Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-10
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1894
We Answer a Question.

The following is from the Richmond
Times OF yesterday:
on the 18th of January We asked the
Dispatch certain questions touching eleC-
ton frauds. and to one of them II repleu
that we ought not 10 have asked the
question. while its other answers were
not clear.
on the 10Th Of January, fearing lest our
question might have been regarded as
dlscourteous. We recast II so as III possi-
bile to bring out the position OF the
Dispatch upon the general subject OF
electlon-frnuds and we therefore adopted
the following form OF question
Eve want all the help we can get, ana
we again ask the Dispatch II 1t VIII not
range itself on the side OF those VINO
stand for extrpation of frauds.
To this we have received no reply, ar
while ordinarily silence gives consent VIC
would like Ia have the positive assurance
OF the Dispatch's aid Can we have ltE
IL is an amusing conccit of the Times
that II Stands for the extirpation OF
frauds with an erectness never yet
eauaued by any other Virginia paper
But il forgets where 1t has stood Tor
wears II IL stands for the "extlrpation
of frauds" now where did 1t stand prior
To the last election? AS we read in the
Times, "ballot-box stufiing' has been the
order OF the day in this state ever since
the Anderson Mccormick law was passed
Indeed the Times declares that that law
was enacted with that very purpose anu
that all men knew this. If so. the Times
knew IT, And If fraud was 40 abhorreht
to II then why did it keep silent; why
did il not make AN outcry long ago!
Never yet has 1t given an explanation
either of its silence through the period
mentioned. or Of its sudden conversion
Immediately after the last election Inc
Dispaich's present condttion-at worst
can be no worse than the Timess was
during she period when, weu-knowihg as
we did not, that our law was PASSED. 10
encourage fraud. II kept mum and' we
believe, decried the arrest 10y the Fede-
raj authorities OF persons charged with
these very election frauds.
yAnd now with all its newborn zeal
IL wants to know II we are going TO range
ourselves on the side Of those who stand
for the extlrpauon of frauds" I'VE want
all the help We AN get," 1t says, and
arr,ea,s TO the Dispatch TO make its posi-
ton known.
The Times has vastly exaggerated the
condition OF affairs in Virginia, and has
thereby done this State great injury, and,
OF course, We do not propose to range
ourselves on its side: but we stand by the
courts and their officers. and wherever
person Is proved guilty OF violation OF
our election laws we say he must take the
consequences.
We shall Join in no hue and cry to put
the stamp OF condemnation upon the Gene
raj Assembly or the noble Democrats OF
Southside and Tidewater Virginia; not
one man OF them shall we believe guilty
of wrong-doing TIL Judge and jury have
said so. Not one OF them are we willing
TO prosecute upon mere rumor that he has
been guilty OF reprehensible legislation or
"ballot-box stufiing"
IL is quite the custom in these parts
for men dissatisfied with the party In
power to cry out fraud" and even TO
cause the arrest Of their opponents. In
this way some of the purest and best
citizens of Richmond were dragged before
United States commissioners and indicted
by Judge Bonds grand juries. In one in
stance sick Juror was all that APP
parently stood between them and their
reckless 1ccusers and the Albany peni-
Tertiary. Suppose the Dispatch had Joined
in the crusade against them. To every ac-
accused person we have always
given the benefit OF the doubt
allowed by law: we shall do
do nothing less than this for our party
frieiids-for our brother Democrats. Not
"a man OF those who are accused shall we
believe guilty until judge and jury have
said so.
And now that the Times may the more
surely understand our position we say,
In brief. that our position to-day Ia the
position that The Times occupied from
its birth up TO and including the last cleo
t.on-EXCEPT. EXCEPT. that we had not
the light which II says 1t had that the
Anderson NJ ccormick law was passed to
promote cheating at elections.