The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-09-24
SOWING DRAGONS TEETH.


article concerning any effort to induce
the negro back into politics. He
writes:
"The constitutional amendment has
up to the present time done all that
its friends claimed for it. Those who
we're Its strongest advocates and friends
while its acceptance or rejection was
pending before the people, commended
that it would eventually eliminate the
educated as we'll as the nneducated ne
gro from the sphere OF North Carolina
politics, because the former class would
constitute so small minority that no
party would tolerate the odium of their
presence in its councils tor the small
Benefit to be derived from their votes.
The negro, himself, it was confidently
predicted, would see the handwriting
on the wall and would cease to interest
himself in politics. ALI turned out
as was predicted. The very first Re-
publican State convention held after
the amendment was adopted saw the
negroes practically expelled.
AT the succeeding election there
were scarcely corporal's guard Of
them at the polls. It was better for
them and better for til State. Wheth-
er or not the Republican party will
live up to It's profession remains to be
seen. At any rate it should be given a
chance to do so. If they will not toll
crate him, the negro has no political
home and will drop out of politics
through the force OF public opinion
and not because be is denied any right
under the constitution. There is but
one danger to the amendment at pres
ent. That, though a cloud now no
larger than a mans hand NAV develop
into mighty tempest that will uproot
and destroy all the good accomplished
by the political struggle of 1909.
81 refer to disposition that has
been seen in some quarters to register
negroes in purely local elections.
There has been very little of it so far,
but the movement, small as 1t is con-
tains boundless possibilities OF evil.
In fiercely contested election 1t is
easy for good men to lose sight of the
future in their anxiety for present VIC
tory. The negroes should be left severe-
~ alone and no encouragement should
be held out to them to register, regard
less OF the election to be decided or the
issues involved.
cit the amendment means nothing
more for the future than an education
al qualification for suffrage, it was
nothing but palliative, a temporary
expedlent. They have healed the
hurt OF the daughter of my people
slightly The negro's unfitness for
suffrage Is basic. 1t goes DEEPER than
Intellectual blindness. He is barred
Tor the present and will be barred for
Il the future .by moral obtuseness which
exists regardless of education. II the
negro IS to marshal his educated
strength at the polls In the future, the
people OF North Carolina will find
themselves hemmed in by three dread.
ful alternatives. The negro will once
more throw his united strength to the
Republican party, thus producing all
the evils from which we have escaped
Or, he may divide his strength be.
tween the political parties In which
event the negro vote will be on the
market and we shall witness an orgy
OF corruption with which the slums o.
Philadelphia are not to be compared
Or else, the negro vote Will organize tc
be thrown to either. poatleal party
which would DO the -sseafe.esgil of all
at the highest good IS to be obtain
ed from the amsntd1ment; the plair
. truth Is that public opinion shoule
teach the negso.' edncated or unedu
Gated, thetshis plsce.jtae at the polls
1t is worthy of note that the Republi
can party In the last election upon
profession of white supremacy il
which few had any confidence and not
withdrawing their unenviable recort
with reference to the negro, pole,
twenty-five Thousand more white vote
than bad ever before been conceded t,
them. The negro should be given al
his rights under the law. The maj
who attempts to Introduce the abomin
able practice of peonage should recely
the severest punishment. 1 have n
reason TO believe that it has ever beel
practiced in the State, but if it has
every Iaw-a6iding citizen should set hi
face Ikea flint against it, But tn
fact remains that the place for h
negro is net at the polls, and the whit
man, however honest, who induces hir
to vote at any kind of an election
sowing dragons teeth" s43s@ -.
ss34 -=s@+
PUTS AN END TO IT ALL. :
i t. Il .