Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11
The Dissatisfaction Of General Rosser.
CHARLOTTESVILLE VA,

November s. 1894.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
IL seems 10 me that now Is the time
for prudent, patriotic men TO take a calm
view of the political condition OF our
country. The body polite is evidently
extremely III. and as doctors We should
carefully diagnose the disease. and IL an
effective remedy is known to apply 1t.
To my mind, there are two great evils
in our political makeup OF to-day. which
demand serious consideration.
one Ia boss-rule. and the other Is
apathy on the part of the average inde-
pendent voter, and the latter Is the ma
tural result % the former
That the machine" may operate, three
conditions are necessary:
/. The absorption OF good citizens in
what they style their "own affairs
2. That fanatical party spirit which
leads a man 10 accept without question
whatever his party leaders offer him.
3. The habit OF submitting to the forms
OF law and semblance of majority-rule.
even though the law may mean oppres-
sion and the rule robbery.
OF all these conditions the men who
make a business of politics are quick TO
take advantage. If citizens are too much
engrossed in their private affairs to take
interest in public ones. the machine
managers are only TOO glad TO look after
the latter for them. II the decisions OF
caucusses and conventions are accepted
as final and binding, the machine takes
measures to control the caucusses and
conventions. II bad laws are accepted
without resentment, and the small frac-
ton Of the people that concerns Itself
with political management Is respected
as though its DEGREES were really the
voice Of God" the machine will continue
to honor the Bosses who will make the
laws and manipulate majorities to suit
themselves.
| know you say that the people Will
always have as good a government as
they deserve. True. they are the master,
though they may neglect or fail TO use
their power. They are indeed the sover-
egn unless they prefer to abdlcate.
In this country there Is never a time
when the people cannot throw off selfish
plutocratic domination or sordid machine
rule II they try to do so. II we accept
the rule of the political boss II Is because
we like IL or that We are Indifferent to II.
and not because we cannot help our
selves. Perhaps the bosses are not to
blame, for they would be fools IL they
failed TO use the power so easily acquired.
After looking over the election returns
of two days ago I feel like asking, What
sort Of n government Is this of ours any
way? Growing from bad to worse An
oligarchy of tax-eaters ruling taxpayers
The people do not really appear to mind
it-indeed. they seem rather to like 1t. for
IL saves them the trouble OF governing
themselves. The time may come. how
ever. when we all shall sadly realize that
this costly machine substitute has de-
prived US Of self-government.
no or No oil
voting: to simple Democracy; old-fash-
toned Democracy.
What would Thomas Jefferson say IL he
could have been permitted to give an
opinion OF the ridiculous confessional
Booths into which the brave and honest
voters of this old Commonwealth were
forced to creep TO make up their ballots
on Tuesday last?
When the quiet, honest plain people"
say that voting Is mere farce, and that
elections are not honest whether they are
so or not, II they so appear to them) is
ii not time TO pause and consider?
Let us have a constitutional convention
and make manly. patriotic effort to get
back on a level political keel, or we are In
danger OF capsizing and going under
Democrats will not work in the machine
yoke. and because of the effort on the
part of leaders to pack. mass. and ma
nOcuvre them as the Republicans do, has
almost broken up our party.
The Walton ballot will exclude the
Niger. but 1t will also divide the white
vote and defeat Democracy.
Respectfully.
THOMAS 7, POCSER