Friday, May 8, 2015

Should Negroes Be Allowed to Vote? Amendment to State Constitution Says No, 1900

"White Supremacy. The Welfare of the People of North Carolina Demands It," by Dr. J.M. Isaacs from the editorial page of the Watauga Democrat, May 3, 1900. This, of course, would only have taken the vote from African-American men because women weren't allowed to vote in 1900. I wondered what the poll tax of $300 would mean in today's dollars and found an inflation calculator at www.davemanuel.com. According to that source, $300 in 1900 would be worth $8,571.43 in 2014. Imagine having to pay $8,571.43 in order to vote! Imagine an amendment to the state constitution that would effectively take the vote away from African Americans!!

 
Pros and cons there has been a great deal said from the mountains to the sea-shore concerning this the greatest question in the history of the state.

Not long since we wrote a sketch, as we now intend to do, in the interest, not of the Democratic, nor of any other party as to that, but in the common interest of that which has been the founder of the greatest governments, enterprises, etc., which have given new life and energy to the almost lifeless and which has been the harbinger of peace and in short for all that is good, great and noble. As Republicans we are in favor of the adoption of the amendment to the constitution. First, because we are tried of being accused of associating and attempting to keep ourselves upon an equality with the negro socially, morally, politically and otherwise. Second because the negro has no business in politics, ever being incompetent to figure politically and nothing but a nuisance to respectable and decent society. Third, because we are thoroughly satisfied that it will not disfranchise or deprive any deserving white man from his privilege to vote. Fourth, because we think the educational qualification embodied in section four (which applies only to those who shall become of age after January the first 1900) will be a great incentive to higher education and equally as good if not better than the Massachusetts compulsory school law. Fifth, because we feel assured that it will only tend to build up the great Republican party if we would show by our actions and our votes to North Carolina and the world that we desire nothing by the way of government except it be given by the intelligent white man. This, we as a party, all favor, so we say by our words, but as actions speak louder than words, how can this be harmonized and shown to be the truth in its fullest sense if we work and vote against the adoption of the constitutional amendment which, if adopted, means white rule and death to negro rule or if defeated means a continuance of negro office holding form constable to congressman as is already shown to the world in the case of Geo. H. White, the present Congressman from the  2nd district, which is a reproach upon us as a white people. Also reference is made to the fact that at least 20 counties in the state have been ruled almost entirely by the black race of North Carolina from 1894 down to 1898, the result of which was a solid defeat for us in '98, also as a remedy for this evil the proposed amendment is now offered.

We hold the grand old party's principles (except this negro rule) as dear to our hearts as Hons. Linney, Blackburn, or Pritchard and more so than Marion Butler, whose only aims seem for office even if it takes the sacrifice of the poor, helpless white people of the state.

We, as a party, are glad to stand side by side upon questions which conflict not with the rights of voters of the Anglo-Saxon blood but when a question of such magnitude as that of the amendment which the substance is who you are; where do you stand; are you for the white man and white man's government, or are you for the negro and negro domination and a general uproar and an everlasting reproach to North Carolina and the best white citizenship that the sun ever shown upon? Is asked us at the ballet box; we will answer it in favor of white supremacy.

We are pleased to see a number of our great leaders, to wit: Thomas Settle, Judge Starbuck, the Governor and various others of high repute and they, fighting for such a noble cause, may hope to be the stars of the first magnitude, while their opponents will surely vanish with the dark cloud on its back track behind the occidental hills to rise no more.

In 1898 a mistake was made, by us, in representing that should the Democratic party go into power in this state a property qualification of $300 would be required before we could vote, for we now stand betrayed to our constituents because no property qualification whatever is required in the proposed amendment and our constituents are enabled to realize the misrepresentation, hence questions of great moment to us and our party interest can be put to the voter with little effect, for this reason we should be cautious about representations by the unscrupulous) with regard to this amendment for after August we will see that no deserving white men will be disfranchised.

We think if only one party or the other should be more earnest in working for the amendment it should be our party because actions speak louder than words for when upon the various campaigns of the past we were accused of being the negro party and favoring negro equality we have denied it. Now the test is here. Within three short months it is upon us. What shall we do?

Let us throw technicalities aside and not make it a party measure but look upon it without any degree of prejudice, closely study the matter and not be led against our interest and that of our institution and noble countrymen by those designing politicians any further.

In conclusion allow me to say to one and all this is an opportunity of a life time by which plans are devised to rid ourselves of the greatest curse, not only to the State of North Carolina but to this great Union of ours.

  1. Every person presenting himself for registration shall be able to read and write any section of the Constitution in the English language; and before he shall be entitled to vote, have paid on or before the first day in March of the year in which he proposed to vote, his poll tax as prescribed by law, for the previous year. Poll taxes shall be a lien only on assessed property, and no process shall issue to enforce the collection of the same except against assessed property.
  2. No male person who was on January 1, 1867, or at any time prior thereto, entitled to vote under the laws of any state in the United States wherein he then resided, and no lineal descendant of any such person, shall be denied the right to register and vote at any election in this state by reason of his failure to possess the educational qualifications described in section 4 of this Article; Provided, He shall have registered in accordance with the terms of this section prior to December 1, 1908. The General Assembly shall provide for a permanent record of all persons who registered under this section on or before November 1, 1908, and all such persons shall be entitled to register and vote at all elections by the people in this state, unless disqualified under section 2 of this Article: Provided, Such persons shall have paid their poll tax as required by law.

Above are sections 4 and 5 verbatim regarding qualification of amendment to voters.

--J.M. Issacs

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