The age-herald., 1901-07-07

of the strongest men of North Carolina were Republicans and Populists, and these parties were led by Senators Pritchard and Butler, two of the ablest men intellectually of that State. This opposition, composed of Republicans and Populists, fought this plan fairly and squarely before the people at the polls The result was that the Democratic ma jority for the ticket. and the amend ment was in the nelghborhood of 6O,000 being approximately three hundred per cent over the normal majority.
 It's Alleged Unpopularlty.
 But it is said that this clause Is unpopu- lar with certain very intelligent and sen sitive people. Even that contention was not sustained in the only state where it has been put to the test, for MT. Sim mons, who led the fight for this enact ment before the people of North Caro- lima, went soon afterwards before the Democratic primary for nomination to the United States Senate to succeed Sen ator Butler. Opposed to him were three of the ablest men of the State-men who deserved well of the State and who were well fitted for tNe position. Mfr Sim mons, In fair white Democratic pri- mary. at which the largest vote ever boiled fin a state primary was cast. de- feated his opponents by over 10000 votes, and he did so because he led the fight on this issue. That was where the question was thoroughly debated and understood
 Is the Plan Unconstitutional?
 There are some people who, if they ob- ject to any proposition, immediately de- eide 1t to be unconstitutional and so de- clare 1t to be. These same people de- clared the Mississippi plan to be uncon- stitutional, and that, though 1t was framed by Senator George. her ablest Tk l hA1d to 1an nm. stitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. It has been repeatedly held by that court that neither the four teenth nor the fifteenth amendment con fers the right of suffrage on any person, and that who shall be vested with that privilege rests within the sole preroga- tive of the state, saving only that no dis criminahon may be made on account or trace, color or previous condition of ser vitude" It is further held that such dis crimination must appear upon the face of the provision itself The court will not undertake to read the minds of the legis- lators, nor even their declarations.
 A property or educational qualification would disfranchse more negroes than whites. An educational qualification was adopted In Maryland for the simple req son that it would disfranchise more ne- groes than whites. and yet who doubts it's constitutlonality?
 It is true that more whites have fought in the wars of their country than negroes but there is no more reason why dls- crimination in favor of one who tought for his country, and to a certain part not all. of his descendants, should not be np- held than that a poll tax provision, which likewise disfranchises more negroes than whites, should not be.
 Representation in Congress.
 J.. trJ t17at O- vision in our constitution will cause us to lose a large part of our representation in Congress and the electoral college under the influence of the fourteenth amend ment. This amendment granted to con gress merely a power which 1t might eX- ercise or not, in it's discretion. It IS un- der no more obligation to exercise this particular power than 1t Is, for exanple' to declare war, to enact bankruptcy laW or any other of the enumerated grants or mower therein. Those members of Con gross with whom 1 have had the opportu- nity of conversing have assured me that we are in no danger from this quarter that similar provisions restricting sur- rare are found In the constitutions or various Northern States which would De effected in the same manner exactly as the States of the South would be, and they say that the representatives from these States have assured them that they will never consent to any law being pass ed, the purpose of which Is to carry into effect this amendment of the constitution. However that may be, this is certain Congress has no constitutional power to reduce the representation in Congress or the electoral college of any State which limits the right of suffrage unless 1t does the same by all. Every Northern State where an educational, property or other qualification Is imposed by law would have to submit to a like reduction fin rep resentation if the present contention be sound And a further provision is that l the reduction shall be based upon the proposition which the number of voters disfranchised Is to the total number otherwise entitled to vote. This so-called "grandfather clause" enfranchises voters instead of disfranchising them. It would seem that those who are so fearful about our representation in Congress being cut down ought to be delighted with it, in stead of opposing it. It is self-eviden that the more voters we have left the less reduction there can be. Should the Races Be On Equality But still another objection is made that the illterate white man ought to be placed upon exactly the same basis as the illiterate negro, and on lower basis than the educated negro. AS already | stated, the last census showed only a fraction over 13 per cent of white males | above 21 years of age, who were illlteu> ate. The poll tax clause, which is
 unanimously reported by the committee, | enables a part of these to distranchise | themselves by the simple act of not pay | ing their poll tax at the appointed time. | That there are some whites who will | avail themselves of this privilege of vol | untary disfranchisement. there can be nc | doubt. As a rule they are the only class l of whites in whose hands the possession | of the ballot Is a curse. and menace | Barring these, we may search the annals | of our State and of our nat'on Tn VaiIi for any instance where the possession or | the ballot by the white man. whether It. | crate or illiterate. has ever been menace | to any of our institutions. And converse | ly we can search the anna's of the State | and nation and we will find that unre- | s,ricted negro suffrage has ever been l danger and a menace to all of our insti- | tutions. The crying evil against which we have all complained, the great burden which has rested worse than blight uncn all our institutions, has not been white suffrage but 1t has been negro suffrage Before the negro ever had right to vote the illitc-ate white pos seescd and exercised that privilege with perfect safety to the State. There is no danger to be apprehended from that source If there is any discrimination hetween the white man and the black in