Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-07-19
FEDERAL ELECTION BILL
HON.. JULIUS C. BUR-
ROWS SPEECH.
IN FAVOR OF HONESTELECTION.
THE ISSUES CLEARLY DEFINED.
BOURBON FRAUD AND TRICKERY
TO THE REAR.

Judgment it has no legitimate place
In this controversy. The bill now
under consideration does not pro-
pose to confer the right to vote on
any citizen of the Republic not now
possessing that right. 1t does not
propose to take from any citizen of
the Republic now having the right
to vote that privilege. l am appre-
hensive this discussion of the race
issue is brought in 20 serve another
purpose, to raise false issue, arouse
passions that ought to sleep, and to
create prejudices that ought to pass
away.
fear the race question is some
times raised by those, who pretend to
deprecate it for the very purpose of
infaming the public mind and warp
ing the individual Judgment.
The simple question is whether
those upon whom the right has been
conferred shall be permitted to exer-
else it in this free Government. But /
repeat, the race issue is sometimes
raised for Interior purposes; and
fear the democratic party, even in
that section where the race conflict is
so much deplored, deliberately and
wickedly force it for the very purpose
OF Overthrowing popular govern
ment and subverting the public will
Why do l say this? In 1879, I'M
der the leadership of Wise. Cameron,
and other distinguished leaders in
Virginia, sustained by the co-opera-
ton of 1000 white people, the Read
iuster party was organized on a
platform declaring 'for a free ballot
and fair count, an honest payment
of the debt, and the abolition of the
whipping post.
Ii submitted that issue to the Deo-
pie of Virginia.; and n Legislature
was elected which made choice of a
Republican United States Senator.
In 1881 the Republican Readjuster
party again carried the Legislature,
and another Republican Senator was
chosen to the United States Senate.
In 1892 the Readjuster party was
again successful i'm the State, carry
ing the executive, judiciary, and six
members of Congress, out of ten.
With the Legislature, executive, Judi
ciary, two Senator's, and six out of
ten members of Congress Republican,
1t looked to the Democracy of that
State as if the "solid South" was
about to be broken, and Virginia was
TO lead the van. What was to be
done to regain the State and restore
it TO Bourbon rule? Would it do to
raise the race issue in State where
the whites outnumber the blacks two
to one? One would think not; yet it
was raised, and as | will show, raised
by the Democratic party, and for no
other purpose than TO infiame the
passions and prejudices of the peo-
pie and under its sway subvert pop
ular government.
In 1888 another election was to be
held, and the Democratic party call
ed its convention at Lynchburg, to
nominate n State ticket and adopt
platform. 1t viii be seen that the
most serious controversy in the con
vention was whether the race issue
should be raised .af
Let me call attention to what the
Richmond Dispatch, the Leading
Democratic journal of the State, sal
July 20, 1888, about the time the
Democratic Convention was in SEES
sion, touching the race issue. Lei
us see who raised it. | read an Elk
tract from an editorial in that paper
under date of July %, 1888. MARI
the language:
Before another issue OF the Dispatch reaches tn
public the I.ynchburg convention
The Democratic convention assem-
bled-
will in all probability have finished its work. TIL
ONLY matter of difference develoDed nv n canvo !
Of the delegation Is regarding the advisability
drawing the color line.
This was convention of the De
mocracy .deploring race conflicts
The only difference OF opinion was a
to ''the advisability of drawing tn
color line" The Dispatch continues
The Richmond delegation remain practical
unanimous in the opinion that IL should be draw
and are, il will be seen, sustained by some OF tn
strongest men OF the party.
In. order to draw the color.line in
flammatory circulars were issued b,
the Democratic party, and scattered
broadcast over the State with fam
ing headline. coalition rule il
panVille.
Danville was selected as the scene 70
drawing the race issue by the Dem
ocracy, to be drawn, as the sequt
shows, /, in blood. November 3r
came Three days before the eleC
ton a Democratic club assembled i
Danville, armed to the teeth wit
Winchester rifles 1t was marke
day, Saturday afternoon. ColOre
people,men women and children, weI
at the market place. The streets WEI
crowded. A white man, one OF til
.1siperior race, without provocs
ton, assaulted a black man in til
public street, knocked him dowI
and two other gentlemen of the ''sI
perior race" armed with bowl
knife and revolver, stood on eitht
side to prevent any interference. by OF
GERS or citizens. When the blaC
man was sufficiently punished I'll
fire-bell was rung, the alarm givel
although there was no fire, and til
Democratic club appeared upon Il
sccne of action, raised the race issu
and fired into the crowd of black pc,
pie. men, women and children,