The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-25
pING POLITICS ALI,

After all, IL seems that the police in
vestigations in New York are 10 amount
IN nothing. They seem 10 have been noth-
ing but a movement by one machine TO
Dust another machine. Mr. Con gets an
Office with fat salary and Mr.. LeNo"'
the Republican senator, makes a report 70
the Legislature which means little more
than turn out the Tahmany rascals and
nut I'm ours Ring and machine politics
have so entirely monopolized both polit-
teal parties i'm New York that there seems
to be no longer any healthy public opin-
ion there. represented by any party or
ganization. but all contests are contests
for the spoils of office, without any REFER
ence whatever to principles or public poi
Icy. Nor need we turn up the whites oil
our eyes and depiore that such should be
the ease i'm New York Money used In
elections and the frauds on the suffrage
that its use has been intended to accom-
pllsh and has accomplished i'm Virginia
have made our own politics rotten. Let
us all pray that there may never be an
such politics in Virginia. Let each coun-
~ depend upon the desire of its citizens
for an honest and pure government Tor
whatever Is necessary TO elect the Demo
cratic ticket, and we will again have a
state of politics in which the whole body
Of the citizens take an interest, instead
OF, as now, a condition of things in which
a small clique maps out a programme Tor
the party and then puts it into force
and effect by fraudulent elections secured
through the use of money.
We were recently very deeply impress
ed by what gentleman from one of the
counties in the black belt told VS.. In two
precincts in that county frauds of very
gross character have been the rule in
fall, or state and national elections for
several years. The elections are honestly
conducted at the other precincts. In the
precinct where our informant lives, which
is one of the dishonest precincts, Re
publican negro justice of the peace and
Republican negro supervisor have been
elected In the county or spring elections,
when the same precinct in the State or
fall elections. would so largely Democrat
ic. We asked this gentleman how II was
that the fear OF negro domination caused
cheating at some elections and not at
others. lie told us that cheating was only
In elections for Governor and members OF
the Legislature and for members OF Con-
oil
on money was sent TO the county. and 1t
was spent In brbing the officers TO stun
tho ballot-boxeG at the precincts where
there are frauds But that when the local
elections take place nothing is involved
that justifes an expenditure OF money. no
money is spent. and the elections are,
therefore. honest.
This statement made u very profound
impression upon our mind. and 1t opened
an entirely new view OF this mat
ter TO us. 1t showed us that
the fear Of negro magistrates and
other county officers is not. as has been
supposed. the efficient cause OF frauds in
elections Ia the negro counties. and that
tae Hauus 'hat are practiced IN our cleo
tons arc M the State and national .elee-
tons. and are due entirely to the great
sums OF money which are collected and |
then divided up and sent TO the counties.
where the chief use made OF them is In |
stuffing the ballot-boxes with fraudulent |
ballots. We hope 10 see every citizen Of |
Virginia refuse hereafter TO contribute |
one dollar or money TO political cam |
paisns. unless TO his own local contest
where be can see exactly what need there |
is for It. and where he can see that IL is
spent. When the county
chairman and committees find that they
can no longer look TO the State Central
Cenmittee for money to be spent In the