The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-12-27
Will It BE Called ?

OF Virginia IN extra session TO aSSemOle
early IN the new year. 1t is further init
mated that the object of this extra Ordina
ny movement, is to enact laws to protect
colosed Democrats in their election rights,
and to secure them immunity from perse-
cution 10y colortd Republicans! This is
certainly marvelously strange PROPOSE.
tion When tie Democratic party Offers
as pretext for expanding from $50, 900 to
500, 900 of the peoples money to enact
laws to secure the free and fair express
sion of the vote of the coiored people, 1t
may be taken for granted that there is a
cat in the mealtu5. There would be a sem
blal ce of fairness and sincerity in the mo
tive for the call for an extra session, il it
was stated that the object was to repeal
the Infamous Anderson Mccormick bill,
and pass laws to protect all classes of
voters from the frauds and outrages that
are perpetrated under that Dill. There is
not an intelligent Democrat in the State
who does not know that that law was en-
acted for partizar purposes and partizan
people out of their rights, both through
the registration officers and the election
commissioners. | has been used just as
it Was designed And now for that party
to affect a concern for the protection of
any c IS of voters, much less the cOlored
vJ'ers. is so transparent device. that it
will d. ceive no one. Were the desire
pre- el t to guard the ballot i'll the interest
of fair e,e ctions, and the Securement to
each voter the unrestrained privilege OF
dep ,siti lg his vote as he wished and
to have it count; as cast. the first and the
rea .onable thing 10 do would be TO repeal
existing election laws. by which the whole
electi ~ machinery is placed in the hands
of the Democratic party. and pass such
other laws as would assure severely non
partizan administration of them,
But that is not the purpose A pretext
has TO be offered for an extra session,
shou d one be convened. 1t involves too
heavy cost to the people not TO he accom-
panied with some plausible reason for is
suing the call. The real motive will be
found to he to make the election laws still
more partzap, if that be possible. 1t is
recognized AS result of the recent cleo
ton. that even with the Infamous Ander-
son. Mccormick bill in operation. the State
is not safe to the Democracy. The rapid
increase of the Republican vote in the
white counties, where m pre- care has to be
observed in the administration of the law
than in the black counties. assures the
Democratic leaders. that some further leg
islation of a partiZan nature, will have TO
be enacted to secure the State next fall.
What it will be cannot be foretold. but
that it will be intended to compound and
cover up fraud, we have the experience OF
The past to justify US in fearing. In one
breath the Democratic press is seeking to
arouse race prejudice, in order to Win
back Democratic voters. In another, a
proposition comes to call an extra session
to egislate for protection to Democratic
colo1ed coters. How mary of the colored
voters of Virginia are in the Democratic
party, and how many of them would vote
the Democratic ticket. if left free TO ex
press their sentiments No. it is not tC
protect the colored Democrat. but to de-
wise some method. through the election
machinery. to make up in the colored
counties the losses to the Democratic
party that are being sustained every yeal
in the white counties. Ii is to count The
colored vote for Democratic candidates
whether it is cast for them or not. Thai
is the object, and if an extra session il
convened, it will be found that whatever
changes are made in the election laws
VIII nave THIS Tor tneir purpose. 1t is q
confession that Virginia is a Republican
state. and the only way to prevent the vot
so declaring, is to dc it through the manip
uaton of partizan machinery framed ant
designed to accomplish that purpose.
Ard it is proposed to do this at cost t.
the people Of net less than 500, COCO, Will
not single compromising good. Will In,
people longer patiently submit to suci
wrongs in order to perpetuate Democratic
control ard abuse OF the State govern
ment? The alleged reason for the extrs
session refutes ali the elamor aboa
negro rule, and emphasizes the recognized
proba bility that next falls election will
date the utter overthrow Of the politics
force that has so long prostituted power. t.
promote party at the expense of the trU'
interests of the commonwealth.
We cannot bring ourselves to believe
however. that the Governor will be guilt,
of SO objectionable an act as to call an ex
ira session. 1t would be evadiug TIN
plain intent of the law in providing for hi
annual sessions. It would be a public
acknowledgment, in effect, that the Dem
ocrats concede that they cannot carry the
State in fair election. 1t would furthe
admit that hey mean to carry it whether
ty fair or foul means. if it is in the power
Of partzan election laws to enable them tt
do it. A damaging record will have beer
made in any phase of the matter-one
that would prove effective in the future
and assure the control of the government
to the Republicans.
-<> 90 $e-
Southern Republicans.
We think it is in bad taste and is worst
policy for Southern Republicans to be pos
ing before the country and the President
elect as separate and distinct people from
the Republicans of the whole country
And it is especially indicate for them tt
form into delegations to present tn
claims of the South for cabinet position
Gen Harrison will be the president of tn,