The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-20
FOR HONEST ELECTIONS.
OPEN LETTER FROM El-MAfOR
BARTON METERS, or NORFOLK.
Hearty Concurrence in the Efforts OF The
Times-Wili Not Hurt Democracy to
Speak Openly of These Things

The Norfolk Virginia OF sunday con
tanned the following letter from Honorabl
Barton Meyers, ex-Mayor of that city;
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. Is, 1893.
Editor Norfolk Virginian;
Believing 1t TO be the duty Of ever,
citizen to sustain with no uncertain sound
the effort Of the Norfolk press, the Rich
nond Times and some other papers II
the State. to obtain such legislation a.
will ensure honest elections,-I write t
express my hearty concurrence in th'
movement az a Democrat who has al
ways voted the straight ticket, and one
who has no personal grievance and | APP
peal TO Democrats throughout the STATE
to unite I'm the effort 10 change election
laws, which permit dshOnor to the old
| Commonwealth. and threaten TO disrupt
| the Democratic party.
| l shall speak plainly, because the best
| chance TO effect "A cure Is first TO make q
! thorough diamosis.-NOr should my fel-
! low Democrats think it viii injure the
party TO speak openly. for local Republic
| can leaders (some Of whom were once
| within the Democratic fold understand
the situation fully. and no disclosure OF
| present methods, can be so disastrous 10
hiding will do no goOd. Neither can Re
publicans with good grace reflect on them,
when they recall scenes enacted here, in
November. 1892 and the character Of reg
istrars. judges. and clerks Of election APP
pointed when they controlled the election
machinery Of this city. Unscrupulous
Democrats have merely appropriated the
methods OF INSCRIPTIONS Republicans.
The Anderson Mccormick law was en-
acted in 1884. TO wrest the machinery from
Mahone's judges. who in many places
were held to have prostituted il TO par
tisan ends.
without referring 10 other sections Of
the State, whose papers are speaking for
them, but combining myself to the Second
Congressional District. and especially TO
Norfolk city; it seems unnecessary to
discuss whether or not present registra-
lions and elections are honest: for many
well-posted men believe that frequently
they are not so. In fact. many men who
are upright IN their private affairs. and
would resent any imputation against
their personal integrity argue and claim
to believe that in order to maintain DEM
ocratic. or the white mans supremacy
the ballot should be manipulated by such
methods honest or not, as may be neccs-
sary thereto. The vital point therefore,
IS to convince Democrats that they should
desire and demand honest elections. from
principles OF eXpediency. as well as of
morality, and thew 10 the line let the
chips fan where they may"
The white mans supremacy Is import
ant but moral supremacy is Of even
greater Importance. The end does not
justify the means. We cannot debauch
public morals without in time debauching
private morals and business methods.
LII
object lesson before them: those to whom
they should look FOR guidance. and whose
integrity they should venerate. adyocat- |
ing and aiding dishonest elections: often |
ever testing over clever outrages on the |
ballot. when perpetrated i'm general cleo |
tions-thOueh they may express abhor- |
renee Of such methods If introduced into /
Democratic primaries.
We should demand an honest ballot /
even though il result, temporarily, I'm de-
feat. We may purge the registration
books annually. Of all who have by crime
disfranchised themselves: we can secure
such legislative and constitutional restrc-
tons as may be- proper. An educational
qualification seems reasonable. The state
offers to educate her people free. and it
is not unreasonable 10 say that ~ who
viii not avail himself OF the opportunity
thus afforded te learn enough to read his
ballot. shall not have a voice ia legislat-
Ing for those who have acquired education
But be the law what IL may let il be
impartially and honestly administered;
honorable defeat IS better than dishOnOra-
bic success. N hatevcr may once have
been the danger Of negro rule the DAY has
passed when it IS TO be apDrehended in
Virginia. II has for years been the rally
Ing cry TO keep solid the white vote and
n fueffft frrapuIg rffiar La alaotfgvc Tttt !
danger in some Of what may
be termed the BLACK belt counties. shall
the rest Of the State be kept under q bad
aw and public morals I'm the whole State
be tainted, 10 protect them2 Protection
Il such price is dearly bought. let the
Democrats of those counties make the
pest fight they can; even should they be
beaten, Republicans OF this day are not
he carpet baggers Of reconstruction days
hey'mw generally put forward their best
men; but should these betray public trust,
he people by reaction Of sentiment.
wen in the black belt" will turn them
Town, as they did the Malone party in
So
ON the purity Of the ballot depend our
Republican Institutions; we all acknow-
edge this but should We take chances,
Xpecting other States 10 keep it pure.
nd preserve these institutions? Rather
|
lad in maintaining the fundamental prin-
ipies OF our communicating bright
he traditional integrity and high honor OF
ur ancestors. who labored and fought
or them. and whose honorable records
re the glory Of their descendants. viii I
ar grandchildren glory i'm the methods Z
y which We win? Farmers and those {
nown as laboring men in the town and @
ountry (and this in Virginia includes e
early all Of us) should be especially p
aalous for the purity Of the ballot v
trough II alone can we except TO correct {
buses, and protect ourselves against gov u
control. by aggregated capital. v
its various forms and against rings i
all kinds. b
II is their faith in the ability Of the a
lajority Of the people TO rule. that in II
merica rec1nciles men 10 existing or | d
nagined evils.-shake the faith OF the / 4
asses In their power % speak through | T
he baliot-boK, and we sow the seed OF ! N
evolution. Ana yet. are we not doing N
IFS in our midst? Is IL not fact that +,
any Of our people believe that only / N
rose can be elected TO office who are f,
vorcd by the Electoral Board? Has o.,
ot this public belief i'm the real or mag 81
ed Willingness and ability OF the MEM q,
'rs Of the Electoral Board Of this city. M
use their official position for the
ection Of their favorites. resulted in g,
o much Difference and consequent power "a
the members Of that board. 10 be d
nsistcnt with public welfare2 n
Is not this belief causing ever-in- %
easing distrust. and alternating lifelong =,
emocrats-ether driving them into the -
emy's ranks. or at least making them -
lukpWarrn that thev 40 not % 10 D."