The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-01

Tho Fredericksburg star says:

Tho Fredericksburg star says
The Walton Jaw VII probably be much
| discussed In the present campaign Dut
| W.. DO not believe The people OF virginia
will call ulOn any ctht. than the Dem
OCatic party TO give TO every voter tie
untrammelled freedom 10 express MS pre-
ference at tie ballot-bcx. and the Ger
iainty Of having hts iallOt properly count
3D. II is a mistake to suppose That any
tue Democrat is inimical 10 honest cleo
tons
The Star is perfectly right in thinking
that the peop'e of Virginia viii never
ontrust the amendment of their election
laws to any but the Democratic party.
The Democratic party Of Virginia, in
deed contains very nearly all that part
of Virginia that is worth considering
WHEN political rule is IN question. 1t IS
the only political body that ought to
rave control Of her legislation. IL was
a foolish thing for Malone to get up his
"horest elections" party. He ought to
have had sense enough TO know that the
people Of Virginia were not going to al
low him TO come into control OF the state
in the name Of honest elections or upon
any other plea. lie ought to have had
sense enough TO know that he would
only hurt the efforts OF honest Demo
Gratis 10 induce their party to reform It's
measures by meddling with the business.
But his two-penny side show will soon
close up shop, and the Earnest Demo
Gratis who are bent on reforming cur
election methods can then go on with
their work at the point where his oificious
intermeddling broke 1t up.
But the Star is also wrong IN sup
L.. Ff.
cinia IS in favor of honest elections. The
people have had the spectacle Of dishon-
est elections held up to their gaze so
long that the consciences of many most
worthy men have become scared IN this
matter and frauds in elections are toll
Grated by them as an easy way TO con-
troll the negro vote, TO an extent tnat
would be simply amazing TO outsiders
who should come into Virginia and see
the character OF persons who condone
and defend cheating in elections. If the
Star does not know 1t, 1t can easily learn
that members of the Legislature openly
admit that they voted for the Walton
law, knowing that the single constable
was intended and expected to be a meth
cd Of suppressing the negro vote or count
ing it for the Democratic candidates
though the negro wanted it counted Tor
the Republican or Populist candi- !
dates. And these members Of the Legis- |
lature have thousands of good Demo- |
cratic constituents. who approve of their |
course They say as their excuse that |
we cannot give up the control OF the |
counties that have negro majOrities 10 the |
negroes, and that they approve OF laws |
that viii enable the white Democrats 10
cheat the negroes. and thereby prevent
these counties passing under negro rule.
The Star must have heard this argu-
ment used, and if it has not. it can easily
hear 1t used by men whom it accounts
both good men and true Democrats
The Times regrets that this should be
so. but it is compelled to admit that it
is 50. The result of such opinions is that
we have the State holding up to her ciu-
zcns the spectacle Of fraud being botn
tolerable and praiseworthy. The certain
and inevitable consequence Of such action
upon the part of the state must be
plain. II makes her citizens argue that
If fraud can be fathered by the state
II cannot be very wrong IN the citizen and
1t necessarily starts the process Of disin-
in character. The people VINO
cheat in their elections will come to
cheating in all the affairs of life. Inc
French proverb tells us zee nest que lie
premier pas qui coute"-lt is The first
step which costs-and nothing truer was
ever said.
Break up cheating I'm elections ana put
each county that has negro majority
Ipon its own resC arces, and the white
people in that county viii control IT. II
$ absurd to say that with the negroes
politically disorganized ass they now are,
he white people in any county will be un-
tble TO control them in the elections.