New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
FRAUDS IN VIRGINIA.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir ]. y. F.. on Virginia elections" is a fair ex-
position of the frauds in Virginia. but the Demo
cratic movement toward reform Is a matter OF
expediency in a wing OF that party.
The cause OF this sudden conversion arises from
a split IT. the party. They had worked their fraud
ulent scheme together until they were strongly
intrenched against the Republicans. While that
was going on. all went lovely. but. in dividing up
the spoils there not enough TO go around. and
the quarrel started. and the guns they had been
using against the Republicans they turned on each
other. OF course, one side must beat, and the de-
feated party cries out fraud. and 1t was an easy
matter to detect the fraud They knew just
where and how 10 look for II. They had gradu-
ated in that school "set thief to catch thief"
Is good maxim In this case Now they want the
Republicans to help them. 1t may result In good.
as In the old saying when rogues fall out. honest
men get their dues" With honest elections there Is
little doubt Virginia is a strong Repuohcah Sta'e'
but the frauds in the elections In Virginia are not
excelled by any State In the South, but nave peen
conducted with air OF fairness ana honesty
taking the Democratic version Of 1t. The Walton
Law was a step In the right direction. but the
Democrats-as a body-coud not do an honest act
and have II honestly carried out As In all their
acts. they would leave a hole to make irauduieht
The Walton Law would be all right II the diner
parties were represented by consta,pe W
printed ~ That "s all ticke,s should ard the
candidates represented by some design win that
the voter could not be mistaken. -,
Fortunately In the IXth District. We had a ieau-
err in General Walker-whom the Republcans
elected for member Of Congress-and the Dem
ocrats did not dare to work their games 70 any
great extent The district was well 0rgapizeu, anu
every point watched. on the whole, the elecut99n
in the Ixth District was quite fair Inc hepuom-
cans may have lost 800 votes. but the walton Law
bad as II was, helped out -
The sentiment OF !. n. F. IN describing me Two
kinds of Democrats is well put-"cynicaI anu cor, pr
science Democrats"-but both lead to the same re-
suit That is. the niger sha'n'f vote uhiess ne
votes rlght-to suit the Democrat-and the thrSi
10 make the educational suffrage the test wou.a QUIZ
mean that II a voter was Republican the test
would bar him out: II Democrat ne wou i
be all right The educational test VII De net tn suffer
much more than the white. There is a large per-
centage Of white illiterate voters. -,
The idea OF fearing the negro Is going 10 RUE
Is not good logic they will not try II proR%yhiy
treated 1t is not their nature. as mass iney
have more sense. They prefer good, inteinseha
white man TO a colored man TO manage. u ne
will protect their interests. Besides, ! don see
why a Virginian should have so great oD1ect9In
to an intelligent colored man The old VrkihIa
blood crops out In seven out OF ten VINO are kep'
the colored side OF the fence. II Is not 80
mon to them graded. from the black congo
to blue eyes. straight blond hair. ana compieA''"
only "a little smoky. -
Give us the Walton Law. with each party rep
resented by the constable helpers and proper
ballot and In '96 Virginia will be Repupn1Sah
State. ). W.
Bristol. Va. Jan. Is. 1895.