The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-02-14

known, or at least had . reasonable
doubt, not only "a to the uncOnstitu-
tionality of the monstrous provision of
Section 8, known as the grandfather
clause" in said amendment, but also
Of the great danger of that unconstitu.
tional sectional section falling, leav-
ing the remainder of the amendment
to stand, thus disfranchising by an ed
ucational qualification fifty or sixty
thousand white voters Of North Caro-
lima, 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 If the 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
population, and completely disfran.
cbises the most faithful kindly and or
derby element Of that race.
(b) In that,while clamoring for white
supremacy and declaring that no white
man shall be disfranchised under this
amendments, 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 abba to read and
write:
they have made it possible for the ed
ucated negro after 1908 to cast his bal
lot while the unfortunate son Of the
white men who have been the strength
of true democracy stands without a
| the suffrage of the son 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 who has moi
paid his poll tax as much as fvs
months before the State election ant
eight months before the national cleo.
ton, shall be disfranchised as much Al
if he were convicted of felony CT were
an ignorant negro. The purpose Of
this provision is not only to disfran
chise every good honest citizen whit
unfortunately cannot pay his taxes BY
the first of March preceding the cleo
ton, but further to try to bride the vo
ter to surrender his suffrage at the ex
pense Of the public school fund of th'
State, which is derived from poll taxes
There Turks behind this proposition
still greater danger to the publ,
schools of the State, for with the adop
ton of the amendment the opponents
of free schools in North Carolina viii
at once raise the CRY that every dolla
} raised for public instruction means tn
increase Of the number of negro vo
} ters, and thus the poor white man
son will be chained In bondage of ig
noranoe and disfranchised to proven
the education of the negro voter
} There is no white supremacy In this.
The constitutional question pre-
, sented by the proposed Amendments
} 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
of all parties to pass their verdict il
the light Of these facts. The question
is above party, and no one should b
ment to defeat it than the rank an
The Peoples Party is and has AWAY
, been more distinctly than any othe
party in North Carolina q white man
} party, and is more anxious than an
other party to solve the race problem
!, and to force al parties to discusslo
of the great economic issues 80 vital
: affecting the welfare Of all wealth pr(
ducers Of the State and nation and d.
: cency in politics.
Therefore, we propose in lieu of thi
u dangerous amendment, the best solr
tion of the race question that is poss
BILE as long. as the 10Th amendment I
the Constitution Of the United State
7 stands solution which deprives q
white man in North Carolina now q
hereafter Of his right ofSsuffrage, K
wit.
Amend Section 6, Art. 6, of the Coz
stitutiOn Of North Carolina by insert
ing among the disqualiicati0ns Il
J. office, enumerated therein, the follow
d ing, viz: ALI negroes and all..persor
r Of negro descent to the thirdlgeners
] ton inclusive.
oil II the Democratic Legislature Whic
meets in June will offer this safe, COZ
!, stituti0nal and wholesome amendmeI
injlieu Of the present scheme it wi
> have our hearty support. II they wi
! not, we appeal to the people to rally I
our assistance to elect q Le9islatuI
]. pledged to support suchl an ament
!. ment.
:. We congratulate the peopIesofsNo rt
:, Carolina upon the decision Ofsthe Sta,
I Supreme Court in the case of Harr
vs.. Wright (12t n. G. R., 172), decla1
), ing that the General Assembly b,
Y power to provide different systems ,
J. county government for various cour
r. ties Of the State. Acting under tn
! decision, we pledge the Peoples Part
> to the maintenance Of the system
local self-g0vernment in all the viii,
i counties, towns and cities in the Sta,
It as established by the General Assem-
), bly, Of 1895, and 1t the same time
n provide and maintain legislative sy
q seln Of c00nty governments for all Il
q aegro counties Of the state, 80 tn,
there can never be any Question th,
J; the white people shall always have 10
e and complete control Of county init
3, State.
'e We denounce the Democratic Lesj
i iature Of 1899 for pacing anleIec:1o
~ law, every provision Of WhichSis car
fully and cunningly planned: and d
vised to thWart the SOVEREIGN will
the people Of North Carolina by.Whol
sale fraud and debauehsey Of the q
ipt bex. Ne deslases lWitheut tsay