The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-12-04
TIE VIRGINIA FRAUDS.
HOW REPUBIICAN MAJORITY vF
10000 WAS OVERCOME.
The Plain Truth as tn Bourbon Methods
I'm the Black Belt of virginia-Congress-
man Che die, of. Indiana, ON Malone
and the virginia RepubIicans.

\ The Plain Truth as tn Bourbon Methods
I'm the Black Belt of virginia-Congress-
man Che die, of Indiana, ON Malone
and the Virginia Republicans.
from the Chicago Inter ocean,
have thought that an impartial statement OF
the issues, and the facts as they were seen by
me, OF the recent campaign made in Virginia,
under the leadership OF General Malone for
8 the Republican party, against Bourbon Democ-
racy might be OF interest to the people OF the
North. aud might he accepted ms IA link I'm the
chain OF facts which must sooner or later
arouse the nation and call FOR and demand pro-
lection for the ballot, and the enforcement ~
honest elections, whereby the majority OF legal
voters OF the South may be able TO make their
wishes respected in the selection OF public
officers to rule over them.
Abraham Lincoln decla ed nearly n third OF
century ago, that this Government could not
long exist half slave and half free; that IL
would become all slave or all free. l believe
that the following is equally true: This Gov
eminent not long exist with n race OF peo-
pie nearly 1000 in numbers who have been
legally enfranchised practically robbed OF
their ballots because they are negroes Every
legal voter in the Union will be protected in
the right OF suffrage, or there will be no protec-
ton whatever TO the ballots OF any OF our citi-
zens, whether they be white men OF black men.
/ spent more than n month in the Virginia
campaign and awaited myself OF all the helps
within my reach TO learn the exact state OF al
fairs, and TO learn all l could about the race
problem. i wanted to see and hear and know
the exact conditions as they exist and for this
purpose made an extended canvass in the So
ties where the population was largely black.
and in counties where the races are nearly equal
in numbers; 1 was in counties with large Re-
publican majorities, and in Democratic coun-
tes-in counties where there are very few
white Republican voters. and in counties whore
there are many white Republicans, and then
went into sections OF the State where there are
few colored voters so that in my five weeks
campaign met all the different phases OF Nir-
ginia Republicanism.
One who visits the colorel people in the
Black Belt will be astonished beyond express
sion first at the poverty OF that section OF the
State, and, second, at the devotion OF the
negroes to the Republican party. In the midst
of the most squalid poverty seen since the war
not one in fifty OF the negro voters can be
bought for money to vote against the Repub
lcan party this fact Is conceded by Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike. Their devotion to
principle is worthy of cOmmendation
The white men in that section OF the State
who are Republicans heroes, every one OF
them, Only the most heroic souls can with
stand the prescription they are forced TO en-
dure No one who reads this can have an idea
4 OF it, unless he has looked upon II, and
knows from personal observation just how in
! tense and bitter BourbCnism can make IN. 1t
means business ostracism, social and religious
ostracism. IL has even invaded the shrines
! where Odd-Fellow ship and Masonry meet. 1t
is as universal as the civilization BOurbonism
talks so much about. Hence IL Is, that only
they of heroic mold can afford 60 invite this
spirit of hatred for opinions sake and from
the fearless and unyielding leader, Gen. Malone
down 10 the man who merely votes the Repub-
| lcan ticket, there cannot be found anywhere
| for the sake of opinions they entertain, risk SO
| much aud suffer much as the white Ropub-
| licans of the so-called Black Belt OF Virginia.
| / learned this fact know all others no
seek the truth must learn IL who will take the
time TO investigate the facts as did during the
| late campaign,
Addressed meetings in Virginia in twenty
| two places, six of them on County Court days,
! where the Bourbons held meetings at tho same
! time and had an excellent opportunity 10 see
and know the character OF their meetings and
the measure of enthusiasm prevailing among
the masses of both parties, and know that in
I all sections OF the State ana everywhere the
| Republicans were muchmore enthusiastic than
| the Democrats The Democratic masses were
| not enthusiastic and their campaign in this
respect was "A drag; while, upon the other hand,
! Republicans everywhere wero enthusiastic and
| hopeful. This was true OF whites and blacks.
| One of the elements of this spirit OF enthusiasm
| was the constant accessions to our party of
| white Democrats, especially in the Black Belt.
| The smallest number OF these changes was two,
| in other places more, until the number in some
voting precincts would be hye. in others seven,
eleven, seventeen, thirty-seven, forty-four and
in Petersburg over 200, and not one precinct in
| the Black Belt where did not receive access
sions from white Democrats
| The Republicans made IN aggressive campaign
in favor of measures OF State policy which COM
mandod the attention OF all the people and
| elected united and enthusiastic support from
| both races. State issues were ably discus by
| State speakers and there was u universal desire
| for the election OF the entire State ticket and
a majority in both branches OF the Legislature,
TO the end that reforms upon which all were
| agreed might De lnhuBuroteu ana carried into
| operation, the mere mention OF the name OF the
| Republican candidate for Governor, General
Malone, calling forth the most enthusiastic APP
| plnuse from both races at all times and in al
sections OF the State. Living all my life in In
| diana, where political campaigns are conduct
ed for all there is in them, l am prepared by
years OF experience TO say that l never OBJ
| served n greater determination To win an cleo
| tion upon living issues than was everywhere
! manifested by Virginia Republicans in the
campaign just ended. The white men in the
| Black Belt and in the white counties, and the
colored men everywhere, expressed the opinion
! that they must be successful, provided they
! were permitted TO vote and have their votes
/ counted as they were cast, and the result
honestly announced and they said they could
| win IL not robbed OF more than ten thousand
| votes. They made their campaign upon live
| State issues-the final settlement OF their State
| debt, an economical administration of the State
| government, the improvement OF the free
schools Of the State, the honest and impartial
collection OF taxes assessed against railway cor
| pOrations, the expenses OF the State govern
| ment having been largely increased by Bourbon
| rule and taxes assessed against railroads not
having been collected by Bourbons; while their
opponents went before the people upon the sole
| issue of personal abuse Of Gen. Malone and the
| race cry of Run, white man, run, or the Niger
will kotch you sure" The silly claim that the
/ white people were in actual danger OF negro
| supremacy in State where there Is n clear
| hundred thousand majority of whites. Such
were the conditions aud issues upon which
verdict was sought, and the papers say that
the Republicans were defeated by more than
900 votes in a State where there is n clear Re
|
| Honest men everywhere who read and reflect
| upon this stupendous fraud will wonder how IL
was possible 10 accomplish IL. 1t does seem
| strange that men who pretend To be honest,
men who bow in worship TO Almighty God,
! could become agents in procuring such II result,
! yet they did this very thing There is one ele-
! mentary fact that must not be lost sight of.
| Bourbon Democratic leaders do not believe that
IA negro has any rights which they as men, or
| sworn officials, bound TO respect. There
fore they do not consider 10 a crime 10 cheat
defrnud negro out of his ballot, aud 10 do this
they will even not hesitate TO cheat white Re
publicans out of their ballots 1 have heard
reputable white Bourbon Democrats say repeat
eddy that they had the count that the niger"
had no right 10 vote, and that they did not con-
| slider IL crime 10 count him out, that they in
tended TO count their candidates i'm, and the
suit shows they did it, takeit that the further
wholesale killing Of negroes has been abandoned,
the Danyill Il riot Of 1855 being OF such charac-
ter that its Iureher repetition would not be toll
| Grated by the public sentiment OF the nation,
hence the change TO the moro peaceful but no
| less effective methods restored To in the recent
campaign.
Inc Legislature Of Virginia elects all the
judges in the state. Every County Judge in the
State is n Democrat, and every Circuit Judge is
| n Democrat Some years since the Legi stature
| enacted an election law known IA the McCor-
| mack election law in order TO make IL moro
effective. II is provided by law that there shall
| bo no appeal from the decision OF the CoHnty
| Judge upon contested election cases. That de-
| cision is n fnaity. Every Judge n Democrat,
/ -.