The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-25
and Populist parties the Democratic was

|
| the lesser evil. -,
rirst in Importance I regard such
amendments TO our election laws az -.
! insure a perfectly free ballot anu I.D-.,
| count and return of the vote cast ~ 49,
nolnt should be guarded TO secuIe 80 e.
great consideration. and the peha, 800
| violation should be so severe, anu 'Io .st.,,
so summarily administered tnat ~ ~
man can escape The manipulation VI
| oIactjon returns was first resorted 10 "iie"
/ 4, was the only means OF retaining t,ie
| ,,oyernrent I'm the hands or the nlteii-
gent. property-holding element OF the
| state. IL was designed only as d teih-
norary expedient to meet great eioe'-
rency. and never intended TO become d
nermanent method in our politics. But
wbere nil the election machinery Is IN
the hands OF three men, chosen often
times for their capacity in certain lines
yrbose proceedings are as secret as a
star-chamber communion. and whose APP
pointments Of officers Of election are never
published beforehand, that the people
may know who they are, 1t Is so easy TO
beat an opponent by a manipulation oil
the returns that men of easy conscience
do not hesitate
have always contended that In the
end IT would prove a boomerang ana
rive much trouble. What IS the result?
Inc Udlbl-bBA IliiiiihidADA II III No.
influential man at the precinct meetings,
and always "a delegate 20 the conventions.
II a man Is proposed who is distasteful
TO him. he loudly declares he could not
carry his precinct, and his views receive
great consideration for they know what
that means. So, this class have TO be
consulted. and nominees selected who meet
their approval. Vice reigns and virtue
takes her exit. When the election is over
lion q
his services and ask for the fat appoint
ments. and his servants. whom he has
elected. dare not refuse his request. It's
baneful effects are seen in the charac-
ter Of the representatives chosen by such
methods; men Of high character will not
seek positions the attainment OF
which Is accomplished by fraud, or they
will not stoOp TO the means necessary to
secure a nomination Of those who control
the machine, and the result Is mediocrity
and incapacity are found in positions de-
handing genius and high attainments.
Another evil result is the debauching Of
the public conscience. This practice has
prevailed so long and is so openly and
boldly talked of, and even boosted Of.
that many have come TO look upon 1t as
"a light matter.
Our young men growing up in such an
atmosphere learn to look upon il as the
proper thing in politics. They lose all re-
gard for the sanctity Of law and i'm
bibe a low idea OF public honor. I am
glad to believe that the evil I have re-
ferred to does not prevail IN all parts OF
the state. but il is far too common and
is disgrace 10 our civilization.
II ever there was a necessity for II, 10
does not exist now. There Is a safe white
majority I'm the State that will always
make itself felt when occasion demands:
besides, the negro vote Is no longer held
en- masse but is disposed to divide and
act independently.
The people of The State need TO be edu-
Gated TO a higher idea Of public morals
We need men TO be foremost, Of such
stainless private character, who would
prefer defeat IN an honest fair count, 20
success accomplished by fraud.
l would hail with delight return TO
the old ways, when. for most offices, the
nominating convention was unknown,
when gentlemen announced themselves
candidates and on their personal merit
and capacity for the position sought APP
pealed to their fellow-citizens for their
SURFACES. But that day will never re-
turn, the nominating system has become
too deep-rooted I'm the public mind and
all we can do IS to make the best Of eX-
listing conditions. Let the primary take
the place of the convention. Educate the
people that It is a sacred duty TO take
part I'm the primary and choose their
candidates, make the election laws so
stringent, and choose for their admins
tration men Of such high character, that
no breath Of suspicion Of fraud or dis
honesty will rest in the returns. When
we have done this, step forward in re-
form Will have been taken.
DEMOCRAT.