Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-10
ELECTION FRAUDS"
FAILURE TO TRACE ANY TO DEFECTS
IN THE PRESENT STATE LAWS.
Methods Of Ambitious and Corrupt Poiiti-
cians-voters 10 BE Bought and Buyers
TO Trade-Mr. Corbin Answered.
r. ,hs raI,or Of the Dispatch:

II may asserted with confidence that no
one is ambitious 20 invite the just con-
demnation OF his fellow-men by attempt
ing TO excuse or justify political fraud. III
he should. have the temerity to do this
the voice OF an enlightened public opinion
would at once denounce him as an enemy
OF Justice. a foe to Republican institutions,
and "A traitor 20 the best interests OF his
own State.
I fully appreciate the danger which may
result from the use OF such methods, and
| have no doubt that all men OF eandor
and information will agree that he VINO
attempts 10 reconcile political fraud with
either n safe or stable government con-
fesses a gross ignorance of that science
and no who excuses # announces himself
tho friend Of a measure the tendency OF
which is to undermine the foundations OF
the Republic.
That the stream cannot be purer than
the fountain Is saying as true as II is
trite. Lovers Of honesty and fair-deaiing
have an unqualified contempt for the so
called politjcian. whether leader or follow
or who can be Influenced by persuasion
or money to advocate or pracuce as
honesty in any form. desire, therefore,
neither TO be misunderstood nor to occu-
DIV an equivocal position In presumihg 10
comment on some Of the press articles on
"the alleged frauds" undue influence
etc which were practiced in the recent
election in this State.
The Times. with It's characteristic rear
lessness" and tendency TO lift itself above
the dead level Of mediocrity'' has
"stepped from the low plane occupied
by the other Virginia papers, TO an eie-
walton of intelligent independence so
called nv attacking in numerous editorials
our present election-laws. Ana II mas
gravely called the attention Of its readers
and the public generally. to the gates
which these laws have opened for the
entrance of fraud and corruption
II has also published numerous con-
gratulatory articles on the courage "hlch
IL has evinced I'm thus "unfurllng us pan-
ner'' (which proclaims for purity ana JUS
tice al the ballot-box." l quote from an
article which came from the pen OF
gentleman from the North-
eru Neck. a member OF the present Leg
islature.
The Times has seen it, for reasons best
known 10 itself as il has not favored the
public with them, TO attack WIN CON
siderable energy and persistency the re-
cent election after IL is over and the harm
has been done and the ends Of justice,
"a II suggests, defeated. No one VINO
nretends 10 be fairly well informed on
current events or who has the proper
regard for his reputation for sincerity OF
nurpose will assert that the means en-
Moved in the election mentioned were ull-
ferent from those generally USED. II lhe
Times really desired to purge our politics
Of such defilement. why did II wait unui
the goods were stolen" before II cTleu
thief? There is n principle or law
which makes one a party to crime VINO
knows II Is to be committed ana does not
take steps 20 prevent 1t. The elecuonS
which have already been held under thc
present law have been sufficiently hume
rous for the Times, or any one else IN
terested in the subject, to discover their
effectiveness If such had existed. But
even at this time, It has signaily failed
TO trace "A single instance of fraud, real
or supposed. TO a defect In the election
laws themselves.
No one attempts to deny that In some
cases corrupt methods are resorted 10
to carry elections. but will any reasonable
man contend that because fraud exists
that the electlon-laws are responsible ior
il? The Times will enlighten its readers
II II will point them to that era In the
history Of this State, or any other state
In this Union. when politics were abso-
lutely free from contamination, when
fraudulent methods were not resorted TO
In some wards. precincts. or districts
and when all political leaders were
actuated by motives so noble and patri-
otto chat they chose TO advance the IN
terests Of their State at the expense, II
need be. Of their own ambitious desires.
This Is no excuse for fraud, nor Is II
offered by way OF palllation for 1t, but
human nature Is the same to-day That
L was in the days of our fOrefathers.
There was then, there Is now. and there
will continue TO be an element OF bad
mingled with the good. As long as some
voters are debased and degraded, and as
ong as an nordinate ambition ana lust
'or power dominates the minds and 81
ences the consciousness Of some men OF
ability and genius, so long will corrupt
methods be resorted to for the purpose
II individual ACKNOWLEDGMENT. And both
II these classes will form a part Of every
lOllllcdl
IS long as political parties and political
actions continue 10 play their parts In the
great drama OF the worlds affairs.
VALUE OF THE VOTE.
II more frauds are practiced in Vir-
,inia elections to-day than formerly. 1t
8 due TO no defect in our election-laws.
out to the influx OF 'carpet-bag' politl-
,ians. who value their right TO vote for no
more than that vote will bring In open
market II is due to the fact that there
ire more votes to be bought and more
Duyers to trade for them.
All who realize i'm what the strength OF
his government consists and upon what
Is perpetuity depends will heartily unite
n supporting any movement tending TO
preserve the purity of the ballot-boX; and
Will. with equal unanimlty, unite IN CON
iemnlng any persons or organs who need
essly expose their own laws and their
,wn institutions TO the condemnation and
lerision Of their political enemies by at
tempting to make them responsible for
fraudulent methods, which no law can
prevent.
This seems to me TO be the result of
ne Times efforts in this direction. The
position II has taken In this discussion
has been adversely criticised by some
md endorsed by others. Prominent among
he latter Is the distinguished gentleman
rom King George county, before referred
o, Hon. s. Wexford COrbin. In an article
lnder his signature, which appeared In The
FINES November 2Sth. he not only an
himself a warm friend OF fair
elections On that regard differing In no
wise from other honest mem, but he de-
Jared for a more radical improvement
han The Times had advocated. He
bought that the moral instincts OF the
rirginians ought TO be strengthened" that
he people Of Virginia ought 10 be "edu-
,ated 10 scorn a lie, deceit. and fraud"
hat they ought TO be taught truth, equity
md Justice before the safety of the Dem
,cratic party or Of the government could
,e confidently looked for.
The natural inference which this origi-
nal suggestion gives rise 10 is that this
Gentleman entertains the opinion that
virginians have heretofore neglected TO
these noble qualities. and have
devoted. II may be supposed, most OF
heir time and attention 10 the study OF
he science Of ballot-box stuffing and
,ther fraudulent methods of cheating |
yoters OF their votes.
KNEW OF NC CASE.
This gentleman, at least desiring TO be |
,andid and just, had sufficient considera-
ion for his own people TO say that so |
ar as he knew "he was rejoiced TO be |
IDLE. to state that in his own county he
ynew OF no complaint in regard to the