Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-18


That Jim Crow car bill which tn
Democratic Legislature of West Virgins
is threatening to pass is an insult to ev
cry colored man or woman in West Vir
ginia or out of it.-Stdte Journal.
In this great Columbian year of Ma
tional pride and progress, when men O
every race and color and religion ant
sect meet together and sit together il
the cause of humanity and civilization
it is an insult to every intelligent
white man or woman in America. We
accept the colored brothers. money, we
take his work, we recognize his citizen
ship, both parties are glad for his vote,
but Notwithstanding, lingering bacteria
of barbarism and slavery,-wsnts Jim
Crow car law in West Virginia in 1893.
1t is one of the burning links in the
chain that binds the State to the Solid
South.
This is Solid South Legislature. No
laws for the people but all laws for the
partisans and their party. No wonder
people and capital are afraid of the South
Ii is half a century behind the age. II
boasts of its cradle of liberty" and
mother of Presidents, but the West OF
a few years is far ahead of the South OF
centuries. There the people rule-ideas
rule,-progress rules. In the South pre-
JUDGE and party rule. Life and property
are not safe from spirit of lawlessnsss
engendered by partisan bitterness. In
the Southern courts the fight of ages is
going on. whether the State or the Ma.
ton has thefirst right to the bankrupt rail
roads. Too much politics, too much
mob law, too many Jim Crow bills. have
killed railroad enterprise. Land is worth
little or nothing. Free speech denied OF
its advocates rotten-egged, Dominant
ideas and powers must rule or ruin
State debts and plundered treasures are
the legitimate fruits of partisanism. Dis
respect for law and authority follow
and the political and social atmosphere
is revolutionary. We are sorry to sa,
these unpleasant truths, but history
proves them and the experience of hal
century is repeating itself every day.
Under partisan rule West Virginia il
entering the same dark borderland O
internal troubles and unprogrsssion
The fight is for power at all costs ant
sacriices,-t politicians must live ever
on the vitals of popular government
Was there principle or right involved
in the unjust apportionment of Berkeley
or MorganT None except partisan power
at the expense of popular rights.
Was there principle or right in
volved in throwing out 100 votes to coun
Fleming IMP Partisan rule or ruin,
Is there principle of law or right Of
the people involved in the bill taking the
power of appointing our local election
officers out of the hands of our county
courts and placing it in the hands of the
Slater None except Democratic control
of the election machinery.
w was III INT
resolution (defeatedl to inquire into land
remedy the law that gives to State OF
ficer $4,000 illegal fees? A Democratic
official shield
Is 1t modern progress to require every
man who comes into the State to register
with the clerk of the Court and file his
intention of becoming citizen, or is it a
Democratic election scheme to gain votes!
Partisan will and partisan purpose has
SO far been the successful power in the
past State Legislatures. Political pre-
JUDGE has more influence than the rights
of the whole people of the State. To the
politicians belong the spoils and to the
people the payment of high taxes and
licenses. This is Solid South principles.
The opponents of it teach the lesson to
the people from every platform in the
State during election times, and the PEG.
pie give willing car to partisan ignor-
ance, prejudice and falsehood. Time and
bitter experience will teach them politi-
cal independence. Too many Republi.
cans can not rise higher than these same
Democratic partisans, and In their greed
for office and disregard of popular rights
and courtesies they help to seal the Solid
South letters. They are for self, grow
rich on the party purse, and are migrate
full and unpopular.
Partisan politics and partisan polite
ians are building a repulsive and dis
couraging wall around West Virginia,
and give notice by legislative signboards
that only party slaves are wanted within.
Truth and progress are slow but prov
idence, history and experience prove
that they are sure, and some day the
free mountain people will arise and
clean out the corrupt political Augean
stables and bring to the front public
spirited and progressive men. Politics
as business is the curse of the State.