The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-24
LET'S HAVE NO MORE TRICKERY
IN POLITICS..

The ewspapers Of he state have OF
late reported several cases OF persons
being refused the right Of registration
who were clearly entitled thereto. and
some Of these cases have been brought
10 the attention of Chairman Simmons
and other leaders of the democratic
party. The registrars all over the state
have Ia the law on the subject OF
registration and their duties under that
law clearly defined by Chairman Sim
mons and other members of the demo-
cratic party well versed in the law,
and there is no excuse for such flag
rant violations Of that law as some OF
the registrars have committed. We say
that it is Chairman Simmons duty to
see that registrars vino willfully and
knowingly violate his law are punish
ed. There was a time when democrats
OF this state pursued political methods
not agreeable to them. Self-preserva-
ton and the maintenance of Anglo
Saxon rule as opposed to negro domi-
nation in many sections of the stare
drove them to acts which they
otherwise would not have counte-
nanced. The white people of our state
did not pursue this course from choice,
but from necessity. 1t was a terrible
state of affairs. It's tendency was to
blunt he conscience and debauch the
manhood of our citizenship.
To put a stop to this the constitutions
al amendment was proposed by the
democratic leaders. and the people.
tired Of the means they were forced to
adopt eac election year to keep the
state in the hands of the white peo-
pie. and adopted the constitutional
amendment upon the pledge of those
readers that thereafter our elections
should be free from fraud, and the poll
tics of the state should be clean. Now
We call upon Chairman Simmons and
the other party leaders to prove their
sincerity and vipdicate the honor of the
white people of the state. Let's have
no more trickery in elections. God
knows it was bad enough when We were
forced to it; but now that there is no
need for it let's put it down with a
strong hand and show to the balance
of h country that when We d~isfran- /
chiSed the illiterate negroes and told
those who were qualified under the
new law that they should enjoy their |
full rights that We meant what we said
and intend to stand by that pledge.
There is no reason in the world why
a single negro in the state qualified
under the present election law should
be denied his right and The Messenr
ger stands opposed to such denial. Il |
opposes such action for two reasons.
First, it is not right. 1t is a violation
of the law when there is not the slight
est excuse for such violation. In the
second place it is not politics as a art>
measure at this time. 1t will lead peo-
pie to believe that the party was not
sincere in its pledge to purify our poll
tics if the amendment were adopted
and will lessen the chances of making
the thirty thousand or more negro cleo
tors in the state independent voters.
We do not want the negro vote en-
masse as the republicans have had il
since emancipation, but We do want
those negroes who can, to vote d
pCaAuCAAAJs Al NV % " 1855 W oiAS /;
himself with one party or the other
and thus keep up the race antagonism
in all political matters that has hereto
fore existed The way to prevent this /
is to show the negro that we intend t.
deal fairly with him and let him vote
according to his convictions. 1t is u /,
duty to do SD. III is to our interest 10
do so. |
The democrats a carry he state
without resOrting to such means; then
Let's put them aside for all time TIC
some If the democrats will register
and vote they can win the victory. Tha
- all that rs necessary for them 90
10. Register and vote and so win an
honest victory