The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-24

those who execute the laws than upon
the machinery of the laws themselves,
though there is no doubt the laws
| may, by well organized machinery, do
much to make fraud more difhcult.
am a reader OF the Baltimore sun, and
have watched the contest IN maryland
over ballot and election reform with much
interest, and with all my sympathles en-
listed on the side OF my trends, the
leaders OF the reform movement, Messrs'
Cowan. Marshall. Wilmer and others.
Though an ardent Democrat, L can out
be a little suspicious OF the machinery.
the effect OF which was TO increase the
Democratic vote OF MARYLAND over thal
secured by the machine RUE Oh WHICH
so much complaint was justly MAUI
In my own community, perfect fairness
in elections has been the universal Gus
tom ever since the war. and our very
first citizens deem 1t a high duty TO ac-
cept the positions connected with cleo
tons, and TO them they are invariably
assigned. Hence, there has never been
complaint on the part OF the minority
upon the score that the ballots have not
been freely given and fairly counted
Even In the absurd contest now DelhS
made by Mr.. j. Hampton Hoge against
Otey, he makes no claim that the election
machinery was not fairly used in this
city. / mention these facts to show
that fairness depends more upon the
character Of the judges and officers VINO
administer than upon the machinery or
the law
The purity of the ballot is essential to
the integrity Of the people. When public
sentiment tolerates fraud, the people
become corrupt. Fraud in elections in
the South is defended on the ground that
it enables the white people to control
local government. The end does
not justify the means. The remedy IS
worse than the disease, and its injurious
effect Is more lasting. Perjury and de-
ceit amongst officials and liberation Of
and excuses therefor, will have a worse
effect upon the body polite than will ne
gro supremacy. \ determined effort will
free US from the latter; the bad effects
OF the former VIII be felt for Il genera
ton.
The white man is to rule this country
and the negro may as well admit that
inevitable fact, but 10 secure that end
we must not resort to fraud, not only
because 1t is wrong and unjust. but be-
cause OF its reflex and degrading action
on those who invoke its aid. Negro
supremacy. / believe. can be averted 10y
our party. coupled with the honest use
of the ballot-box. 1t may "a times be
necessary 10 use force and violence. Such
a remedy would be heroic and disagreed
bic, but ID would be effective and manly.
1t would not, like perjury and fraud,
permanently dcmolize tho people. The
'Danville riot" as IL IS called, did more
10 harmOHize the races Ia Virginia thau
anything which has happened since the
fatal gift OF suffrage was bestowed upon
the negro. ! trust no occasion for such
q remedy may again arise. but should IL
do so, It is infinitely preferable 10 fraud.
L. is more honest, more manly. and the
relief is not only quicker. but more last
ing.
l prefer the old-fashioned open ballot TO
any of the new systems Of voting. II
renders fraud impossible. and imposes up
on every man responsibility for his po-
litical creed. Its tendency is TO make
men politically COURAGEOUS and iudepend-
ent, and 10 secure to the dominant race
the full effects Of its moral power. 1t
has never. ! believe, been tried since the
negro has been "A voter, and my convic-
ton is that for securing a free ballot a
fair count, and the permanent rule of the
Democratic race. it is a better system
than any other, and I greatly prefer its
simple mode Of ascertaining the true Will
Of the people 10 the complication of either
the Maryland or the Walton law.
Respectfully.
CHARLES VI. BLACKBOARD.