The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-27
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 81, 1924.
SIX PAGES.
WHAT WE SHOULD DO.

The DlSpatcn lltu 1T Inc li'eSi y"
Sunday. a whole broadside Of anonymous
letters and extracts from some Nir-
cinia newspapers, censuring and condemn
ing The Times because it insists that
cheating in our elections shall be dis
continued.
The censure Of these anonymous writer's
and OF the ncwspapcrs-which, by the
way. ought rather TO condemn fraud than
The Times-produces no more effect upon
us than is produced by that of the par
ticipating politicians. who condemn us.
We do not expect the appreciation of
either and are I'm no degree disconnected
at not receiving It. We knew at the
outset that the bone and sinew of Nir-
einia was going to back us in our de-
mand for honesty in elections and every
day evidence increases that those ele-
ments. which finally control society in
all of it's organizations, are rallying TO
our support. Meanwhile, the CALLED jades
may vince. 1t hurts neither The Times
nor the cause.
one Of the Dispatches correspondents,
signing himself, white Democrat" of
Southampton county, seems an earnest
man. however. and he puts certain ques-
tions TO The Times with so much appar-
ent sincerity that we shall answer them
with equal sincerity and frankness.
white Democrat asks The Times
first. If 1t is willing TO consent to give
up our social and financial all (of the
black beD TO the control of creatures
who were cannlbals but little more than
a century ago. and who would relapse
into that condition If left to themselves
We answer this as we have many
times said. that nothing would induce
us TO look on and see such Il consumma-
ton We would stand by our While
brethren in those counties with the last
drop Of our lifes blood in their resistance
TO such a thing il they were threatened
with 1t. But we would not cheat and
stun ballot boxes to avert it. We "ould
stand by them in their resolution TO
rule their respective counties by every
method which brave men ever use.
The lawless elements of no community
shall ever rule 1T with The Times con-
sent. and The Times will back the repu-
table and law-abiding elements of every
community in their determination SO BE-
the dominating force in that community
in every open, brave. defiant. aud honor
able method that they may determine
on. We regard cheating as cowardly
and utterly demoralizing. and will coun-
tcnance 1t under no possible circum-
stances
white Democrat" next asks US to state
categorically what they must do In south
ampton county. where the negroes out
number the whites. TO save themselves
from negro rule? Our answer is a very
simple one. The white people of South
ampton county must exert themselves
in AN open and manly way TO control the
elections Ia southampton county, but
they must not use cheating and frauds
in elections as their means
We say again u White Democrat and
his Southampton friends. assert yourselves
like men. notify the negroes aud their
mean white allies. far worse than the
negroes. that YOU are not going TO allow
them 10 rule YOU. and then bring out all
the voters, white and black. you can 10
preserve the control OF your county in
your own hands. lie perfectly honest. be
firm. be fair. and avoid violence II posi-
BILE: but there are things in life worse
than the fighting necessary to securing
and enjoying those rights which belong
20 all men.
There is no general rule 10 be laid
down as applicable TO all counties. Each
must do that which its own case calls
for with one guiding principle for every
case--cheating never, and violence never,
when IL can possibly be avoided.
We believe the danger IS enormously
exaggerated. aud the spectre OF negro
officers Is used 10 Brighten even brave
men into utterly unworthy and debasing
expedienis.
We all know that the negro vote has dis
integrated. The white followers OF Ma
hone who have come back into the Demo-
cratic party well know the influence OF
their old associations upon the negroes.
Moreover. the negroes have scattered and
are scattering. The general situation has