The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-03


lines marked out in rs and '76.
l also rejoice in the fact that we have
elected a Governor and other public Of
ficials who are open and bold in proclaim
ing their loyalty to the Constitution
which they have sworn to support, and in
redeeming the pledges they made in our
name and by our authority to provide
schools for all the children in accord
anee with our Constitution sufficiently
to enable all the children of the State to
learn to read and write.
But it is painful to me to hear the
Governor criticised by members of his
own party for doing what they have
said should be done, and what they have
commanded to be done. 1t is really no
reflection upon the Governor, but upon
themselves In one of our eastern coun-
ties, at a convention Of our party recent
ly held in that county, have heard that
a man of prominence went so far in his
criticism of the Governor and others who
are standing by him as to say that the
only harm he wished the Governor and
the like was that they might live thous-
and years and have to teach negro
school the balance of their lives and
never see another piece of soap. Now
this was said by a man who voted in
1876 for that amendment to the COnsti-
tuition which declared that there should
be no discrimination in favor of or to the
prejudice of either race in the matter of
the public schools, and who time and
again has sworn to support that COnsti-
tuition with that provision in it. While
others may not critfcise the Governor so
vigorously, yet l am aware of the fact
that they do criticise him for his agrees
sive warfare against ignorance and i'll
favor Of universal education. 1 have yet
! to hear of any Republican who has crit
icised him about this matter. All the
criticism comes from the members of the
party who put this very provision in the
Constitution which forbids discrimina-
tion in the public schools. 1 say it is
painful to me to hear of these criticisms
not that they do the Governor any harm,
but that they are not creditable to the
persons who make them, and that they
are stains upon the record of our party.
/ have faithfully served the Demo
cratic party as best / knew how for half
century. / have rejoiced in it's victor
les, shared in it's hOnors and lamented it's
defeats. | have with genuine sincerity
and enthusiasm praised and eXtolled its
splendid record in the State. And what
Democrat has not done so? 1t has been
a record full of noble deeds and patriotic
endeavor The resources of the State
have been developed, property and indi-
Vidual rights protected, good government
secured, schools established and multi
| piled, the unfortunate tenderly cared for
and reat progress made in uplifting and
ennobling the people. When it has been
| in power the progress Of the State has
been steady, healthy peaceful and
bright. Pages upon pages may be writ
ten of it, and still the record of its noble
achievements remain only half told. The
part of that splendid record that eXcites
my admiration most is the position the
party has taken and maintained in its
care for the unfortunate classes and in
the education of the children of the
State. Among its first acts after it came
into power were those which provided
enlarged accommodations for the unfor-
tunate and increased appropriation for
the schools. And when it came to deal
with the question of schools for the two
races it decreed that there should be no
discrimination in favor of or against
either race, and amid conflicts and trials
and tribulations the party has stood by
that position. And / submit no more
sublime spectacle could be presented
Here was a great party composed entire
ly of white men and against it was ar
rayed the solid negro vote, and yet this
party declares there shall be discrimina-
tion in the schools in favor of the child
rem of the race which stands solidly
against it. 1t voluntarily assumed this
position and it has faithfully maintained
it, and in doing so we have made a record
to which we can point with pride Our
race the great Anglo Saxon race, has
been just to the children of this weak and
feeble race. While a few Of our people
| have complained and have been disposed
| to antagonize the party's position, the
great ma ority of the party has kept faith
| with its declared policy. After this long
and glorious record the party cannot af-
ford to take any backward step on this
great question of education. 1t must so
forward and provide ample means for the
education of all the children of the State.
1t is committed to this policy by the
most solemn acts and promises and | APP
peal to the conscience of this great party
| to stand by its record and to fulfill its
| pledges. Heed not the voice of the dem
| agogue and the charlatan, but follow the
| lead of our patriotic Governor and his
| co-laborers for the education of the peo
| pie and the upbuilding of the State. our
party has a great mission and a great
| work entrusted to it. l appeal to it to
| fulfill the high mission in broad, liber-
al, catholic spirit. We have stood the
| negro aside from the ballot box. We do
not permit him to participate in making
! or executing the law which shall govern
| him and protect his children. We have
| taken that work in our own hands. BY
| depriving him of the ballot we have rem
| dered him helpless. He is dependent
solely upon our sense of justice. Now
| having shorn him of his power if we
! should proceed to enact laws which shall
reverse our own record and doom his
| children to enforced ignorance we will
| be doing this feeble and submissive race
| a great wrong for which we must answer
at the bar of our own conscience, at the
| bar of public opinion, and at the bar of
| God / cannot, j will not believe that
will axar Dammit c.1cb orirno