The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-03-11


lluring without its pernicious re-
ults.
The Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal will have a |
most important bearing upon the
rade between the eastern and far
Western sections of our country, and
will greatly increase the facilities for
between the eastern
md western seaboard, and may pos
ibly revolutionize the transconti-
rental rates with respect to bulky
1t will also have a
most beneficial effect to increase the
trade between the eastern seaboard
Of the United States and the western
coast of South America, and, indeed,
with some of the important ports on
the east coast of South America
reached by rail from the west coast.
The work on the canal is making
most satisfactory progress. The type
of the canal as a lock canal was
fixed by congress after a full consid-
GRAFTON of the conflicting reports of
majority and minority Of the con-
sulting board, and after the recon-
mendation of the war department
and the executive upon those reports.
The construction will go on under
a most effective organization con-
trolled by Colonel Goethals and his
fellow army engineers associated
with him, and will certainly be com
pleted early in the next administra-
ton, If not before.
Some type of canal must be con-
structed. The lock type has been Sc
lected. We are all in favor of having
it built as promptly as possible. We
must not now, therefore, keep up 6
fire in the rear of the agents whom
we have authorized to do our work
on the Isthmus.
We must hold up their hands, ant
speaking for the incoming admins
tration, I wish to say that I propose
to devote all the energy possible
| ing of this work on the plans which
have been adopted, and to stand be
hind the men who are doing faith
full, hard work to bring about tn,
early completion of this, the creates
constructive enterprise of moderl
| times.
The Future of the South.
I look forward with hope to in
creasing the already good feeling be
tween the South and the other sec
lions of the country. My chief pur
pose is not to effect a change in tn
electoral vote of the Southern State
That is a secondary consideration
What I look forward to is an in
crease in the tolerance of politica
views of all kinds and their advocac
throughout the South, and the ez
istence of a respectable political or
position in every State; even NOR
than this, to an increased feeling O
the part of all the people in tn
South that this government is thei
government, and that its officers ar
their officers.
The consideration of this questio
cannot, however, be complete an
full without reference to the negr
trace, its progress and its preser
condition. The Thirteenth amend
ment secured them freedom; tn
Fourteenth Amendment due process
of law, protection of property an
the pursuit of happiness, and tn
Fifteenth Amendment attempted I
secure the negro against any depri,
alton of the privilege to vote, b,
cause he was a negro. The Thi
teenth and Fourteenth amendment
have been generally enforced an
have secured the objects for whic
they were intended.
| While the Fifteenth Amendme1
has not been generally observed |
the past it ought to be observe,
and the tendency of Southern legi
lation today is towards the enac
ment of electoral qualifications whie
shall square with that amendment.
Of course the mere adoption of
constitutional law is only one ste
in the right direction. It must
fairly and justly enforced as we
{ In time both will come. Hence,
[ is clear to all that the domination
) an ignorant, irresponsible elemel
t can be prevented by constitution
, laws which shall exclude from votir
/ both negroes and whites not havir
) education or other qualification
: thought to be necessary for a prop
5 electorate.
The Hope of the Negro.
The danger of the control of {
. ignorant electorate has, therefor
passed. With this change, the inte
t est of many of the Southern whi
citizens take in the welfare of Il
! negroes has increased The color,
4 men must base their hope on the +
: suits of their own industry, self-re
d traint and business success, as We
: as upon the aid and comfort al
sympathy which they may recei
from their white neighbors of Il
h South.
There was a time when Norther
ers who sympathized with the neg
a in his necessary struggle for bett
conditions sought to give to him t
t suffrage as a protection, and to e
force its exercise against the preva