The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-26
The Wheeling Inteitiqencer says I:
The Franklin-County Raid.

1t having become apparent that there is
no immediate future for the Stalwart Re-
publican party OF Virginia and that moth
ing IL to he gained at present by condon-
ing violations of the internal-reyenue laws,
the revenue department OF the southwest
ern portion OF the State has been seized
with violent attack OF virtue. For seve-
raj months prior to the last election the
still hunt had been a still hunt indeed.
The reason for this was very plain. The
revenue spies and informers. with conve-
n,ent elasticity Of conscience, conceived
that the duty Of coercing the ignorant
moonshiners into supporting the COali-
ton Republican ticket, by threats OF
arrest, was higher duty than that
of breaking up Illicit distilling. Now,
however. the consciences Of these worthless
are on the rebound. They must afford The
Stalwart party some excuse for counte-
nancing the iniquity of the system IN order
that it may be used when occasion requires
as an effective political machine in other
States, il not in Virginia. They must have
lawlessness for their party TO trade upon IL
they have TO fight for II. Hence we find
them making series OF raids, and charging
not only the stills, but the household
utensils OF the mOuntaineers OF Franklin
county with yalor uuequalled siuce the
DAYS OF the fight of "Ye Knight" with
the windmill In our issue OF Sunday
we copied an article from the Rocky Mount
Franklin county, Gazette giving an ac-
count OF one OF these raids. That paper,
commenting on the affair, after declaring
that the people of the county have no de-
fence for the moonshiner who eyades OF
violates the laws, but insisting "that Of
Tenders should be apprehended ant
brought to Justice in manner becoming
the majesty and dignity OF the republic
further describes the beauty OF the inter
nal.revcnue system in the following bit o
, interpretive criticism:
"To encourage these men IN their illicit work b,
granting them Immunity from the law in case the,
vote with the party whose horses are stradded b!
the gang, aud then when the campaign Is over 4
put different set OF monkeys in the saddle ant
SEM tnlm 10 HctilSn the puf
pose OF Increasing The fees, Is prostitution of Law
and authority for which monarchial tyranny fur
nisbes no precedent and history no parallel /
| such things have been done the men responsible
| for the crime should be punished"
: This is very strong language, but hardly
stronger than the facts justify. The inter
nal-reyenue system as administered in tn,
entire mountainous district Of Southwest
ern Virginia is not only an instrument o
petty tyranny in its worst form, but Is, a
the New York Journal Of Commerce re
Gently remarked, provocative Of disorder
and even OF crime. Outside OF the educated
classes, who know their rights. no man.
home is safe from invasion at any hour o
the day or night. Measures either OF ac
tive terrorism or secret matchmaking ar,
constantly at work to bring all laws int
contempt or under suspicion. Ia fact, i
Is hardly an eXsggeration TO say that thu
ubiquitous workings Of the Internal-Rey
enue Department have contributed NOR,
than all other causes combined TO
ward keeping the people OF certain
sections Of the South poor and shift
less, and in a state OF antagonism tC
that "bighcr civilization our northern
stalwart contemporaries are so fond o.
pratIng about. II Is the "crime," as the
Rocky Mount Gazette properly terms 1t,
committed under the protecting agis Of
the internal-revenue ring. backed by the
Administration that brings about more than