The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-20


During these few moments / can give
you bat faint idea Of the humiliation
of our good old State.
In 1898 the white men of North Caro-
lima united and swept these people from
power In 1900 they boldly, openly
adopted an amendment to their Consti
tuition which renders a repetition of this
condition forever impossible. / have
not the time today. Mr.. Chairman. to
discuss the constitutionality of that
amendment. We believe it will be sus-
tanned by the courts. We do not be-
lieVe that by law the Republican major
ity in the House has any right to reduce
our representation here. But we have
done what We have done.
If the law of the land requires a re-
duction in our representation in this
House we will submit to it. I under
take 10 say there is not Democratic
member from our State who would not
willingly give UP his seat if ii were
necessary to save our State from the
curse OF negro rule. If you wish to
punish us for protecting our homes, do
your worst. We defy you We shall
appeal from the blind partisan here to
our patriotic and sympathetic white
| brother in all the States of the Union.
| Think you this appeal will he in vain?
But, Mr.. Chairman, while they are
proposing to investigate, | thought it
would be a good idea to propose an ad-
| ditional investigation. Let us ascertain,
| if we can, something about the corrupt
| use of money in our national elections
| While you are investigating the legal
| of
South, suppose you investigate the
| purchase of white votes in other sec
| tions. 1t is matter of common knowl-
| edge that large funds are raised and
| distributed in every campaign by the
| Republican party. 1T is charged, and
not denied, that this corruption fund
| for it can have no other correct name)
| in 1886 amounted to millions. 1t has
been charged that the Republican ma
/ tional chairman raised 100000 in one
| city, and more than a million in an
| other OF course this cannot be proven
| without the aid of an investigation.
| ] do not undertake to say the state
! ment is true, but it is believed to be
| true by many an honest man in this
| country. One of the editorials in
| Republican paper, which nMsrepresent-
ed my resolutions Gas the editor has
since sdmitted), uses these words: 1T
is the common belief that far too much
| money is spent in our political CAM
paiyns. 1t is a growing evil and many
| men deplore it," When a Republican
paper makes this admission Mr. Chair
| man, you may rest assured that a very
grave evil exists. Whether true or
| false, there is a belief entertained by
| many a good man that the Presidency
Of this great Republic goes to the party
who can raise the greatest corruption
| fund. Let us illustrate.
| Suppose, in 1904, the Republican party
| shall name it's candidate, supply it's ma
| tional chairman with unlimited means.
/ as was said to be the case in 1896,
| and suppose the Democratic party
| shall name it's candidate and it's national
chairman shall only be supplied with
! enough money to defray the legitimate
! expenses of the campaign, which candi-
| date do you suppose will win? Now,
reverse the proposition. Give the
| Democratic national chairman plenty of
money and the Republican chairman lit
| tie or none. How do you think doubt
full States will go?
! DO you think, Mr.. Chairman. that
there would be very much Republican
| money put UP on their candidate? The
parties are so equally divided that a
few of the doubtful States generally
decide the election. How utterly abom-
Unable the practice of pouring money
like water into these doubtful States to
corrupt their votes: How utterly bor-
| al hot
campaign funds. If my party is guilty.
let us turn on the lights. Let us inves-
tigate, and if these rumors be true
which we constantly hear, let us do
something to put an end to the practice
| forever.
| We sometimes hear men suggest That
the Republic is in danger. Most of
this is idle talk. But, Mr.. Chairman,
! there is one real danger. there is one
| ever-present menace to liberty. 1t
overhangs our beloved country like a
black cloud 1t is the corruption of the
| American electorate by the use of
money. Neither party can justify the
practice by charging that the other
other party is guilty. it never has
| been right to fight the devil with fire.
Gentlemen cannot evade the RESPONSE
bility. No man should he willing for
his party to do that which ne would not
| do himself.
For one, Mr.. Chairman, I prefer a re-
preston of partisan strife. Rancor and
partisan bitterness are to be deplored at
all times Let us lock beyond our own
State, our own section. and embrace
within our loyalty and our love every
inch of this Republic. Let the gentle
man from Indiana he warned that no
good can come of his INVESTIGATE ion, but
much harm. Let him be warned that
1t will open UP strife in land now pros
Porous and peaceful. 1t might be we'll
for him to ask himself whether there is
any demand for the passage of his reso-
lutions. But if his party shall insist
upon an investigation let ii proceed to
correct, if possible. the very greatest of
all our national evils.
Mr.. Chairman, it remains to be seen
wat will be done with the resolutions
have introduced. They have been re-
ferred to the Committee on Rules. That
committee is all-powerful, but the reso-
luticns will not be reported. They will