Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-07
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 7, 1889.
Malignant Miller.


well thank Heaven that Attorney-Gcneral
MILLER was not nominated for the Su-
preme bench. We had been disposed to
regard him as q good man rs well as good
lawyer, basing our opinion, however, solely
on the fact that Mr.. HARRISON. whose law
partner he was for so many years and who
must know him well, accounted him worthy
Of tho honor Of being Attorney-General of
Che United States. Our opinion seems to
have been wrong one. Mr.. MILLER IS "A
malignant. He gives ear to all the reports
whichare flying over the country TO the dis
credit Of the southern whites. but believes
that the colored wards Of the nation" have
never a political sin 20 answer for. lie
IS a traitor 10 the Caucasian race. His ba-
tired Of rebels" is such that he would
rather believe what is said by the most
ignorant and vicious class in the southern
community than what is said 10y the most
enlightened. cultured, and truthful class
lie foregathors with the enemies OF the
white race He bases his official annual
report. so far az II concerns the acts OF the
white Democrats Of the South, upon the
statements Of men who have no sympathy
with the people amongst whom they i've
In word, Attornoy-GeDcral MILLER has
proved himself 10 bc q fit leader Of the
party which is not ashamed to appoint
Wu11AM MALONE its satrap for Virginia
Iu his annual report Nh. MnLEE gives
what we may assume he considers good
reasons why Congress ought to pass M
tioual clection-l4w. He goes further than
the President went in his annual message
~ favor OF legislation intended to pat the
congress ioual elections in the southern
States under the control of Republican
parfi.an-. BE charges that very soon after
hetook oficeit was brought tohisattenuon
that ut the congressional elections OF 1883
there were very numerous and far-reach-
ing violations Of the Federal laws relating
a. such elections. These violations were
effected. SD hc says. by selling and de
stroying ballot-boXcs. by substitution of
false ballots. by false returns, by briberyof
voters and election officers. and by various
other means well known to those engaged
in this uefarious business" lie also charges
that officers of elections and witnesses
were iut.midatcd. and then he adds:
"Of course such laRlessuess cannot DO tole-
rated. IN every case the instructions T. prosecute
have hoen coupled with the assurance that no
means within the power OF this department Will
be spared o. protect officers and witnesses IN the
discharge Of their duties nud % bring 10 punish
menk every man Who Illegally attempts to
thvert such prosecutions"
The reader can see for himself that Mr..
Miller had in view national election-law
when he wrote that ugmarole. Tie iortets
that the southern States ere the equals Of
the northern. and remembers only that
from 1861 olsG5 thelatterwcre loyal" and
the former not only "Tetellious" but bel
ligerent, He wouldnot have union Of CO.
equal States. but a national Government
controlled by Republican partisans IN the
northern States and satrap.es in the South
kept under the yoke 10y orders from Wash
ineton. He would have not Ian indlssolu-
bic union Of indestructible States but
union pinned together with bayonets."
IL would have tie southern congressman
represent the negroes at home and their
northern allies, and not the intelligent tax
PAYERS.
But We have begun. as We said day OF
two ago. to be more hopeful that the sober
second thought Of the Republicans in Con-
cress. backed by the result of the elections
of last month. las convinced them that
the people Of the United States do not
look with favor upon the proposition to
destroy the republic under the preteXt Of
purifying congressional elections. The
people have, as the Wings sang in 1870
"plaved them up tune" which must give
them pause. The Washington Post is an
Independent Republican paper which does
not often hesitate TO speak out III meet
ing" It's principal editor was member OF
a late Republican Cabinet, and associates
freely with members of Congress. We
take it that when he speaks as if there were
no doubt on the subject, and tells Us
what Congress will not do. he does not
reckon without his host. In the Post OF
YESTERDAY he first SAYS that there is little
probability that anything will be " done "
at this session in the way of protecting v
negro voters, and afterwards declares en-
phatically as follows:
"Ths southern Republicans, white and black,
can DO more for themselves than Will DO accom-
pnshed by any Federal oleNion law " such a
law were passed. aud 10 such law VIII he
passed"
And no such lar iriN be passed" Here
perhaps We ought to stop" as General
WARRINGTON once wrote.