The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-13
GOVERNOR AYCOCK ON
NEGRO SUFFRAGE
A Statesmanlike Statement That VIII convince ar
minded Northern Men OF the Wisdom OF
the South's Action.

tons. and VIII undoubtedly AZ INC lo.S
more nearly reflect these views than
they have ever done in the past.
IN the mean time no neg}o i denied an.
civil right in This state. The white pee
pie realizing the necessity for restricting
the suffrage havc felt Il incumbent upon
them TO safeguard more carefully than
ever the right Of the negro IN every other
respect. III assuming the office 81 Gov
erner OF the State I used the following
language:
The white people owe a high duty u
the negro. 1t was necessary TO the safety
Of the State to base suffrage IN capacity
to exercise it wisely. This results in *
Guiding a great number oil negroes from
the ballot. but their right to life. lHc,tg
property and justice must be cNCa moro
carefully ~sateguarded than ever. 1t II
true that a superior race can not submit
to the rule OF a weaker race without Ill
jury: it is also true in the long years Of
God that the st.oug can not Cypress the
weak without destruction. l said on April
II, 1900, and now repeat It a. q deep
conviction, that universal justice is the
perpetual decree of Almighty God, and
we are entrusted with power not Tor our
good alone, but for the negro IS wei.
We hold our title TO power by tenure OF
service to God, and if we tail to Admin
IS ter equal and exact justice to the n, 20
whom we deprive OF suffrage. we shall
in the fullness Of time lost power our
selves, for we must know that the Cod
who is love trusts 40 people with at
thority for the purpose Of enabling them
to do injustice to the weak
This language expresses the views ot
the white people Of this State. When
900
State we shall find this statement within
the facts. The negroes pay but little Of
the taxes Tor the conduct Of the public
school. and yet our laws provide and
carry into effect the public school system
which secures equal facilities for the ne
groes with those provided for the whites.
At the last session Of the legislature a
bill was introduced to change his proyi-
sion and to divide the school fund amonG
the races in proportion to the amount
paid by each race. a sense Of fairness
on the part of the whites prevented this
bill from ever reaching Il single hearing
in the legislative body in which it was
introduced. Speaking for the dominant
party and for the white people | said III
my message to the Legislature Of 1903.
No reason can be given for dividing the
school fund according to the proportion
paid by each race which would not equal
" apply to a division of the taxes paid
by each race on every other subject.
Education is a governmental function.
The right to collect taxes Tor the purpose
is based on the duty Of the State TO cdu-
cate It's citizens. The care Of the insane
is no more the duty Of the State than
education, and if we divide the school
fund according to the races we should also
divide the fund for the maintenance of
the hospitals for the insane in the samo
fashion. Thu amendments pro
posed is unjust, unwise and unconstitu-
tional It would wrong both races, would
bring our State into the condemnation OF
a just public opinion elsewhere, and would
mark us as a people who nave turned
backward. The state Of North Carolina
has heretofore enjoyed the distinction Of
being first in those things which look to
a larger liberty and a consequent higher
development of her people. Let US not
seek to be the first State in the Union
to make the weak man helpless. This
would be a leadership which could bring
US no honor but much shame"
In view of the fact that the legislature
took the view which was presented in
my message, and continued to provide
school facilities for the education Of the
negro equal to those of the white if may
be safely assumed by those in other
States who take such deep interest in
our affairs that no injustice VIII be done
the negro. Indeed, we arc moro than fair
to him. We have provided for the insane
Of the negro race a hospital capable Of
caring for every insane negro in the State,
while there are a few hundred insane Of
the white race for whom provision has
not been made. IN our courts Of Justice
a practice of more than twenty years at
the bar enables me to declare with en-
phasis that the negro can and does Sc
cure a fair trial. I nave appeared for
hundreds Of them in criminal indictments
and IN civil suits. and I have yet to find
a ground for complaint against our courts
10 rfaIlure to act fairly toward the negro.
Indeed, in civil suits between whites and
negroes the jurics incline to favor the
regro. If the case presents the ,lightest
element Of oppression on the part Of the
white man toward the negro. the verdict
is almost certain to be in favor OF the
negro. There is A sense Of fairness arcong
our white people which causes them to
look with contempt upon the white man
who seeks TO overreach the negro in a
business matter.
The problem Of securing peace between
two races living side BY side with equal
civil rights pursuing their separate ends
under one government IS fraught with dir-
fculty. It is one which requires much
wisdom long time and abiding to solve a
right. The white mon Of this State have
set themselves to the task Of solving it.
end they have gone about it in the right
fashion. They are educating 10 the Ut
most Of their ability the children OF both
races, and doing for the hour the thing
hat appears to them TO be just. leaving
the problems which may arise hereafter
to be solved by a better trained people.
Intelligent sympathy in our task from
those who live elsewhere will help Us. but
harsh. ignorant and un~reasoning criticism
can rot AID us. We appreciate the in
terest which others take in Us. but We
realize that the burden is our own and
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