Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-12-18
The " alton Law.

A deal of partisan venom has been
hurled at this creditable improvement
on our election machinery by a recent
known as the Fair
Elections" party. This is because
that party did not frame the law, SO it
determined to crush it out. But no
greater comedy was ever enacted than
the farce played or attempted to be
played by this aggregation during the
last campaign. All the Crushed
Tragedians" of the past, all the great
actors of the present, all the neophytes
of the stage, all the shutters of the
scenes, all the "Supers," as they are
termed in theatrical lingo, banded
themselves together under the above
pseudonym and went upon the road.
They sent advance agents with huge
bills to post, and then they followed
playing on stringed instruments and
instruments of brass; they arrayed
themselves in Sleeps clothing, they
paraded the streets and public places,
to some they sung sweet songs, at
others they howled like Dervishes, they
rent their raiment, and tore their hair.
but withal the audiences were slim.
Still they played their play, and when
the season ended as it did on the 9Th
of November last, they counted their
earnings, and whilst they found that
in Augusta, Shenandoah and some
other counties, the receipts had been
slightly in advance of expenditures. on
the whole the season was disastrous.
SO they decided to disband, and each
somewhat on his uppers, betook him
self to his own home, in SO far as that
term could be made applicable.
Detected, disheartened, and with the
bitterness disappointment engenders,
: their star performers, and playwrights
have since been modifying the comedy,
so as to give it a tragical cast, and
} perchance it may again reach the
stage, but if SO it will wear the true
| skin of the Republican wolf.
This play however is meyer new tc
the people of Virginia, no matter il
what form it is presented. No gown
nor wig, nor any kind of make up
; can disguise the performers. They
too are recognized the moment they
:, step before the foot lights.
But the serio-comic air with which
the company, as we'll it's individual
members, play their roles, is. amusing
They appear to believe what they say
and their hands are uplifted in hol!
, horror at the contemplation of fraud
Now this would be credited if the live
of these people had always been pure
But when we recall that the secre
ballot was the creature of republican
ism as introduced by Underwood a
the close of the war; that the denial o
the right of suffrage, false registration
and such doctoring of the election re
turns as suited the persons in power
3 were all given us at the same time
l and were the foundation stone of tn,
= Republican party in Virginia, does no
e the situation seem comical? When W,
s see that Fair Elections was only al
8 assumed name for republicanism, ant
: that the latter party cannot hold ever
SO much as a convention fairly, cal
+ anybody credit their honesty? Whei
t we know that the National Republican
3 party recently undertook to fasten OF
, US the Force Bill, which put the cleo
| ton not only of congressman. but thu
| President of the United States, in tn.
hands of one man, and he partisan
Federal judge, does anybody believe
them when they cry out for homes
elections?
The Walton Law may not be perfect
+ but it is the best Virginia has hat
: since the war, and whilst the constable
and possibly other features ought tt
| be stricken out, this law must at leas
be commended for having changed
our election days, from days Of bribery
} drunkenness and strife, to those of or
der and sobriety.