The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-21

urc Is fraught with more danger TO ana
aims a dcadlier blow at the right OF the
citizen than any measure that has been
brought forward TO make the work OF the
Anderson Mccormick law eflectuai. II Is
entitled bill in relation TO the preser-
walton OF order at the polls" As was said
| by member OF the House. a more ap-
| propriate title would have been "a bill TO
| perpetrase fraud and TO prevent detec-
| ton" This and this alone is wnat the
bill would accomplish II It were enacted
into a law. Its plain effect would be TO
allow judges and clerks OF election to
| cheat and disfranchise voters as they
| pleased. and at the same time remove all
dangers Of detection by the arrest and
Imprisonment of those who may have
the tcmerity 10 interpose the slight bar
rier OF tally sheet OF the actual voters
IL would be legalzed authority TO plumber
with further lawful authority to shoot
down every dsinterested spectator who
manifested active sympathy in the VIC
Tins fate. That this bill. II enacted into /
a law, would be the fruitful cause OF
riot violence. and possibly bloodshed and /
murder. is too plain TO need comment. 1
There is an overwhelming body Of Viz
ginians who will not tamely submit while
election thieves rob them Of their rights |
before their very eyes. These men, in
spite Of any such acts of the Legislature
ipbf Of n
watch these thieves while they handle
the ballot-box. which possesses the evil
dencc of their sacred and recorded viii.
Such a statute on the one side and the
lofty and independent spirit Of freemeu
resolved to have and enjoy their rights
as freemcn on the other, must produce
collisions Of force and, If the Legislature
enacts this bill into a law it must prepare
itself for scenes Of violence in Virginia, OF
which no like has ever been seen here be-
fore Virsinians will not tamely submit
TO having themselves spancelcd and ropcd
down like sheep dragged TO the sham5les.
under the guise of law, for nothing but
the pretended offence Of endeayoring IN
an orderly. peaceable ana quiet way 70
secure protection to themselves against
election thieves. who would make their
votes count in a direction exactly the OPP
Dosite of that which they had designed !
hat they should count /
This bill reverses the entire theory of +
.riminal procedure. empowering the thief Y
% arrest and imprison his victim, and l
hose whom the law had always. hereto :,
nd mprson the thief. 1t is the embodi- d
nent Of young MacDuff's philosophy: :.
Son. Was my father a traitor, mother?
Lady MacDun, Ay. that he was. 81
Son. What is a traitor? q
J.. NJ. Why one that swears and lies.
Son. And be all traitors that do so? S.
In Every one that does so is a traitor
nd must be hanged. IL
Son. And must they all be hanged that in
wear and lie?
J.. NJ Every one al
Son. Who must hang them?
L. NJ Why the honest men. III
Son. Then the liars and swearers are at
'Ols, for there are liars and swearers pr
Tough 10 beat the honest men and hang
, them. 10
The Legislature Of Virginia may take b,
is view of the case and authorize the
ection thieves TO arrest and imprlson
c honest men, but it will find out it
sadly mistaken when the thieves under tu
Ike 10 get in their work" The honest ia
en- of Virginia are not going TO be chung Sc
- by the thieves. and the Legislature II
ould do well TO get that fact very az a.,
Early before its mind TO