The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-06
LET EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD CON
Troll ITS AFFAIRS.


true safeguard against negro rule is TO
require elections to be honest and fair.
and then to have each county TO attend
to its own case. When this is the rule Il
may be assumed with perfect certainty
that no county is going TO be controlled
by the negroes The moral and property
holding elements of each neighborhood
are going TO dominate that neighborhood
as certainly as that the sun shines Make
our election laws such then as will insure
honest elections, and the neighborhood can
be trusted to take care of itself. This is
the good old Democratic principle Of
local self-government. and IL is the only
one upon which the institutions of any
country can be both lasting and sound.
Mr.. r. d. Doyle. of Norfolk, one of the
gentlemen who came here last week.
made striking statement in illustration
Of this before the committee.
He said that nc was a member OF the
City Executive Committee of Norfolk
city. from 1850 TO 1883. inclusive. and
during most of that time was its chair
man; that this was during the darkest
days of Republican and Readjuster rule,
when the National Government, the State
Government, and the City Government
were in the hands Of the enemy; that they
(the enemy had control OF the police
force. the officers of election, the judge
of the Corporation Court. the custom
al hot
during this fearful time he. though an
inexperienced politician. but well support
ed by the committee struggled against
each powerful opposition led by such MS
tute politicians as Col. Lamb CAIa-or).
George Bowden collector Of the porD,
and many other able leaders, and that with
all their efforts, all their organizations, and
all their money ii was as much as they
could do TO carry the city by from 100 to
400 majority. He further said that in
one congressional election. where there
was an Independent Republican candidate
who got about 100 votes, that the Demo-
cratic candidate got a plurality of about
10 over his leading opponent
since that time Qss3) two wards. almost
exclusively white, have been added to the
city which together gave Cleveland over
1000 majority in 1892.
Mr.. DOYLE contended that without any
change i'm the election laws Norfolk aided
by the moral effect of the great victory
over Malone and Democratic successes
all over the country, would have been
safely and largely Democratic to the pres
ent time; but now he says that dissatis-
fled Democrats are joining in large num-
bers the Prohibition party as their only
way of protesting against present man
agement of the party in his city.
Now here is as strong an illustration
of what We contend for as could be fur
nshed.
Whilst Norfolk's elections were fair. all
the virile and strong elements of her nom
ulation were reused to an enthusiastic
effort at each election 10 meet and over
come the enemy. and it was all the enemy
could do with all his powerful advantages
and accessories TO defeat them. But now
that cheating and fraud have been
brought forward as the substitute for
honor and courage and open effort in
defiance Of the foe. the strong. virile,
manly clements of the party turn away
from II in disgust. and it can retain its
control of authority by cheating and fraud
alone.
Gentlemen Of the Legislature, restore 10
Norfolk the opportunity 10 regulate her
affairs by the methods of brave and hon
orable men, and Norfolk will take care
Of herself. She asks for nothing more,
and she is entitled TO that.
Don't drive Norfolk out OF the Demo
cratic column which must inevitably be
the case as matters now stand.