The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-05-01
A NORTHERN LEADING RELIGIOUS
PAPER ON SUFFRAGE.
Wilmington Messenger.

Wilmington Messenger.
As the Messenger is wont to keep
its eye upon Northern references aud
discussions of the South. it has not
failed to note from time to time some
opinions ''up there as to the failure
attending negro suffrage. There are
some people with open vision who
see the failure and are candid enough
to admit the fact. But legislators
never see it and never admit it.
Northern politicians are stolid and
Indifferent as 10 facts, and so far
from favoring repeal of the fifteenth
amendment they are ready to enter
upon another crusade against the
South because Of the limitations it
puts upon negro suffrage. At this
time in the Federal Congress there
are enemies of the Southern whites
plotting to injure them because OF
efforts to relieve themselves Of the
curse Of negro domination through
the curse of negro suffrage caused
and created by the Vaccinations and
acts of Republicans. 1t was a most
criminal, devilsh deed and the pres
ent effort is u fit sequel to it. The
Boston Congregatio,aaIist has sense
and enlightenment and candor
enough to say plainly that the action
Of the North was a blunder in the
first instance. We copy from it and
commend it to the attention of men
| of reason and spirit of fairness:
"Thirty-five years ago the citizens
! OF our Northern States undertook to
confer the full rights Of citizenship en-
vast mass OF negroes whom MIR.
James Brice correctly describes in his
| American Commonwealth as 'abso-
lutely destitute. not only of political
experience, but even Of the most
! documentary political ideas The
verdict Of the majority Of those still
living who favored this policy would
now be, beyond question, that it has
| proved disastrous failure. 1t has
injured the negroes as a whole, has
retarded progress of the Southern
States, has promoted lawlessness and
race conflicts, and has finally failed
in its imme diate object OF making the
negroes voters We are learning
that there are certain prerequisites
to making voters which cannot be
conveyed to masses of men by gift. ="
Again, referring to the action Of
the North in comforting manhood
suffrage" as the North delights to
call it, although given in so many
instances to grown men but little
more intelligent than children. upon
the ignorant population in the Ha-
waiian Islands, another act of ex-
IRENE folly, has this:
Two years ago Congress gave
manhood suffrage to the Hawaiian
Islands, aud the first results are APP
pesring in An incompetent Legislature
chosen by incompetent voters and led
by crafty and selfish politicians.
Rev. DR.. A. S. Twombly, who recently
spent several months on the islands,
has described picturesquely the first
popular election OF November, 1900,
in paper read at the last MohonL
conference. The scenes were grotes
que and pitiful. They show, he says,
that tho extension of the suffrage
instead of helping the native. leaves
him helpless in the hands of dema
gogues and politician. and elevate.
designing adventures to places O
power Recent news from the
islands indicates that the attempt O
Congress to legislate for them, under
the influence of sentiment and with
little knowledge of conditions, i.
bringing forth the fruits which might
have been expected, and which ever
thoughtful consideration of the his
tory Of the last thirty years OF tn.
Southern States might have saved vi
from"
The Congregationalist continues. ane
it is informing in saying that ga
least the lesson so clearly Learned
ought not to be forgotten in tn,
administration of other territory TO
which action with respect to the SUI
frage is not yet taken. The DanisI
West Indies, which are about to be
come territory of the United States
are to large extent populated b,
negroes CT persons of mixed blood
The question, who should have suf
frage in these islands, is one tina
5 should not be settled by demagogue
or sentimentalists, but upon testi
mony given by a competent commits
e sion after it has Investigated the
history and conditions"
r Counting the 5000, ZOO Of people il
the Philippines, including the islan'
l with it's mormonism and slave
, actual slaves and the other add
tions to be made, there will be NOR
than 100000 of negroes added t.
our population. Fanaticism and foil
hold the reins.