The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-05-27
Offensive Patizanism. p

offensive Patizanism ?
AS soifensiye patizanism7 seems to bt
an otfense, in theory to Mr.. Cleveland I.
administrations, probably it is duty The
press owes to him To point out just where
the offenders are Mr.. John Goode ha.
recently undergone an Investigation OF
this point and his case is now before The
Senate III executive session for Judgment
Mr. Glennan, appointed postmaster al
Norfolk, is in the same category. But
when the fact is mentioned that they
have been offensive partizans, The
Democratic newspapers go into mysteries
and denounce it as a great outrage upon
free thought and free speech. IT makes
difference as to whose OK is gored "A
Republican editor or a Republican speak.
er. who happened to hold Office under {
Republican administration, WAS uncere
moniously bounced because Of offensive
partizanism, . but when it comes to apply
ing the same rule to Democrats who have
been appointed to succeed them. it ex
cites the virtuous Indignation of the very
men who have clamored against Republic
cans for doing for their party what Dem
ocrats have done for theirs, in less
decent way. The case of Goode anC
Glennan are significantly illustrative
Goode was regarded as the A iax lebanon.
aud Glennan, rs chairman of the District
Committee, the Ajax the Lesser. Boil
were presumed to know all about Demo
cratic methods. They were the leaders
and eXpounders-the deyisers and execu
tors of all the agencies by which Demo
cratic maiorities were scored in Republi
can precincts TO show the manner il
which their offensive partizanism was
manifested, we have only to quote from {
recent address of the Republican commit
tee appealing for fair vote, and pointing
to Democratic crimes and frauds in the
past, to impress tie necessity Of an honest
election and honest counts in the election
this month. We call the attention of Re
publican Senators to the unimpassionet
statements Of the committee. They are
made publicly in the city of Norfolk anG
placed in cold type Their truthfulnes;
cannot and will not be denied. Yet The
men who should be held responsible fol
this wrong doing as much, if not more
| than any others, are now asking the en-
dorsement of the Republican Senate, ant
| by implication. the condemnation of The
party which had to endure such outrages
| The extracts speak for themselves. Read
them. as we find them in the Norfolk Pro
gress, a paper partial to the Democratic
party but fair enough to publish the adj
dress of the Republican Committee
| We do not believe that the abuses of position
| and opportunity and the violations of aw Whlci
| have obtained in many elections held in this
| community meet with the sympathy or the
| responsible for them. Allow us to enumerate
| some of the tactics adopted by our political
/ opponents i'll the State election last fall ano
| in the Presidential election of the year before
First we would mention that in the second
precinct of the First Ward we were denied 8
| represen tatiye among the three judges Tor thai
| precinct the judge appointed ostensibly torep-
resent us, being an open enemy to party
and being appointed against the protest Of our
Executive Committee, and this in the face Of
the law which says 2chenerer possible the judges
! shall be chosen from the different political
| parties; and surely no one will say this was an
| instance in which such selection was not pos.
/ sible Persons were stationed at this precinct
who kept a tally of known Republicans whc
! voted which list counted 258; but, 10 when
/ the votes We're counted, according to the judges
| the number had sunk down to 200l In the FRS
| precinct OF the same ward, where we had an
| efficient representative, we had a gain OF &
votes on the Presidential election
| Again we ask public attention TO great dis
! crepancy, at the First precinct, Third Ward
| between the votes as counted. and the pol
books, ninety votes being the difference. Oui
loss al this precinct was TO- compared with the
| vote in the Presidential election of the yeal
before. We have now in hand a list of so per
soLs who are known to have voted at this pre-
cinct in this election but whose names are no
found on the poll books.
once more would ask attention to pecu.
liar line of conduct pursued last fall at TIE
First precinct in the Fourth Ward-acts done
in the name of liberty, in the name of freedom
in the name of the law and the constitution
and under a solemn oath TO perform the Office
of Judge according the law, and to statdioatsl2
endedCor TO prerenf fr0ltd, deceit and abuse il
| conducting this election. Acts done by al
adopted citizen, the tool of corruption. whose
| land are struggling like men and heroes foi
that political freedom, for that personal liberty
| which he here perverted from the native cit
zenS of the land of his adoption From sun
rise until sunset, while other precincts pollet
over 700 votes and had time to spare, this pre-
cinct polled but 1911! When the poll closed 26
voters were counted in line waiting to vote
many of whom had waited all day. The name,
of $50 of them were written down before they
dispersed. The tactics here resorted to by the
judges was to ask irreevent questions, to feir
/ a difficulty III finding the names on the books
| and, indeed, any trife that would hinder anC
Illustrate the voters And when one of oul
wealthy and influential citizens and business
men protested against such petty abuse o
| power and opportunity, such an outrage against
/ law and liberty, the judge, an unnatural son o.
a noble race OF liberty-loving Ireland, ordered
/ name of law, in the name OF justice and equal
| rights And to have some semblance of carry
ing out the law, negro Judge was appointed al
/ this precinct, totally unfit for the position ano
| select ed solely on account of his utter incom
potency to perform the duties required of him
| and he was appointed against the earnest pro-
test of the Republican Executive Committee
| On being assigned to a registration book this
poor man asserted his inability to perform the
| duty expected of him ,whereupon he was forced
| into acquiesence by threat of prosecution fol
felony made by one of the other judges,
At the second precinct, Fourth Ward. ouI
loss by fraudulent obstruction was 206, the
attempt of the judges to delay and hinder
voters here, not being as successful as in the
first precinct Fourth Ward. At the close of the
poll l53 votes counted in line, as in the
other precinct many others having left, well
| knowing they could not vote. 1t has been as
serted that one of the judges at this precinct
was not even resident of this city
We have thus clearly enumerated some Of
| violations of law, violations of good will and
| freedom, and violations of the oath of office
Lev every honest man let every loter OF
are, answer, is it right? Is it right is it safe tC
tolerate such abuses? Are men who are SC
well skilled in trickery and fraud and so indif-
| ferent to their obligations the best and safest
men with whom to entrust your affairs? Are
| not men, who practice such deception and
! falsehoods to advance their personal Interests
| likely to use their doubtful accomplishments,
| when in office, to advance their personal in
! terests at the expense of the entire commu-
! nifty? In short, are they TO be trusted any
where or i'll any capacity? These are questions
| that commend themselves to the serious atten-
| ton of our people no matter how widely they
may differ on other subjects. The plea OF
Justification, since the city is so divided into
wards that under no circumstances can the
colored voters gain control of the Council or
the financial management of the city.
We issue this appeal to the people of Norfolk,
dlSpassionately without bias or prejudice,
enumerating abuses familiar to our oppo-
nents as to ourselves and asking tie sober in
telligence and forethought of the community
without respect to party to aid us III our en-
deavor to obtain a fair and square election.
THE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Morrison and his fellow free traders
have not yet given up all hope of carrying
through their pet scheme. In spite of
protests from every branch of trade, from
organized labor and associated capital,
from farmers, from merchants. from man
ufacturers and workmen, the free trade
doctrinaires are determined to push for