Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-12
Mr.. BAReOUR' D E-JOiNCER.
A Vigorous Denial OF Charges Made by
General Nahone's Committee.
Washlnei0n Post

Senator John :. Barbour in conversation
with Post reporter last evening expressed
great surprise az the sctiJn OF the EepuD-
licen State Committee N resolving % take
No further part in campaigns IN Virginia n
account Of alleged corruption IN con-
nection with elections. Ho said that
from the position he occupied a. chair
man Of the Democratic Committee be
was able 70 state positively that tie cleo
tiOns in Virginia had been as fairly con-
Quoted es those in any other state. IS evi-
dence Of the truth OF bis assertion be cited
the very large Republican vote cast IN 1854,
when Mr. Cleveland carried the State by
about 5000 majority. and sgain IN ISIS.
when President Harrison came within 500
votes Of carrying the State. when the total
Republican vote exceeded 10000.
The resolutions refer. see" said he,
"to mv absence in lss5 when the kepubi-
cans carried majority Of the congressional
districts. and Democratic authority j.
quoted that If had been present the couhi
would hayo been different. The result IN
lss5 was not as favorable 70 the Virginia
Republicans n the Republican State Com
mittee would have the country believe.
Instead Of electing seven out Of ten MEN,
bers OF Congress the Democrats elected
three OF their own party faith and one In
dependent, and the Republican majority
instead OF being 10000 Vas very much less.
mo Democratic authority ever charged
or iusinuated tnat | would OF ever had
tampered with or interfered with any count
o. the ballots. The truth is that what was
said in that connection by portion OF tie
Democratic press n q personal, friendly
spirit 70 me was that if had been at home
the result o. the elections would have
been different. No such meaning 2s
count as distinguished from result was
ever alleged against me by the Democratic
party. So far as / am concerned II the
count of the ballots IN any election with
which have been connected IN Virginia
since 1882. | d.sclaim all personal know
ledge. direct or otherwise, OF any unfair
action or proceeding;
Il have no doubt some Republican
votes. whose identity could not be shown.
were stricken from the poll-lists in the last
campaign. am quite confident, however,
that instead Of y 600 names being stricken
from the poll-lists the actual number did
not exceed 800 or 2.000ln the entire State.
IL is well understood that the colOred
voters in Virginia are Of migratory habits,
moving from county 70 county IL search OK
employment. while large numbers seek
work IN distant states.
The declaration on the part OF General
Mahone's committee that the Republicans
Of Virginia should fOrbear further partici-
patton IN the elections on account OF the
unlawful dlsfranchisement of the electors
Is insincere and deceptive. The election
machinery IN Virginia Is practically ana IN
substance throughout the State what II
was when General Malone and his party
controlled the State government.
IF there was any wrong perpetrated IN
the last congressional elections in Viz
gina why is it that the Republican House
of Representatives has failed to find. with
a single exception, that any wrong was
done and in the exception referred TO
the allegation OF fraud was confined 10 a
single ward N Richmond"