The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-14

llcan demagogery will compass its defeat
rms would not mean stagnation but
would safely invite and guarantee that
healthy discussion which is essential in
Republic. AS long as the contest is
close between the Democratic and Re
publican party, purely political questions
will throw social, industrial and moral
questions into the background. Freed
from fear from an impotent Republican
party, the people could bring forward
great State questions upon which there
is a difference of opinion, and wage the
battle vigorously in the Democratic
party without fear that such discussion
and division would turn the State over to
Radicalism and Ruin.
In his correspondence from Raleigh
about the size of the negro vote and the
future of North Carolina politics, Col.
Fred. A. Odds sends out the following:
Senator Pritchard estimates the ne
gro vote this year at 10000. When JO-
sephus Daniels, who is the Democratic
national committeeman for North Caro-
lima, was asked for his estimate he said
Not over 10000 is my guess"
Committeeman Daniels when asked
What will be the future of Senator
Prltchard?' replied: He has no future
in North Carolina politics after NoVem-
Der. He will be- defeated by the lar
gest majority ever recorded against a
candidate in this State. In 1898 the peo-
pie registered a verdict against him and
his party. 1t will be put in operation
in November. Mr.. Roosevelt will give
Pritchard judgeship or something
equally as good Neither Pritchard nor
any other Republican or Populist leader
who opposed the franchise amendment
can ever again exert political influence
in North Carolina Their hostility to
eliminating the negro vote is the unpar-
donable political sim
"a question which is of deep moment
now and which in 1904 may be yet deep
err. was asked M.s Daniels. do you
look for lines of cleavage between the
whites on any basis or issue; that is, for
two white parties?" He replied: "At
present there is no issue which seriously
divides the white people. If the negro
is permanently eliminated there will
arise differences which will temporarily
divide the white vote. 1t looks now that
such divisions will be fought out in the
Democratic primaries, as was recently
done in Alabama, rather than by having
two strong white parties. The worst
possible thing that could happen to North
Carolina would be a Republican party
strong in numbers No power then lower
than the angels could prevent steadily
increasing catering to the increasing ne
GRO vote. That vote will increase
through education anyhow. strong
Republican party would give stimulus
TO increase that vote rapidly. IL the
Democrats win by an eoverwhelming ma
iority this year, it win be notice TO
everybody who wishes progress in North
Carolina that it can come only through
the Democratic party during the lie OF
this generation. The knowledge OF TINS
fact will induce most white men VINO
wish a voice in public affairs to enter
tbe Democratic primaries. Heretofore
the Democrats have avoided agitation
for some reforms because such agitation
endangered Democratic supremacy.
s"To the question, DO you believe the
negro will be The balance of power =
Mr. Daniels replied:f IF the whites dl-
vide appeal will be made to the negro
vote. More of them will votedvery year.
In few years, the negroes, with al
vided white vote would hold the bal
ance of power in the large negro coun-
tics In the State it would be a long
time before the negroes would hold the
balance of power, unless the whites
sbouId divide evenly. But that vote
will always be cast almost solidly for
tbo man and the party that would do
most to restore negro suffrage.
,.,u ~, -+brilro'1 he settled ?'