The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-26
yailp ARGUS.
TT,dsy Evening, November 80, 1909,
TEE VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS.

;,.aF IN be the mbled delegates OF the
Republican party of Virginia, convened at
Richmond, on Wednesday, the Gath. AS
there was nothing else for it to do, 1t adopt
al an address to Congress, of which the tel
eursph gives the suDioined abstract;
It sets forth that the election in Virginia
WAS a Confederate triumph, achieved by ~
,imidston, and that Republican meetings,
in some instances, were broken up 0y MODS
That the true secretof Republican defeat was
submission to a separate vote Of the teSt |
oath and DISTINGUISHING clauses whIch hau
hcen inserted in the cOnsttduch, III tne
shirt of the RECONSTRUCTION acts, ahu mat
the convention had the greatest commence
in the republicanism and craftsmanship Oh
the President and majority OF Congress
Int thew were deceived as to the true state
of affairs in Virginia that the present leg
;sIatpre is disloyal and illegal, even IT 1t
ret;fas the fifteenth amendment 1t Will en-
act such educational and property qualihca
TONS AS to entirely destroy the influence OF
the colored suffrage and prevent coloreo
voters from either holding office or sitting
in the iury.box. The address asks Con-
gress TO order q new election, with the con
stituuon submitted as whole, and that
military force be sent sufficient TO protect
Ranubiicans in their rights; to require the |
test oath Of members Of the Legislature, |
and to award the seats of members unable |
to take the oath to eligible opponents who
received the next highest vote.
This obituary address Of the great he
publican party of Virginia--the par erect
IcHce party-received the signature OF SIX
out of the eight appoited on the committee
to draft it. The two dissenters reported
substitute requesting Congress to admit the
State at once to its place in the Union. Inc
snbstitpte was Of course voted down, re-
ceiving only q votes to l23 for the MAORI
ty report of the committee. The friends OF
the substitute, headed by J. Il. jenkins,
chairman of the State Central Committee,
deeming the action OF the majority unworthy
their countenace, withdrew from the meet
in, thus adding another schism to the one
that broke off from the party and nominated
and elected Walker for Governor OF the
State.
The proceedings of this convention are but
another evidence that the Republican party
Of the South Is MADE up OF revolutionary
rabble. Its forces constitute IN Poluc
what busbwhackers and guerIlIas are II
war. They submit to nothing. they accep'
nothing as binding, and will be satisfied
with nothing less than plundering the com
munitv in which they subsist themselves
Principles of honor are totally discarded
Having nothing to lose, they can ahorc
and do not hesitate to play the apparently
desperate game Of rule or ruin. The lead
ers being band Of political marauders, al
they can pick up about the country IS clea
gain.
The unblushiRg etfrontery of this CONVEX
ton is almost amusing, 1t claims that III
Republican party was intimidated tror
voting, and asks that military force b
sent to protect it in voting down the mino
ity Of the people. There has probably ne
er been people similarly oppressed. Ut
Il fact that the people who are opposed
these macontents, are disarmcd and co
quered they lie under the heel Of powt
The party complaining have in the State
large military force, put there expressly
carry out the behests Of the conquerer; t
State has been under a military governme
in which the sword and bayonet enforce Il
conquerers decree. The election COZ
plained of WAS ordered, and in every pa
conducted by the friends and psrti1ans
the compainants. The commander of &
district appointed the officers of registrati'
and Of election, and had control Of for
Of armed men for police duty. The eIe
ton was SO orderly and quiet that he W
compelled to admit that It was fairly &C
Quoted. The result was Of course not 81
isiGctory, and this is the only trouble. II
these men the courage Of mice, or the sp
its of spaues, they would be ashamed, u
der these circumstances, to 90 whining
the country and Congress, that minority
the people of Virginia, unarmed ana oN
powered by superior force, had driven tho
the loyal, armed hosts of the conquer
from the polls, and prevented them tr
speaking for Justice and right There
no probability Of Congress listening
their whining, and they may expect
same comfort that Stokes received wi
beaten by Senter in Tennessee-the pr
lege Of munching their thumbs.