Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-23
FRIDAY MORNING, NOV. %. 1894.

A number of our Democratic cotempo
whose opinions we esteem highly, are dwell
inc on the necessity of amending the Wal
ton law-the amendment to take the form
of two conStables instead of one. The two
constabes are supposed to be necessary to
insure fairnesS-both parties being thereby
fairly represented. AS a matter Of fact if
political parties are to he represented by
constabIes, there should he four instead of
two-there are four fully organized and
equipped political parties in Virginia.
When this paper began to advocate the
Australian ballot law two or three years
ago, it did so with the hope of eliminating
as far as could be legally done, the litter
ate vote which has infested Virginia cleo
lions for the last twenty-five years. 1t
was convinced, and it has not changed its
conviction, that as long as the franchise of
the State is polluted with scores of thou
sands of absolutely ignorant and illiterate
negroes, there can be no real politics i'll the
State and no real material advancement
such as Virginia would achieve under
different circumstances. There can never
be an independent. broad viewed Demo
cratic party in the State as long as it is
kept forever IegisIating solely for party
success instead Of for the benefit OF the
whole people-and just 50 long as the State
is menaced by this great body of banded
I w Ill poptiv,.t
legislation always be uppermost. There can
leyer be q vigorous, respectable, useful
Republican party in this State us long as
this solid body Of ignorance comprises its
chief strength and offers itself as a step
ping stone to put men in Office rather than
a means Of bread and beneficial legislation
for the State. There is hardly an inteili-
gent member of any of the four parties i'll
the State who does not believe that Nir-
ginia. all her affairs, her progress, and her
whole people would be better off il tile
franchise was in the hands Of the intelli
gent men Of both races exclusively.
1t was holding sincerely and earnestly
this belief that we advocated the Australian
ballot. We never for 4 moment anticipa
ted that if it was adopted any assistance to
the illiterate would be included i'll it. The
whole movement of the South is towards
getting rid Of the ignorant element at the
ballot boX-Mississippi. South Carolina
and other States have adopted means of
doing so, and we hardly thought it likely
that Virginia legislature would adopt
ANYTHING different. But to our surprise it
did so and provided fer a constable to
assist it. Even then the bill was better
than the old Anderson Mccormick law
which had long ceased to be Il secret ballot,
and we accepted it for the good there was
away from the polls ard was a great gain
in the interest Of quiet and unb0ugnt cleo
lions. But we have never favored the one
constable feature. There should be 10
constable, and let every man white and black
who can vote, vote, and these who can t
go without The ballot as it has existed in
YirgiDia-and every other eX-slave state
for the last twenty five years, is a disgrace
to civilization, and Whenever there has been
an occasion to investigate its operation lis
hideous features have been disclosed.
Only few months ago the courts Of Nor
folk in a contested election case showed
this Scores of blacks were brought up to
testify that they had voted a certain ballot
Hardly one Of them when the ballot Was
shown him could read it, Or could testify
that that was the ticket tiia5 he voted
about ali he could say WAS chat his ballot
was OF !; certain character because e. Ger
tGi4s man had gigcse it to him, and he AGd
rofed achdt the man gdce hiH. These are
the sort Of votes and voters which largely
enter into the direction Of affairs i'll Fir
ginia There is no call under any law en-
under any provision OF the constitution CT
the United States, that snch men shall be
enabled to participate in the elections OF
the State OF that tie State shall provide
facilities for them to do SO. The amend
ment to the constitution Of the United
States does rot provide that iiiiterate
negroes shall be privileged 10 vote OF that
they shall he assisted to vote, all it requires
is that 10 man shall he deprived Of. his
vote Oh account of race, coiCr or previous
condition of servitude. There is 10 obi
posed on her by superior force OF yoiunta
rily undertaken by herself, to maize rioters
of these men. The country at large has
long since seen the error Of injecting into
l,,,1, ~: tJ.h II ant
as great masses of ignorant men, and it is
DOW conceded that if the question WerenoW
nip rs IN original ore the action of Il quar-
ter Of a century ago would not be repeated.
We are sorry 70 disagree with those who
hold the view that the election laws Of
Virginia should be amended so as to make
voters Of men who an experience Of IL
quarter Of Il century has shown are 10
more fit for the ballot now than they were
twenty-five years ago. but SO it is. The
affairs OF this state should lie in the hands
OF the intelligent white men and the i'itti-
lgent black men who iilhai5it it. Until
they are, the State Will always he retarded
in its progress, and legislat ;on-ilo matter
partizanry and more addressed to strength
elliHg party tIian to tIcng;hening tie
State We may be mistaken in t,le charac-
ter of amendment that q Virginia. legis.:a-
tuTe will make 10 tile Walton law, but We
certainly do not expect it 10 consist Of two
constab!es for the Democratic and Repnb-
lican parties. OF four constab!es to repre-
sent all parties. 1t is more likely TO he 10
constable. as il ought to lie. Then there
will moi only i've 10 cheating, but 70 room
for alleging it. What is our earnest desire
for this STATE is ;lli intelligent body Of elee-
tors, whether white or black; perfectly
fair elections, and Political is;ir. les OF such
intelligence that !; citizen may feel sure Ct
good government no matter which pari Y
the reins fall Into the hands Of