The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-09
NOW TO PROTECT THE ILLIIERATE
NOIEk.

The DiSDdtch StahuS W 10 e"''@' ~
insists that the Legislature only INTENDED
when providing for the special constapie
In tho Walton law to ensure an illiterate
voter against any tricks his own friends
might desire to play on him. ana II
quotes from Hon. Harry fuckers answer
IA Mr.. Yosts notice OF contest an arsu-
mont made by him In that answer when
endeavors to maintain that view the
Dispatch Is not content TO invoke the
authority OF Mr. Harry Tucker alone Tor
this proposition. 1t tells US that ne IL
the son Of the Hon. j. Randolph Iucher'
and IL strongly suggests that the latter
gentleman either inspired or endorses the
argument. We know nothing about this'
but we quote in this connection the Ioi-
lowing from Mr.. Randolph fuckers de-
lightful address to the Bar Association
Thursday night Discussing Dr. Rudolph
Won Thering's remarks on the case IN re
Shylock. he makes this quotation from
that writer:
81 have not contended that the judge
ebould have recognized Shyiocks bona 10
he valid. but that once he had TecosHi],i
its validity he should not subsequenuS
have iuvaIidated it by base cunning hc
iudpe had the choice OF deciding tno
Iond valid or invalid. He should nave
declared II TO be the latter. but ne ~.
cIared IL 20 be the former. Ahio''o
friends Antonio himself, the Court an
were agreed that the bond gave Inc 'e"
a legal right ,a,,,,i,o,, q
AID now after the Judges decision has
t'ann Given after all doubt as to the
I'LL light Of the jew has been removed
-, tbo Judge himself. after the whole
,.,ec,nhIy the Doge included, have accom-
,ncdatcd themselves TO the inevitable de-
cree of the law, now that the Nlctor'
entirely sure Of his case. intends 10 40
,,.bat the Judgment Of the court autnor-
izod him to do. the same judge, VINO had
eolemnlv recognized his rights, renters
those rights nugatory by an obJecuoh' d
stratagem so contemplate that IL -
worthy Of no serious attention. ~ inc
any flesh without blood? the Judgf VIM
accorded Shvlock the right TO cut pound
- och ont of Antonio's body accorded
him at the same time. the right 10 An
,o'''o 49, o.o rnfrsed 10 the jew. He
must take the flesh without the blooh'
and cut out only an exact pound OF hesn'
no more and no less DO | say 100 iluVn
when I assert that here the jew is cheat-
cd ont of his legal right? True. IT IS done
in the name Of humanity, out does CHI
canerv cease TO be chicanery because
practiced in the name Of humanity!
These are very elementary propositions
If common honesty. and we assume
from MIR. fuckers quoting them, that he
anproyes of them. We suggest to the
Dispatch. therefore, that it shall take It's
inspiration in this matter from these
very forcible remarks which Mr.. tucker
has quoted to Us, with commentator ana
that If shall not assume that the Legis-
lature intended to concede the lllitera'e
voters right to vote as he pleased, but
intended. at the same time, to legislate
a trick by which he could be denied the
right TO vote as he pleased and be so
inveigled as to be made to vote just
.he opposite Of what he desired, even If
lit Is done in the name of humanity
Ne may very well ask in this conncc-
ton. in the name OF the learned German
iurist, Does chicanery cease to be chi
cancrv because 2racticed in the name Of
humanity"
or course, if the Dispatch really believes
that in providing the single constable the
LEGISLATURE was only seeking to secure
an nHterate negro against the machina-
lions of his own race and his own party
friends. we have nothing more TO say
than that we think the Dispatch is TOO
credulous. our opinion Is. and We have
very high authority for entertaining the
opinion. that the Walton law, constable
and all, was enacted TO provide a cheap
method for swindling the illiterate negroes
out of their vote, and either lettering
them from voting altogether. or counting
them when they did vote for their adyer-
saries. If the Dispatch thinks. however,
that its provisions were inspired by "A
tender regard for the rights Of the negroes
and determination that they should be
secured the right TO vote as they pleased,
exempt from the coercion of their race
and party friends, all We can say is, hug
your delusion neighbor, you will find out
the truth after awhile.
But the Dispatch has now shed some
real light upon the case-that is if we
understand its rather hazy statement. If
we understand ii right, the case is this.
The Hanover county electoral board
wrote to the Secretary of the Common
wealth asking him if it was required TO
place the names on the ballots in any
regular ordc-. That the Secretary of the
Commonwealth asked the Attorney Gcn-
eral, and that officer gave it as his opinion
that it was not. That about that time
one John y. Moon was holding negro
ballot schools i'm Mr. fuckers district.
where negroes were being taught TO mark
the ballots in "A way that would make
them sure of voting for the candidate
they wanted to elect. That the electoral
boards all over the State at once took
alarm. lest Moon should be leading ig-
norant negro voters into midnight dark
ness"-a strange effect for Moon to have
on darkness, pray excuse the pun-and
began looking around for means by which
they could circumvent the dark designs
of these Moons. That the alarm spread to
the Secretary of the Commonwealth. who
at once sent out printed circular to all
the electoral boards in the State, inform
ing them that there must be separate
ballot boxes for the constitutional amend
ment, and that his anxiety for the poor
negroes about to be deluded by the Moons
caused MIN TO add to this circular the