Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-07-19


uyou only knew our suffering here on account
OF Negro rule you would vote different We are
families Post this up at the court-house door
And again?
Riot in Danville Mahonelsm has worked its
legitimate result in Danvile: Riot and blood
the diabolical speeches which have been addressed
q them by the Malone Nihilists the Negroes h f.
precipjtated the bloody iasue People OF
the Valley and Southwest the East calls upon Won
to come TO It's rescue 70 help beat back the
black wave which threatens RI roll over Arouse
we and TO the polls
So the race issue was raised-raised
by the Democratic party-and most
effectively. Out of 1 200 registered
colored voters in the city of Danville
only ventured to the polls; the re-
mainder prudently remained away.
| think, therefore, am justified in
saying that the race issue is some
times raised even by the Democratic
party, which seems SO deeply to de-
plore it, for the sole purpose of carry
ing elections.
Whenever in certain localities it is
necessary to carry an election, when
"a great crime is to be perpetrated,
when the ballot-box is TO be rified or
stuffed; then the race issue is raised
as an excuse for the outrage. A
committee of the United States SEN
ate appointed to investigate the af-
fair made a report in which it was
stated.
What. then. IL is pertinent to inquire. was the
condition affairs In the city OF Danville after the
reports were sent outg The Democrats came
from the Opera House shouting and halloolng as
Street. until they reached the Arlington Hotel:
They yelled in exultation. ''Hurrah for US Dam
STms was sou SSa os h Tor the Rsops TO ny
massacre were placed on guard TO patrol the city
as the Mayor states without his authority and
without being sworn- Every white Democrat. and
even boys armed. some with guns, others
with pistols. and still others with bowie-knives:
The white mob ruled the town;
Upon all the evidence Il Is clearly established H.
was wanton, wicked. and groundless attack upon
unorending men women and children:
submit, therefore, we better not
permit our Judgment to be warped
by the discussion of the race prob
lem, but seriously address ourselves
to the real question in hand.
What Is it, in q word? II is this:
Shall every legal voter in the Repub-
lie entitled to participate in the cleo
ton of a Representative to the Ma
tional Legislature have the oppor-
tunity to cast his ballot, and when
cast, shall that vote be honestly
counted and the result tIuthfully de-
clared? This is the whole question
involved.
There ought to be but one answer
to this question by all honest. men.
Ia your hearts there is but one an
swer.
In 1884 the great National Demo.
cratic party declared in its platform
Eve believe in a free ballot and a
lair count" We're you honest in
that declaration? II you were, you
now have an opportunity TO demon.
state your sincerity. All parties
ought TO be in accord upon this ques.
ton. This bill may not secure the
end desired; it may need amend.
ment. If so, let it be modified. But
all parties ought to unite in protec
ting and maintaining the sanctity OF
che hallOt-box. 1t is the only safety
of the Republic. This is q represen.
tative Government. All the people
of the Republic cannot assemble in a
mass convention TO legislate fol
themselves. They must select Repre-
| sentatives to vote and speak fol
them. The ballot in the hand Of the
citizen is the badge of his. sovereign
ty. Take. that from him and he il
a slave. Through the ballot, anC
that alone, he can make himself felt
in the enactment of the laws and the
administration of public affairs. j
is as true to-day as it was n centur,
ago that "all governments deriv,
their just powers from the consent o
the governed"
The President of the Argentine Re
public, a Republic not supposed to b.
so far advanced in the science of gov
eminent as ourselves, in a messag
to his Congress recently said:
i We should never forget
And | wish gentlemen who iuggl
with ballOt-boxes would write thi
sentiment in the palms of their hands
We should never forget that when the public vot
is tempered with. representative government
exist but In name
There are but two questions inVoly
ed In this controversy: Are election
for Representatives in Congress fire
and fair? and, secondly, if not. doe
this bill provide the proper means t.
secure that end? Those are the on
ly questions.
shall not discuss the first prOpC
ton. That elections are free an,
fair in all portions of this country N
one has the effrontery to affirm, an
if they had, the evidence taken in til
cOntested-election cases decided i
this Congress would be complet
refutation.
If proof is necessary in addition t
this, will submit tables of electio
returns for twenty-five members froI
twenty-five Southern districts to tn
: last Congress (and l take the las
Congress that Imay avoid persona
, ities) showing they held their seat
; upon vote of o. ,S41 less by 1000
, than the vote for Delegate from til
Territory OF Dakota, and yet ever
? one of those twenty-five Democrat
voted against the admission of Oak,
: TIA, upon the ground that she did nc
) have sufficient population to EMIT