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

Mr.. President: | aak the indul-
genCe of the Senate for short time
in order that i may submit some re-
marks In regard To- the motion of
my colleague to refer the credentials
of Hon. +. NJ. Simmons, Senator
elect from my State, to the Commit
tee on Privileges and elections. /
had not intended to refer to political
conditions in North Carolina during
the present session Of Congress, but
since my colleague has seen fit to
make the motion in question, |
deem II proper that | should briefly
review existing conditions in that
State, IA well AZ the incidents which
led up to what the Democrats are
pleased TO term revolution.
One would naturally suppose that
the people of every State enjoy the
benefits of republican form of
government, but | regret to state
that such IL not the case In the State
which / have the honor in part to
represent.
tuition of the United States provides
AZ follows;
"The United States shall guaran-
tee to every State In this Union d
republican form of government, and
shall protect each of them against
invasion; and on application. of the
legislature, or of the executive when
the legislature can not be convcned), +,
against domestic violence"
The foregoing is plain and explic-
ii and leaves no doubt as to the duty
of Congress with respect to the mat
ter. The language of the Constitu-
tion Is mandatory, plain, and une-
quivOcal, but for some cause or other
there is disposition OH the part of
many to- acquiesce in that which, in
my Judgment, will sooner or later
undermine the ,tfOundation of the
Government of the United States.
In 1894 the Republicans and Pop
ulists combined their forces in oppo-
sition to the Democratic party and
succeeded in carrying the state by q
large majority, securing control of
both branches of the general assem-
bly,. For years prior thereto the
Democratic party had been in abso-
lutte control of all branches of the
State government, and in possession
Of the election machinery in every
county in the State.
The Republicans and Populists, in
1895, enacted all election law that
was perfectly fair in its provisions
1t being provided, among other
things, that the chairmen of the re
spective parties should have the
right to select those who were tC
represent them on the election
boards.
In 1896 the anti Democratic forces
again prevailed, electing all the
State officers, consisting of Republi
cans and Populists, and in this con
nection ] desire to say that we have
never had our State affairs admins
tered in a more satisfactory manne
than they were under the admins
tration of Governor Russell. TIL
credit of the State was greatly im
proved during his administration
and not dollar of the States fund
was unaccOunted for when the gov
ernment was turned over to tn
Democrats on the first of last month
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1898.
The Democrats in 1898, realizin
that a great majority of the peopl
of the State were opposed to thei
policy, and knowing full well tina
anything like fair expression c
public opinion at the ballot bO
would mean their complete defeat
deliberately organized a systemati
campaign of intimidation and vii
lence (resulting, in some instance
in bloodshed) which has never ha
parallel in any section of the cour
M try. Not only were the negroes
eastern Carolina denied the right I
vote, but thousands Of white me
in the middle and eastern sections
the State were so completely terro
lied that they refrained from vOtinj
while many of them, by cOercio
were induced to vote the Democrat
2 ticket.
The adoption of such unlawf
methods resulted in giving the Der
ocrats good working majority
the legislature at that election; al
among other things, they euactt
an election law which was prepar,
with the sole view of enabling tn
party to overcome the large majo
N ty that was against them in t
State. The Legislature did not a
journ at the end of sixty days, as
provided by the Constitution, b
took a recess until the month
June, 1900, and it was stated
many of the Democratic papers til
recess had been taken with a vie
ofimpeaching the governor and t
judges of the superior court unC
certain contingencies; and this Fl
was from time to time referred
by many Democratic papers for I
loIrpose, as believe, Of intimidati
Ato ROvernor to such an extent as
hesyeDt him from taking such stt
AlVere necessary to secure the pr,
10 nfbrcement of the law, and
sQipclined to the opinion Il
fumors were intended to
te the judges to such an
us to prevent them from gra
the remedies to which we