The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-07

ranks OF the white mans party. But this
Is not the case. We are divided into two
parties. one OF which ia the Democratic
and the other is the Republican. Very
greatly the majority of the white people.
IL IS true. belong TO the Democratic
party. but there are many white Republic
cans In the State. The overwhelming body
OF the negroes. It IL also true. belong to
the Republican party. yet there are some
negroes who vote with the Democratic
party. We are not. therefore, divided into
two parties separated by color, and
there is no such thing possible as loyalty
10 the white mans party" There Is
such a thing as loyalty to the Demo-
cratic party, which contains some ne
groes and n great majority OF the
whites, but as the Republican party Of the
State contains white members as well
as colored, It cannot be said that the
dividing line between the parties begins
and ends with color We cannot, there
fore, accept the States test Of Democracy
as the true one. We insist upon our own.
which is recognition OF the equality OF
all men before the laws. and demand
that these laws shall bear equally and
uniformly upon all. comforting privileges
upon none. and imposing disadvantages
upon none.
This being the actual state OF the case.
the true question. and one which 1t is
idle TO blink, Is, Shall we permit the negro |
to be cheated out OF his vote? Let us |
see how his right to q vote stands. The
Constitution Of Virginia provides that
Every male citizen Of the United
States, twenty-one years old, who shall
have been resident OF this State twelve
months and Of the county, city, or town
in which he shall offer to vote, three
months next preceding any election, shall
be entitled to vote for members Of the
General Assembly. and all officers elected
by the people"
Who. then, are citizens Of the United
States? The Constitution of the United
States fixes this. 1t says:
"All persons born or naturallzed In
the United States, and subject TO the
jurisdiction thereof, are citizens OF the
United States, and of the State wherein
they reside"
AS the negroes are all under this defni-
tion OF United States citizenship citizens
OF the United States, the Constitution Of
Virginia makes them all voters In Vir-
glnia, nor will 1t be possible for the
State Of Virginia to adopt any constitu-
ton or pass any law that would deprive
them Of that right for the Constitution
Of the United States further provides
that
"The right OF citizens Of tho United
States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States, or by any
State on account OF race color or pre-
vious condition of servtude."
This, then, is the state OF the case.
The fundamental law Of the land con-
Iers upon him the right TO vote. and 1t
s not possible for Virginia TO deprive
him of that right. This being so. shall
ge permit our ballot-boxes to be stuffed
n order to neutralize the effect Of his
,ote?
The Times has often said, and It re-
'eats. that it will endure anything be-
ore it will give its consent TO this. 1t
will endure punishment, it will be pill ,
cred, it will be robbed. 1t will go into
evolution, but it will never approve Of
r consent to the methods of the sneak !
hief. IL we tolerate this in the negro ,
ounties it will be but a short time ,
efore we are cutting each others
hroats in the white counties. Our peo- 7
le cannot too often repeat and take TO !
cart. the oft-quoted lines, ,
"Vice is a monster Of such horrid mien, (
hat to be hated needs only 10 be seen; ,
tut seen too oft familiar grows its face, ,
We pity first endure, and then embrace"