The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-02-28

)CCtlOb n0OVA 90 WIG 8AoAAAoVAOA l
lause" in said amendment, but also |
Il the great danger of that unconstitu.
i0nal sectional section falling, leav-
ne the remainder OF the amendment
10 stand, thus DISTINGUISHING by an ed
lcationsl qualification fifty or sixty
thousand white voters Of North Caro-
ina, who in 1898 gave the Democratic
party power In the Legislature, and
whose ignorance is no fault of their
own but is chargeable to the neglect Of
the Democratic party, which now seeks
to disfranchise them and make their
ignorance q crime alongside that OF
the felon.
But even il che proposed amendment
were not unconstitutional Gas it clear
ly is), still it is especially objection
able in the following particulars:
(a) In that it dignifies with the right
of suffrage the most vicious, trouble
some and obnoxious class Of the negro
and completely disfran
chises the most faithful kindly and or
derby element of that race.
(b) In that, while clamoring for white
and declaring that NO white
man shall be disfranchised under this
amendment, they have so 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 Is able to read and
write.
(c) In that BY the latter provision,
they have made it possible for the ed
ucated negro after 1903 to cast his bal
lot while the unfortunate son OF the
white men who have been the strength
of true democracy stands without q
vote at the ballot box. They slaue hter
the suffrage of the soH 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.
(e) In that every voter VINO has not
paid his poll tax as much as five
months before the State election and
eight months before the national cleo
ton, shall be disfranchised as much a.
il he were convicted of felony or were
an ignorant negro. The purpose OF
this provision is not only to disfran-
ohise every good honest citizen who
unfortunately cannot pay his taxes by
the first of March preceding the cleo.
tion, but further to try to bribe the vo.
ter to surrender his suffrage at the ex.
pense of the public school fund Of tbs
State, which Is derived from poll taxes
There Turks behind this proposition s
still greater danger to the public
schools Of the State, for with the adop,
ton of the amendment the opponents
of free schools IN North Carolina will
at once raise the cry that every dollS1
raised for public instruction means ths
increase Of the number of negro 70.
ters, and thus the poor white mans
son will be chained in bondage of ig'
nOranoe and disfranchised to prevent
the education Of the negro voter
There is no white supremacy In this.
The constitutional question pre-
sented by the proposed amendment il
one that must be determined by tn,
judgment and conscience of each indi
vidual voter. Therefore, we do no
make it party question. We state tn
evils and dangers and leave the voter
ofall parties to pass their verdict il
the light Of these facts. The question
Is above party, and no one should b.
more active and anxious in our judg
ment to defeat 1t than the rank an,
file Of the Democratic party.
The Peoples Party is and has Away
been more distinctly than any 0the
party in North Carolina q white man
party, and is more anxious than an,
other party to solve the race problem
and to force oil parties to 4 discussion
OF the great economic issues 30 vitall
affecting the welfare of all wealth pro
ducers Of the State and nation and de
cenoy in politics.
Therefore, we propose in lieu of thi
dangerous amendment, the best sOiu
ton of the race question that ia posi-
bic as long as the 18th amendment t
the Constitution Of the United State
stands-a solution which deprives n
white man in North Carolina now o
hereafter Of his right Of ssuffrage, to
wit.
Amend Section 6, Art. s, of the Con
stitution of North Carolina By insert
ing among the disqualidcations 70
Office, enumerated therein, the follow
ing, viz: ALI negroes and all..person
of negro descent to the thirdS9enera
ton inclusive.
II the Democratic Legislature whic
meets in June will offer this safe, con
stitutional and wholesome amendmen
in,lieu of the present scheme it wi
have our hearty support. II they vii
not, we appeal to the people to rally t
eur assistance to elect 3 LeRislatur
pledged to support suoh( an amend
ment.
| We congratulate the people.of. Mort
Carolina upon the decision of,the Stat
Supreme Court in the case Of Harri
vs. Wright (19t N. G. R., 171), declal
ing that the General Assembly Ia
power to provide different systems Z
county government for various coup
ties of the State. Acting under thi
decision, we pledge the Peoples Part
to the maintenance Of the system G
local self-government in oil the whit
counties, towns and cities in the Stat
as established by the General Assem-
, bly, Of 1896, snd at the same time {
| provide and maintain legislative syi
tenn Of c0onty governments for all th
negro counties Of the Estate, 80 tha
there can never be any Question thu
the white people shall always have 70
and complete control Of county in.t1
State.
We 1snounce the Democratic Legil
lature Of 1889 for passing anleleotio
law, every provision Of WhichIkis cart
fully and cunningly planned. and d
vised to thwsrt the sovereign will z
the people Of North Carolins by:Whol1