to enact, they deliberately
decided ~ pass . general AMNESTY
law, granting . pardon to this class
Of violators Of the law. can not
understand why 1t Is that our Dam
ocratic friends should be 30 anxious
about the fate Of those who have
heen indicted, becau7e 1t is contend
I'd bv them that they are inuoent,
and II such Il the case they will no
doubt be acquitted by . jury Of their
countrymen.
have been appealed 10 by . num-
Der of Democrats to do what could
to induce the district attorney to
nolle pros the various cases thst are
pending In the United States eeurt;
but have declined to interfere In
these cases, feeling, as do, that the
enforcement Of the laws Of the
United States Is intrusted to the
courts, and that any Interference on
my part would he unwarranted. If
these men are innocent they ought
not to be convicted or punished; but
if they are guilty, then they ought
to be required to answer the charges
on which they are indicted In the
State or Federal courts.
The enactment by the present
general assembly of North Carolins
of an honest election law will pro
tect every citizen Of the State in the
enjoyment of his rights, and If such
is executed then there will be few
if any, violations of the law in the
future, and the necessity of indict
ments will cease. If such statute
is to be enacted, let Its provisions h
marked in every line with simple
lity, for as the law demands obedi
ence, Its spirit and meaning should
be brought within the intelligenc,
Of every citizen if obedience Is ex
pected.
The race question is thing of thu
past In North Carolina. The cOloret
man has never dominated the affair
of the white man in that State, ant
he Is less inclined now than ever bt
fore to engage in political affairs.
The voting population of ou
State. according to the census 0
1890, is as follows:
Total white vote, $4,000; tota
colored vote, 124, LOT; making an OK
cess of white over cOlored voters q
II 1O9,543.
81 I am sure that the present censu
will show that there are not NOR
than $4,000 colored voters in tn
Q State of North Carolina today, thou
b. sands of them having left the Stat
since 1890. But this cry Of whit
: supremacy by the Democrats
g hypocritical, calculated and intent
ed to deceive the voters of the Stat.
I cali attention to the fact that 9
!, the August election in 1900 in
D counties in North Carolina, wherei
J, one fourth colored people and MOI
:, than one-half the white people n
f side, the Republicans secured
$ majority Of 3,l68, and In so cou,
] lies, wherein four-fifths of the colo
r Ell voters reside and less than on,
f half the white people, the Dem'
e Gratis secured majority of 81, 40.
b Before the last election in Mort
u Carolina the chairmen Of the Repul
r llcan and Populist committees in
i number Of eastern counties submit
ted for appointment list of name
9 Of white Populists and Republican
ho were men Of high character an
8 standing; but the leaders Of the +,
y called white-supreinacy party refu
n ed to appoint them and appointe
e col'red men In their stead.
u Under our laws judges Of electio
q are vested with judicial function
II being empowered to order arres
# without warrants and to punish Fl
II contempt, and here We have an II
K stance wherein the so.cslled whit
3, supremacy party furnished US an e,
d ample OF its inconsistency by a
e pointing colored men to position
wherein they are authorized to q,
y ercise the functions of judge.
# There is no disposition on the pa
r, of the Republicans of North Car
It lima to keep alive race or section
r questions. The constitutional amen,
e ment which was adopted at the Al
h gust elect has passed out of tt
is realm Of politics, and it now b
n comes question for the courts, ar
f, no one Is inclined to interfere wit
re an orderly consideration of the que
's ton, in the event that it should
e presented to the proper tribunal +,
Re solution. We have at last reached
II point where the living issues Of Il
day ought to be considered by Il
r people of North Carolina witho'
II having them obscured by matte
B. that are calculated to create a DE-