The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-08
FOR HONEST ELECTIONS

That an overwhelming majority OF the
white people OF Virginia are I'm favor OF
fair elections cannot be doubted by any
well-informed person. and this VIII be
proved sooner or later. Those who favor
rotten elections are for the most part the
benefciaries of the corruption-those who
get their Offices by Il. There are others
who. dreading a return OF the evils OF
negro rule or Niahone-like tyranny. shut
their eyes and stop their ears to every
thing else. and say they are justified in
any measures to prevent such catastro-
pies. Eliminate those. In and out of
negro counties, who find II easier to get
and hold office by foul means than fair.
and the residrum OF corruptionists is
small
The position Of the press in Virginia on
the subject has generally been creditable
to the high character the press should
always maintain.
Some papers. however have wriggled
and squlrmed under the charges and proof
Of fraud. and assumed various and pro-
team shapes, but none have dared 10 JUS
tify st and say boldly that they thought
the perjury Of election officers and the
notification Of the ballot were proper
remedies for anticipated political evils.
If they do think so. why don't they stop
beating about the bush and come out
and say so? The reason is that whatever
they may think themselves they know that
the moral sense of the people of Virginia
would be shocked out Of measure by such
a declaration, and they would sink under
a load of contempt and scorn.
1t has been said that hypocrisy is the
tribute which vice pays to virtue. II
there can be one kind of hypocrisy more
dotostable than another it is the combi-
nation Of hypocrisy and cowardlce We
have a vast deal more respect for those
men who declare that election frauds are
extreme and desperate methods, but that
they believe them necessary, than for
those who pretend not to see what they
know exist because they fear the conse-
quences of having to take a stand for or
against a plain violation Of civil and
moral law-fear to break their associa-
tons either with the bailot-box stufiing
fraternity or with that element Of decent
society with whom they have always been
esteemed as paragons Of conservatism and
honor
Every newspaper in this State should
plainly take one side or the other of this
great question. so that it may be argued
out before the people on It's merits.
If frauds are right, let us know the
reasons why. and we will try to show
the other side. But, assuming that the
Ten Commandments are not can irrides-
cent dream" and that they still have
some force we wait for the affirmative
side Of the question to speak out for the
cause of fraud and perjury.
II is very gratifying to all lovers Of
truth and courage TO see the Norfolk
papers and the Petersburg Index-Appeal-
all good Democrats-crying aloud from the
heart of the Black Belt for honest cleo
tons.
We conclude, then. that as no news
paper, and no person over his name. has
dared TO come out and advocate fraud
and perjury in elections, that the people
of Virginia are against 1t, and that as
soon as the will OF the people can assert
itself our elections will be honest without
the superserviceable aid of Mr.. Frye of
Maine. or Mr.. Lodge Of Massachusetts, or
any other New England interme ddler.