The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-08-29
WILL VIRGINIA BREAK HER
PLEDGE.

Of Virginia when II issued the call
for the present Constitutional State
Convention, which Is now In session,
adopted the following resolutions:
THAT IL Ii the sense Of this Con-
ventIon that when such Constitu-
ton shall have been framed, IL shall
be submitted to vote Of the peO-
pie, for ratification or rejection"
There canlbe no question that this
was q pledge by the Democratic
State Convention and by the Demo-
cratic Party Of Virginia, as strong
as any party or Convention can make
Il, and 70 plain and distinct that
there can be no misunderstanding Of
It's terms. Yet In the face of this
public pledge, the Constitutional
Convention Of Virginia few days
since voted down q resolution to
submit the new Constitution to q
vote Of the people for ratification or
rejection, by q more than two-third
majority.
IL will be remembered that the
Democratic Party Of North Carolina
has recently been guilty of an equal
ly fragrant breach Of faith with the
public. The Democratic State Con-
vention Of this State declared as
solemLly and as explicitly as 1t Is
possible for the English Language to
express that If they were put In
power, that they would not submit,
that they would not offer in the
Legislature or attempt to enact any
constitutional provision, the taking
away the suffrage ofa single voter
or OF any class of voters in this State.
No sooner had the Democratic Party
COTTON In power, on this pledge than
It proceeded post haste to rush
through the Legislature a Constitu.
tional Amendment, known az the
Grandfather Clause, which was de.
clared adopted at the recent 80 called
election, after the use of fraud, force
and violence. 1t seems that Vir
GINA has been infected with this
Simmons germ Of perfidy. 1t i!
noticeable that not a single news
paper in the State, with but one ex
ception has endorsed the Simmon'l
Red Shirt Machine, has criticized o.
condemned the Constitutional Con
vention Of Virginia, for its break
ing faith Win The people of tina
State. This Is perfectly natural, TO
how can q man condemn in other
what he has so recently been guilt.
of doing himself.
The exception referred to is tn,
Charlotte Observer. That paper il
recent editorial has taken the Dem
ocratic Party of Virginia to task TO
violating this solemn pledge.
will be remembered however, tina
that paper condoned the same gray
offense when committed in Nortl
Carolina. 1t may be however, tina
there is yet left enough Of righteous
ness In the Charlotte Observer to b
able to repent of the crime Of publ
perhdy which 1t once endorsed, an,
If 80, all truthful, law abiding, an
patriotic citizens should give 1t
helping hand.
In this connection 1t may not b
improper to inquire why, sue
solemn pledges of a party can b
broken with impunity. No part
would dare to do in North Carolin
what the Democratic Party of VIII
ginia has just done If there was
fair and honest election law on tn
statute books Of this State, 80 this
when a majority of the voters d.
sired to register their condemnation
they could have an opportunity
cast their vote and have it counte
as cast.
The Simmons Machine Party i
North Carolina and the Machiu
Politicians in Virginia who hav
violated their solemn public pledgt
to the people have in their hands til
election machinery by which, an
with which, they would steal enoug
votes and falsify enough returns
overcome any majority that d.
ceived and indignant public migl
attempt to register at the ballot DO
against them. This Is another stril
ing illustration of the many era,
and dangerous evils that are col
stantly given birth to and nurture
by q dishonest election law. N,
only the political morals of par. i
and politicians, for these are of Il
least consideration, but the publ
welfare, the protection of our cit
zens, their life and property, and Il
deed the very foundations of societ,
demand that there should be pu
and honest elections. Then Il
righteous verdict of the great pu
lie jury can and will decide, n
nnlv uuhc fo q ;kR,c,,I .-l ,xx~-xl