The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-03-14

ignorance a crime alongside that of
the felon.
But even il 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
chises 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
amendment, they have so written their
amendment that every white boy be-
coming of age after 1905 stands on the
same footing with the negro, and can
not vote unless ne is able to read and
write.
co. In tha, by the latter provision,
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
vote at the ballot box. They slaughter
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 iD
North Carolina.
(e) In that every voter who has not
paid his poll tax as much rs FIVE
months before the State election and
eight months before the national cleo
| ton, shall be DISTINGUISHED as much as
if he were convicted OF felony or were
an ignorant negro. TIE purpose Of
this provision is not only to disfran-
ohise every good honest citizen who
unfortunately cannot pay his taxes by
the arst Of March preceding the cleo
tion, but further to try to bri be the vo-
ter to surrender his suffrage at the ex-
pense of the public school, fund of the
There Turks behind this proposition Il
still greater danger to the public
schools of the State, for with the adup
tiOn of the amendment the opponents
of free schools in North Carolina will
at once raise the cry that every dollar
raised for public instruction means the
increase of the number of negro v0-
ters, and thus the poor white mans
son will be chained in bondage of iG-
norsnce 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 is
one that must be determined By the
judgment and conscience of each indi-
vidual voter. Therefore, we do not
make it party question. We state the
evils and dangers and leave the voters
Of all parties to pass their verdict in
the light of these facts. The question
is above party, and no one should be
more active and anxious in our judg-
ment to defeat it than the rank and
file Of the Democratic party.
The Peoples Party is and has always
been more distinctly than any other
party in North Carolina . white mans
party, and is more anxious than any
other party to solve the race problem
and to force Ill parties TO 4 discussion
of the great economic issues 80 vitality
affecting the welfare of all wealth pro-
ducers Of the State and nation and de
cenoy in politics.
Therefore, we propose in Lieu of this
dangerous amendment, the best solu-
ton Of the race question that is posi-
bic as long As the 18th amendment ~
the Constitution Of the United Statea
stands solution which deprives no
white man in North Carolina now OF
hereafter Of his right Of suffrage, to-
wit
Amend Section 6, Art. s, of the Con-
stitution Of North Carolina by insert
ing among the disquaIiac4tiOns for
Office, enumerated therein, the follow
ing, viz: All negroes and all--pers0ns
Of negro descent to the thirdsgenera-
ton inclusive.
II the Democratic Legislature which
meets in June will offer this safe, con-
stitutional and wholesome amendment
in,lieu of the present scheme it will
have our hearty support. II they will
not, we appeal to the people to rally to
our assistance to elect & Legislature
pledged TO support suohi an amend.
ment.
We congratulate the pe0pies0f.N orth
Carolina upon the decision ofithe. State
Supreme Court in the case Of Harris
vs.. Wright 12t N. G. R., 179), declar-
ing that the General Assembly has
power to provide different systems OF
county government for various coun.
ties Of the State. Acting under this
decision, we pledge the Peoples Party
to the maintenance of the system of
local self-g0vernment in all the white
counties, towns and cities in the State
as established by the General Assem-
bly, Of 1896, and at the same time ia
provide and maintain q legislative sys-
tenn Of c0onty government for all the
negro counties Of the State, 50 that
there can never be any question that
the white people shall always have full
ana complete control Of county in.the
State.
We denounce the Democratic Lesis-
nature of 1899 for passing anselectiop
Law, evafy provision of whiohsis care
fully and cunningly planned and de-
visea to thwart the sovereign will Of
the people Of North Carolins by.Whole-
sale fraud and debsuehery Of the nj
lot bex We essla]s. without fSa1 d