The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-05
WHY DOES TRE DIsPATCH DEFEND
THE ELECTION LAWS.

| -
THE ELECTION LAWS.
Why the Dispatch should be so earnest
a defender of the Anderson-McC ormick
election law we cannot understand. II
was adopted in 1884. when there had never
been the slightest complaint OF the cleo
ton laws that we then had. Indeed, Vir-
ginia, Of all the Southern States. was the
only one prior to that time that had es-
capped the charge Of fraudulent elections.
But with all the abuse that was heaped
upon her for attempting 10 repudiate her
debt. not one word was said Of cheating
in her elections. The readiuster pro-
gramme was possible only because her
| elections were perfectly fair Had dis
honest elections prevailed in 1879, Malone
! would not have carried the State. But our
Hsystem was one that secured honesty OF
elections and that brought on us the Ma
| hone regime. Three years Of that rule
so enraged the people that they reused
| themselves TO a supreme effort. and in
1883 they carried the election for mem
| bCrs Of the Legislature and swept Ma
hone and his party wholly out Of power.
This was done under election laws that
secured perfect honesty and fairness, and
the result of that election proved what
the people Of Virginia can do when real
grievances exist under laws that secure
| honest elections.
Our people had endured. during Ma
homes three years rule, such a pande-
monium Of rottenness and corruption.
that they unhappily turned for relief TO
legislation which would enable them to
carry elections by tricks instead of by
votes. 1t was an evil day for Virginia
when this resolution took possession of
her Legislative mind. When her people
had been really oppressed they had rous-
ed themselves ana broken their chains.
like the brave high-spirited people that
they are They would have retained con-
troll of Nirginia's government by the same
methods if they had been encouraged 10
keep them up, and they would have held
the negro in political subordlnation by
the methods of brave men. who fight
openly. But the demon of Machiavelism
took possession at that time of her pub
lie conscience. \ new doctrine was
brought forward and introduced that it
was easier and better TO carry elections
and keep the white people of Virginia in
control of her government by election
laws that would enable her smart DO
litical tricksters 10 make the ballot-boxes
yield whatever fruits were wanted. supple
mented by plentiful use of money in
corrupting voters and adversary leaders,
than in controlling the elections by the
robust and virile efforts that her people
had just made. In an evil and unhappy
hour Nirginia's public men listened 10
the song Of this corrupting siren. The
change that was made in our electoral
system was made by the Legislature
elected to overthrow the Malone regime.
No call had been made from any quarter
for a change, and whoever knows any
thing whatever of the history OF the day
knows that the change was made under
the shadow that Mahones government
had cast over the land, that the Dem
ocratc party might carry the negro coun-
ties by fraud and election tricks. IL is
idle to ignore or attempt TO disguise this
fact. There had been 10 demand lor
the change, and the change was made
for no reason whatever but that the |
Democratic party might control the cleo
lions in the negro counties without re- |
gard to votes. Why, then. the Dispatch |
should resist attempts to change our sys-
tenn so as TO secure honest elections we !
cannot imagine. The Dispatch knows
the change was not made in the interest |
Of fairer elections, and that there had |
been no demand for any change. 1t also |
knows that fragrant frauds. such as oc-
CURED in the last election in Portsmouth. |
Norfolk and Petersburg are spreading /
all over the State, and il ought TO know /
that though they have not so far found |
much admission into the white consti-
tuencies, they must finally find their way
there and utterly corrupt our entire
State government. Why then. should il
oppose changes in the system intended
in good faith 10 make such alterations
as Will make frauds, II not impossible at
least discoverable and punishable? Why |
does it thus hang to a law which every
man in the State knows was adopted TO
make defrauding of the negroes easy
in the negro counties? Does it wish 10
see itself classed with those who defend
frauds and cheats? In its Sunday issue
1t intimates that 1t looks on The Times
as a mugwump, and cautions it against
trying 10 fight on the side Of both kites
and crows. The Times is perfectly in
different to the charge of "mugwump"
and 1t does not believe any one is fool
enough TO think it tries to ride both
sides of any sapling. but it had a thou
sand times rather be thought both than
10 feel that II was giving the slightest
aid or encouragement 10 the nimble-fn-
gered gentry whose pictures figure IN the
rogue's gallery as those OF sneak-thieves.
We do not. Of course. mean to say that
the Dispatch covets or will hold any
such place. But we do mean TO say that