The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-24

sItySCE GIVES CpN SEMI.
put We notice that the Dispatch says
nothtng whatever Of our request thal
a tell the public what was sara III .i0
no,,ocratic caucus OF the purpose IN
.andod IN he accomplished by adopting
tho Walton law. 1t has incautiousiy au-
,nitted that Il knows what loon pi"'o
there. II now. The Times mas oohe
n,ronr 10 the authors of the Walton Ia"
a., ststine thot its enactment was not
intended 10 promote fun. free' ana
norfeetlv fair ascertanment of the VIII
81 the voters then the wrong can pc
shown by disclosing the aVowed purpose
Of the Legislature In it's secret council
,rhe way TO meet the issue is not by
abusing The Times. but giving the 1acis'
The Tines does OF believe IN a Dem
ocratic party that hides its head IN shai'e
or fear. but one that, founded on ever
iasting Democratic principles. faces fear
lesslv the truth and defies any ciscio-
sure THE Times Of Sunday.
The Times asks us to tell the public
what occurred i'm the Democratic legis-
l,tive caucus when the Walton bill was
under consideration there believing that
n we would do so The Times charge
,haf the law was conceived IN fraud
would be established.
Thus IL would have us show that IL is
not a fact, as the Supreme Court or APP
meals has said, that II cannot be doupted
that In passing the Walton law the Leg
sr-rymvure intended to promote fair cleo
lions.
Indepepdent Of our indisposition TO
bring into disrepute any declaration or
the highest court of our state. we must
say that the Dispatch hasn't the slightest
idea of playing the part OF an iniormer
against the Democratic party Such
knowledge as we have of the proceedings
OF our legislative caucus came to us in
confidence, and that confidence we SHAH
seek TO continue TO merit
We feel sure that the editor of The
Times too fully recognizes the obliga-
tions of honor among gentlemen 10 be
willing seriously to ask us. or anybody
else occupying the relations that we do
10 the Democratic party, TO make any
disclosures of what occurred In secret
conference of representative Democrats.
We are quite certain that the editor OF
The Times would not do such a dis
honorable thing. and therefore he ought
not TO ask us TO do 1t.
Ones family talk is not public proper
tv: nor is it necessarily reprehensible
because the family does not wish IL given
TO the public. But this much we are at
liberty TO say TO The Times-that when
the situation i'm the Southside and tide
water counties was discussed in the eau
ems no proposition was advanced half so
radical as that of The Times. made when
The Times said that If the negroes
wouldn't vote with US and wouldn't stay
from the polls we should be justiiable
in drawing our shotgun upon thcm.-The
Dispatch OF Tuesday.
The answer Of the Dispatch, IL it can
be called an answer. is an admission that
The Times was right in its statement of
the motive which prevailed in the prep
aration OF the Walton law.
1t could not possibly "bring into dis
repute any declaration of the highest
court" to say that the Interpretation by
that court that the purpose of the Leg
islaure was honest, was no. merely a
presumption of law. but an actual fact.
We have never asked. and never will
ask. the Dispatch to violate any of the
obligations which gentlemen recognize
but when so much was being told OF
what occurred in the caucus, which might
have been withheld. It was pertinent
and proper question TO ask what was The
main object OF the caucus itself
For our own part. we deplore every
reason for the criticism OF >he methods
of the Democratic party in Virginia Oul
effort has been solely to arouse the inter
est. and. indeed the anxiety Of our people
IN and about a condition Of things whicl
We regard as NEST baneful to our polit
zeal and social existence The career o.
individual politicians. or the action o
this or that caucus. are insignificant com
pared with the condition OF the mind an'
heart OF the public on questions involving
the very fundamental principles of mo
rality
We believe that when the people o
Virginia come 40 understand the situa
ton In which.sheir politics have fallen
they will not tolerate any management
but one that Is conducted on tho highes
lines Of truth and justice.
This Is what We wish 10 accomplish
for the people OF Virginia through tn
Democratic rarty.
But the Dispatch has not aided thi
effort Indeed. It has thwarted H. am
derlded The Times for what Il has don
IN this behalf. Nor has II withdrawn II
charge that the Virginia public lis laugh
ing ut The Times sham morality an
knocking at its pretended virtue Nc
has II named man who Is Laughing
the Times sham morality or mockin
AT It's pretended virtue"
We want To ASSURE the Dispatch tina