The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-07-25
LETTERS OF
The PEOPLE.
HOW DEMOCRATS TRIED TO
PREVENT FREE SPEECH
IN NORTH CAROLINA
IN AUG. CAMPAIGN.


suit I. Been Instituted In Louisiana
Conte.tinE the Validity or the Late
Amendment to tho Constitation OF That
stAte-To be- Made Test Case.
The Constitution Of the United
States say: Congress shall make
no laws respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting free exer-
cisc thereof, or abridge the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the
right Of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Gov
ernOr for redress of grievances
Amendments, article !, page 628 of
the Code, Vol. 2. Aud In the pre-
amble to our state constitution,
civil, political and religious liberty
il affirmed, and IL Is stated, "for the
more certain security thereof and
for the better government Of this
state, ordain and establish this con-
stitution." Page 678 of the Code,
constitutional guaranty in respect to
liberty of speech whether civil,
political or religious; and In this
connection the most pertinent and
prominent questions would seem to
he, what is political freedom? What
is liberty Of speech? Political free
dom embraces in broad terms the
right to exercise unmolested all the
rights and privileges of an American
citizen guaranteed by the funda-
mental law of the United States,
and of the state, not inconsistent
therewith; and such other laws,
state and national, as shall incident
ally confer these rights and privi-
leges upon the citizens. So it is de-
clared that man shall worship God
according to the dictates of his own
conscience, and that no human
authority shall interfere with this
right. See 26th amendment, article
/, Vol. 2, page 6S5 of the State Con-
stitutiOn. 1t is stated as truth
that the arts and the sciences flourish
together, and it might be said axio-
matically that civil, religious and
political liberty are inseparable and
must be maintained together, and
hence liberty or freedom of speech
much logically embrace the right OF
the citizen to express without let OF
hinderance, his political views and
faith, no matter whether they &C
cord or not with the dominant party
80 long as he can get people to listen
to him, and he keeps within the
limits Of the law. No citizen, OF
body of citizens would have right
to molest him, or prevent free ex
preston of his political thought OF
ideas, no matter how Objectionable
they might be to those holding dif
ferent political views, so long al
stated the speaker remains within
the pals of the law and does no
abuse his great privilege. In fact
the General Assembly of the stat,
regarded this matter with so mucl
respect that it passed an act maxim,
1t midemeanOr to interfere will
any political meeting or gathering
Notwithstanding, the Fundamental
laws of the state and nation, and tn
law above referred to, did the re
publican and pOpulist speakers hav'
these rights accorded to them? Ever,
body in the state knows that the,
did not have these rights accorde,
to them. AT some pOints in tn
state they were met by red shirts an,
not permitted to get off Of the Car
to go to their appointments, and a
other places they were met by band
of armed men, who were ready t
enforce their purpose to preven
speaking; and at Smithfield the
did actually drag speaker from tn
stand and across the street, wit
words Of abuse, and blows, and tor
the stand to pieces. These are onl
few Of the instances of ruffianisr
practiced by the dominant party
On all Occasion3 the passions an
prejudices were greatly aroused b
the infiamitory speeches made b
the leaders and speakers of the Den
ocratic party men who claimed
be statesmen and members of tf
great Anglo Saxon. Yet those wh
did not hesitate to say anythin
that would help to infiame the PEI
pie of the white race to greater stri1
and commotion, and bring out the
savage qualities.
Can such work as this be stat
menship, of which any man in h
sober senses could endorse, or
proud of? We think not. II
writer of this article heard one
the most prominent men in Il
Democratic party, at polite
meeting, use language no gentlem,
would be guilty of, for it was wit
out argument and nothing but
TRADE of vilification and abuse
the populist and white republican
When asked by populist for
opportunity to reply to this spec
the opportunity was refused, al
why? because the speaker knew t,
well that complete answer cOu
be made to his negro argument al
TRADE of abuse.
This learned stateman, and lawy
said among other things, "Any o
who tells you that the constitution
amendment is not constitutional Il
and he knows that he lies" Y
wonder how he feels now after be
Virginia and Alabama constitution
conventions have turned the Nor
Carolina amendment down IS bel
unconstitutional; and they state Il
AnAI.-