Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-02
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An Astounding Proposal.
Uynchburg News.)


The Richmond Times has been engaged
for months in a curious crusade for what
it calls honest methods at elections in
Virginia.; but II has never until now In
dicated with any degree Of precision what
sort of honest methods 1t wants. III mas
opposed. and still opposes. restricted
suffrage whereby the vicious and igno-
rant might be excluded from the cleo
tions. IL is in favor of permitting every
ignorant negro and every ignorant white
man 10 participate In the elections; and
according to its declaration In yester-
days issue, 1t thinks any constitutions
amendment that would operate to abridee
this right would lead to disaster. sun
the Times pretends not to be IN FAVOR oil
permitting the black hordes of the South
side and Tidewater counties TO govern
the white people Of those counties.
In view OF these remarkable deeiara-
lions the News has been curious to know
how the Richmond Times proposes 10
prevent such calamity. 1t is opposed 10
cheating. 1t is opposed to all manner OF
constitutional amendment which would
give the virtuous and intelligent people
OF every community In the STATE lhe
lawful right TO govern. What lheh' VIC
have wondered. could be its plan to pre-
vent negro domination In the piack peit
of virginia? And much TO our amazement
we find that IL has no new scheme u
simply proposes to adopt the programme
made famous In national controversy and
known throughout the Union as 1.-The shot
gun pOlicy." In snort, the RlchHonu
Times. which has been assaping the
Democratic party In Virginia In unmea-
sured terms OF reproach for the election
irregularities which have occurred In the
black districts of the State since the
adoption of the Underwood Constitution
nearly thirty years ago, and Is unwilling
To extirpate this condition of things by
process of law deliberately advises IN
surrection and violence! Here is It's own
astounding proposition. Asked by resi-
dent of Southampton county where the
negroes are 5000 more than the whites. II
the latter should surrender their social
fabric and property interests to the rule
Of the blacks, the Times says in part:
"Our answer is very simple one
The white people of Southampton county
must exert themselves In an open ana
manly way 10 control the elections III
Southampton county, but they must not
use cheating and frauds In elections as
their means. We say again TO 'Whlte
Democrat and his Southampton friends'
assert yourselves like men, notify the
negroes and their mean white alles lar
worse than the negroes. that you are not
going TO allow them TO rule you, ana
then bring out all the voters, white and
"a nrGSRrvQ
OF your county In your own hands Be
perfectly honest, be firm. be fair, and
avoid violence IL possible; but there are
things In life worse than the fighting ne
cessary to securing and enjoying those
rights which belong to all men,
There is the doctrine of honest methods
for you, Don't cheat. but intimidate;
and If intimidation won't serve, tahe your
shotguns and clean out the whole gang
of black rascals and their white allies.
Be perfectly honest about 1t. Notify The
constitutional voters Of Southampton and
other black counties that they shall not
vote unless they vote for the nominees
of the Democratic party; and II they de-
cline to regard this criminal interference
with their rights as citizens, resort TO
mob violence. Massacre them, II neces-
sary 70 preserve the government IN the
hands OF the Democrats; but be perfectly
honest about IT, BE fair. and avoid vio-
lence, II possible; but II the negroes and
their white allies think 1t Is not exactly
fair to require them to vote your way.
convince them OF II by shooting them
down! Don't cheat the poor negro: that
is demoralizing to Virginia manhood.
Rather bulldoze him or cudgel him or load
him up with molten lead. Do 1t decently,
but load him up all the same.
We do not think the Richmond Times
will quite succeed In converting the peo-
pie of Virginia to its humane and ele-
waiting method OF beating the negroes OF
the black belt out of their votes and out
Of their constitutional right to govern IL
they are the majority. II would take an
educational campaign" Of more than or
binary duration and severity to convince
sensible Virginians that the method which
the Times condemns is any worse than
that which II openly espouses. IL one Is
a secret violation OF the law. the other Is
an open and defiant violation OF the law
A better and manlier way than either tx
TO amend the Constitution so that neither
Of these unlawful methods need be resort
ed 10.