The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-19
no BLOODY SHIRT CAMPAIGN
WANTED NEXT YEAR.

introduced Dill 10 repeal the nIteen.n
amendment to the constitution, has no
idea of pressing his proposition: and has
no expectation that it will get outside
of the committee. We take it that
Senator Bacon expects his like bill to
meet a similar fate. Both gentlemen
have doubtless introduced them merely
to express their desire and the desire
Of many of their constituents to have
those amendments annulled. Both were
put into the constitution in order to give
the Republican party a political advan-
tage and to please radical abolltionists
presidency to the Republicans in 1876
when by the theft of the vote of South
Carolina, Louisiana and Florida, Hayes
was given majority in the electoral
college, but since that time the Repub
Leans have been the losers because OF
the negro vote. In 1884, Mr.. Cleve-
land was elected because the Souths rep
resentation in the electoral college
was increased by reason OF conferrlng
the ballot on the negro. Since that time,
without protest and with the approval
OF the most thoughtful of Northern citi
zens, the bulk of the negroes have been
Temporarily at least) disfranchlsed.
Therefore, If no action is taken looking
to a reduction of Southern representation,
the South can well af1ord not to agitata
for a repeal of the fifteenth amendment.
II is doubtful whether the introduction
of the bill will do any good. 1t is GER
tain that the amendment will not be re-
pealed any time soon.
We do not desire a national campaign
on racial or sectional questions
The South is getting along very wen.
thank you, and asks to be let alone. IT
given a free hand in their own affairs,
the Southern white men will do justice to
the negro and peace will prevail in the
South. The introduction Of bills IN Con-
gress to repeal the fifteenth amendment
and to reduce Southern representation L.
Congress are both to be deplored. The.
can do no good, but may do harm. a
debate in Congress upon either would
bring out bitterness and sectional feel
ing and would tend to maze
shirt prominent in the next campaign.
The national campaign ought to be
waged, SO far as the Democrats can force
the issue, upon tariff, trusts, scandals IN
federal government and the central.izins
tendencies following the new colonla
policy. It is neither wise nor prudent for
the Democrats to do anything that cah
even by indirection. warrant or invite
the Republicans to another bloody shirt
campaign.
Commenting upon the bills introduced
by Senator Bacon and Mr.. Kitchin, the
richmond News-Leader says with much
good sense:
"The two amendments were foisted upon
the country for the purpose OF olndlng
the South, through negro domination,
perpetually and irrevocably to the Re
publican party. Their inlQultous aim mas
long since been defeated. So Tar as they
menaced her civilization and political con-
ditions, the South has rendered them dead
letters. They are pair OF cold
corpuses" What is the use of galvanizing
them when the only effect would be to
inject into the next campaign totally
irrelevant and Improbable issue and al
ford opportunity for a sluice OF vlrulenf
flapdoodle oratory? There are still IN the
Republican party at the North men whom
the South could not please better than by
waging a fight for the formal repeal OF
the two iniquitous reconstruction amend
ments. Not that they really care any
thing for the negro or believe that II the
amendments were repealed the man anC
the brother would be less a factor 'r
Southern politics; but because the issue
would enable the Republican party TO con-
tinue to hold and bambooZle the negro
In the doubtful Northern States where
he Ia considerably in evidence. But there
are also at the North other men or ooti-
parties who tacitly acquiesce in all t.
South has done in knocking the amend
ments into moribundity, and II we VIII
let them rest in that state 1t Will mol
bo long before these men will be acting
az pall-bearers in laying them away fin-
ally in the tomb of inocuous desuetude.
We do not say that the amendments Will
never be repealed. 1t is possible that they
will be in order to get such useless lumber
and such a reproach to the country out
of the constitution. But # that is to be
tho end of it we could wish to see the
proposition come from the North, where
there is a rapidly-growing sentiment that
supports the process of emasculation OF
their spirit to which the Souln has SUE
jected them. -
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw Is for
subsidies. OF course. The best way to
L t. II To the