Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-18
SUNDAY. ....NOvEMBER IS, 1894.
Virginia TO Be Investigated.

It Is now almost certain that oil OF the
defeated Republican candidates for Con-
gress from Virginia will contest the seats
Of their Democratic opponents The con-
tests will probably be begun here Mt Rich
mond before the State Board OF Canvass
ers. and then continued at Washington
before the House and House Committee
on Elections.
What O grand opportunity there will be
for our enemies TO assail and denounce
our General Assembly. our Governor. our
Democratic committees, and our election
officers, Oh, II will be feast for them!
The Walton electlon-law will be attack
ed on the ground that 1t creates an edu-
cational qualification not provided for in
the Constitution of our State. and be-
cause, as will he alleged, IT was designed
to enable election officers 10 steal the bal
lots OF negro voters.
The Democratic party OF Virginia WIN
be indicted for all sorts Of crimes. and
we can we'll Imagine what manner OF
witnesses will be called to testify against
US. AS for the tribunal before which VIC
are TO be tried II is enough TO say that
Gar Reed will preside over H.
We are to be put upon trial as whole
people, as we were when the United
States Senate undertook to investigate the
Danyille riot. All sorts Of testimony will
be admissible, whether it be of Democrats
who have said that the Walton law was
conceived In the interests of fraud, and
that cheating OF the petty larceny order
was TO be the rule of the campaign, or
OF Republicans who Will claim that at
each precinct where 100 negroes voted 100
votes should have been returned for the
Republican candidate.
Every man who wants TO have hit Mt
MS will be given a chance. Every one who
wishes TO defamc Virginia will have an
opportunity. All who desire to split our
Democratic vote and pave the way TOT
Democratic defeat In the legislative cleo
ton next fall will be especially welcome.
Oh, II will be a glorious opportunity for
those who would stamp the Democratic
party of Virginia with infamy. and who
would show what n lawless. ballot-steai-
Ing people we are. The South-haters In
Congress will rejoice at the feast spread
before them, and they will greatly glorify
the leaders OF this enterprise, especially
II IL affords them pretext hereafter Tor
enactlng force bill.
There are one or two Of these contest
ants who may imagine that they have
grounds for claiming that they were elect
cd but the others have simply Joined to-
gether in pursuit Of n political purpose TO
lay the foundation for Federal control or
congressional elections SHOULD the Repub-
licans elect the next PresdenD and 10
divide the Democratic vote In Virginia at
the legislative elections TO be held next
fall. 1t is a bold scheme. devised by Gun"
ming men TO pillory Virginia before tho
country. The Republicans have nothing
to lose by the venture. desperate as II Is.
while they hope to humiliate us and make
of IL an entering wedge to split the solid
South.
The motives OF our political opponents
are evident enough. and 1t IL the duty OF
all Democrats 10 defeat their purposes
as far as possible. While the Republi-
cans and their allies are at work, We
must not be idle; while they are collect
ing testimony, we must be doing the
same. 1t IL contest not merely for tie
seats OF our nine Democratic congress
men. but for the preservation of the good
name OF this State.
OF the ultimate consequences OF these
contests we have no fear. Should Tom
Reed and the Republican House of Re
representatives. find that our election law
Is a violation of the secret ballot, all
that they can do Is TO unseat the whole
Virginia delegation. Our General AS
sembly would then be IN session. in all
probability. and could take prompt &C.
ton. But the opinion OF the best legal
tSAent in this State Is that our election
law il not unconstitutional. and wnen-
ever the occasion demands 1t, the Demo.
cratic party OF this State is prepared to
show that the law was administered
properly.
In many States Of this Union where
the Australian ballot is in force two bal
lot-clerks. or readers" are appointed
for each voting precinct. The Virginia
law. however. provides for but one. who
IS called a special constable. The Re-
publieans wanted two constables, DEM
ocrat and a Republican. II the Re-
publlcans had right to have a special
constable at each voting-precinct, the
Populsts had like right. And so did
the Prohibitonists. Thus there would
have been four constables (ballot-clc.ks
or readers) at each precinct.
The truth about the late elec;!ol In
Virginia Is that the Republican leaders
we're hoist by their own petard. They
listened 10 the silly story that the spe-
cisl constables were TO be appointed by
our electoral boards from the ranks OF
thieves and desperadoes. They ordered
their illlterate voters not TO call upon
these constables 10 aid them. but TO rely
upon Instruction and information given
them as 20 which names on the ticket
hey should leave INCREASED. The official
ballots were not printed as these leaders
expected To see them printed. Hence all
THIS row. Hence these contests. Hence
the obvious fact that there IL deep
seated determination on the part Of the
enemies OF the Democratic party to SUBJ
,eet US to the most malicious criticisms.
ana. possible. compel us to loose our
hoia upon our State government Every
county oricer. every city officer. and
every State officer In Virginia will ind
before long that he has a stake IN these
contests
l----=--==---==
Mckinley ana His Bill.