The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-29
WISE AND CARLISLE CANNOT RE-
STORE NEGRO SUFFRAGE.

The action of John s. Wise, attorney
for the disfranchised negroes in Vir-
gipia, indicates that he is going to the
last ditch in order to procure the annul-
ment of the suffrage amendment to the
Contribution His advice to the negroes
to bring suit for money damages against
the governor who proclaimed the new
Constitution, against the members of the
Constitutional Convention who framed
the suffrage provision, and against the
election officers who enforced it against
the ignorant negroes-all this shows that
the contest has been begun in vicious
and vigorous manner. If the negroes take
the advice of Mr.. Wise it will stir up
a race bitterness hitherto unknown in the
Old Dominion. 1t is inconceivable that
a suit for damages in money against a
member of the Constitutional Convention
for doing what he regards as his plain
duty could be maintained in any court.
Mr.. Wise hardly expects to win such
suits The purpose of bringing them is
doubtless to work up Northern public
sentiment to the point that it will de-
mand an annulment of the suffrage pro-
vision which denies the ballot to most of
the negroes.
The employment of Mr.. Carlisle is evil
dence that the contest is a serious one.
Interviewed in Washington yesterday,
Mr.. Carlisle said he had been spoken to
about appearing in the case, that he
would not appear in the courts of Vir-
ginia, but would appear if the case was
carried to the Supreme court of the
United States. OF course that is the
tribunal where the important question
will be settled and the fact that the
opponents of the amendment have enough
money to employ lawyer of Mr.. Car
isles standing would seem to indicate
that there are parties behind the con-
test who have money and influence.
The progress of this case will be
watched with deep interest by the people
of every Southern State, particularly in
Louisiana, South Carolina, North Car
olina and Mississippi, as we'll as Virginia
While the suffrage amendments of all
these States differ, the end reached is
the same in all. 1t may be that the OPP
ponents of the amendments in all the
Southern States are behind the Virginia
suit, believing that an adverse decision
in the Virginia case would uproot all
the suffrage limitations in the South.
Every good man in the South, who
wishes peace in the political world and
freedom from strenuous political cam
paigns, will regret that a serious at
tempt is being made to reopen in its
demoralizing phase the negro question
in the South. 1t will be the worst days
work ever done for the negro if Mr.
Wise and Mr. Carlisle should win their
case.
So far as the people of North Caro-
lima are concerned, this may be said:
They will never again submit to full ne
gro suffrage. In good faith they arc exc
cutting the righteous amendment they
have adopted. If the Supreme court
should annul the amendment ratified in
August, 1900, we will pass the Mississip-
pi suffrage provision. If that should be
annulled, we will try the South Carolina
and Louisiana amendments in turn, and
never rest until we hit upon some method
to exclude full negro suffrage that will
stick. That is the settled determination
of the people of North Carolina. While
we deeply deplore any attempt to restore
old conditions, the people of this good
State, having put their hands to the
plows will a4ever turn back. The igno-
rant negro as voter will never again
be seen in North Carolina, no matter
what course John G. Carlisle or John S.
Wise or anybody else may pursue.