The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-27
A GENERAL ELECTION LAW AND
IRIS HEARING ON THE NEGRO.

cidcd by as success CT failure In seating
the Republican contestants. That the
passage Of such law will have deep
significance for our own section is IN
dsniable. but the most rabid Republi-
can in Congress hardly forsees the
actual results which will ensue, and
least OF all the representative negroes
composing the two Congresses recently
assembled ia Washington and Rich
mopd To influence the action OF Con-
gress.
We call attention to the fact that
there 10 not negro Of prominence with
his own rsce who is not swift witness
to invoke the interference of the Federal
Government IN any political result not
agreeable to himself, or who depre-
Gates any measure however harsh
and repugnant to the whiie
race of the South. Without the
fsiutest perception CT the value OF
ruth. his code OF morals is the Same
whether he is rotbing a hen roost or
stating his imaginary grievances.
The last election pissed in Virginia
almost without trace Of disturbance
aud even in the negro counties OF the
Sonthside. without an alleged griev-
apce at the smallest precinct, and yet
this conference in Richmond made
charges Of fraud and intimidation and
used the Intelligence Of white coDfsd-
crate to prepare an address to Congress
detailing imaginary grievances and re-
turning thanks to that Tom Thumb
among Presidents, AFR. Harrison. for his
sympathetic utterances in his late mes
sage.
The two conferences seemed to have
been animated by the same spirit, but
the one in Washington being remote
from the possibility Of danger, INDUCED
in an unexampled ferocity OF blood
thirsty threats, aud every member 10
probably already provided with razor
for the defense of his political rights.
These conferences would only arouse the
sense of the ludcrOus, but for the prob
ability of their being backed by the
ruling party in Congress, composed OF
civilized white men, who. for partisan
ends, would reduce the States OF the
Julh to political conditions Of absolute
barbsrism.
We will give practical illustration
of what will be the result OF genera
election law, providing for the appoint
ment through Federal agencies Of
Judges Of election, marshsls and return
ing boards.
We will take asingle precinct in Viz
ginia which is well known to us, and
there are thousands like it in the South.
At this precinct at the last election there
were 200 white voters and 24O colored,
but Of the former only single one voted
the Republican ticket. Now, when the
pew election system will be lnaugurated,
it is evident that the single white rene
sade cannot be multiplied into clerk,
marshal, and judges, and that the de
ficiency will have to be wholly SUP
piled by the appointment OF ignorant
negroes. This would be the perpetual
ton of Republican power with ven
geance, and through exclusively African
agencies. and how long would we en-
dure such a state Of things, and what
would be our remedy?
The remedy would be found not in
violence or a patient waiting for re-
peal of the law by the Democratic party
at some future day, but the whole negro
race would become 20 odious, and our
sense of degradation so uncomfortable.
that IN Virginia the white people of
every county would by combination
proceed to eliminate the negro FROM
heir communities as a laborer or tenant
He has long ago ceased to be profitable
10 the smallest degree in either capa-
city. and as he is comparatively without
property or the qualities which enable
him to acquire it, his enforced emigra-
ton on large scale would become in
evitable. and rather than be governed
by him we will bid him God speed
whether he shall decide to SEEK refuge
in tine North or on the banks of the
Congo.
We would say to Republican Con
gresham, if you wish to create bitter
hostility of the superior race towards
the Inferior, in which the latter can
reap nothing but woe and suffering,
legislate to make negroes marshals
and Judges of election at every South
ern precinct and instruments for the
creation of Republican majorities, and
YOU will have taken the first step to.
wards placing them under an ostracism
which may leave them without an acre
10 cultivate or roof to shelter them.