The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-26
OUTSIDE INTERFERENCEN0T DE.
SIRED.

The Winston Republican does not like
the suggestion that the President is to
dictate the policy of the Republican par
ty in North Carolina. 1t did not like
the amendment and fought it, but now
the Republican protests that the North
ern Republicans should not try to con-
troll the action of that party in North
Carolina. 1t says:
But this amendment was framed by
the people OF North Carolina themselves
the nation had nothing to do with it
and whether constitutional or uncon-
stitutional, law or no law-it means, il
it means anything, that the negro is to
be eliminated from politics at the pres
ent, and this implication is just as en- :
forcible as that part which says that
those who cannot read and write the
constitution shall not be allowed 10
vote Everybody knows that the law
was framed for the purpose of eliminat
ing the negro from politics and if the
law is allowed to be enforced at all it
will be enforced in toto. Certainly it is
rather late for any Northern sentiment
to dictate The Republican policy Of the
South. For thirty years the Southern
Republicans have been struggling to
give the negro, as we'll as every other
citizen. his constitutional rights, and it
made no difference how severe the con-
fiict or how hazardous the undertaking,
they received no assistance from the
North either in genuine sentiment or in
substantial aid. Now since the national
government has stood off and seen,
without a protest, the Southern States
one by one restrict the negro vote they
can hardly be accredited with an over
sense of justice for insisting and de-
handing that the local leaders fight for
the negroes that are left and keep them
selves at daggers point with the Dem
ocrats who are scrambling for what ne
gro votes they can get. The Northern
Republican is not as good friend to
the negro as the Southern Republican,
for how much recognition has the North
ever given the negro in office or any
thing else? But through the fight that
the Southern Republicans have made
for the negro and the recognition they
have given them the North has gotten
the strength Of almost the solid negro
vote in the North. Now do they want
to prostitute the South for their gain
IF there is any truth in these reports, 1t
must be that this is as far as their vir-
tue and sense of justice goes Formerly
the sentiment has been with them, set
tie your local affairs, these things must
adjust themselves Such was the re-
ply to French who was driven out from
Wilmington and others who sought re-
lief. Now our motto should be, If the
government is to allow the letter end
spirit of the national constitution to be
violated by any sort of practices or
State law, that no intermeddling of the
Northern leaders be allowed but that
our local matters be adjusted ly our
local leaders. If the North wants 10
show the negro any special favor at this
time in order to hold his vote in tho
North let them give him what place and
power they see fit in the North and lot
their local matters ADJUST themselves.
The Republicans in North Carolina will
attend TO things here, and at the same
time they will continue to remain TIE
best friend to the negro and will cham
pion the cause of the most practical
methods for equal rights to all and
special privileges to none.