The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-17
THE DISCUSSION CLOSED As FAX AS
THE TIMES Is CONCERNED.


We see no useful purpose TO be serVeu
by continuing the discussion win the
Dispatch any further. 1t does not IN
terms say yesterday that 1t had never
represented that the Attorney-General
gave the Secretary of the Commonwealth
an opfnion that the electoral boards
might print the several ballots for each
voting precinct with the names of the can
didafes aIternated on each, and that the
Secretary Of the Commonwealth had sent
that opinion TO all the electoral boards Tor
their guidance" but IL uses language by
which 1t intends TO convey that idea
When one side of discussion, finding it,
self cornered. makes such an attempt as
<shis to evade the logical result of what
' ~ ~ sas said and repeated, the other side
is eniirelg- 5dsshed In declaring the dis
cussion closed so far as 1t is concerned.
Fortunately. however. the case viii NOT
be judged by what the Dispatch may now
think that IL did or did not say hereto
fore. Its articles of February 9Th and
sth are before the public. and We have
reprinted them. Every man can read
them for himself. ana no candid man
after reading them VIII hesitate to say
that they intended 10 state that the At
forney-General gave the Secretary of the
Commonwealth that identical opinion,
and that the Secretary of the Common
wealth sent the opinion to the electoral
boards 'for their guidance" and we are
content to leave the case with the inteli-
gent judgment of the public
The Dispatch raises a great hullabaloo
because The Times declines to say
whether 1t thinks Messrs. Tucker, Otey,
McKenney. etc. can honestly hold
their seats in Congress. If they knew
and approved of the alternating trick.
We shall not undertake TO pass judgment
on these gentlemen in respect TO that
matter. All that we have to do as q
public journal is to expose and denounce
the trick as one most discreditable to the
good name of the State of Virginia; TO
point out then the reasons why. dis
creditable as II Is. IT cannot affect the
integrity of the election itself, and then
TO leave each gentleman TO judge for
himself what he viii do under all the
circumstances.
We repeat what we said on Tuesday
last. before the Dispatch made the eff
fort TO distract attention from its own
delinquency by insisting that we should
pass judgment on our congressmen:
The subject under discussion is whether
the Alternating of names on the ballots
was discredftable trick or not The
fact that II was done is conceded-there
is no dispute as to that. The entire
question Is whether it was a discredita-
BILE trick. Now that is matter of opin-
ion, and every man VIII form his own
opinion on II for himself. The Times
might think the act a most praiseworthy
one. but that might not at all affect the
opinion of another man. The Times
might think II most discreditable trick.
but other men would still hold 10 their
opinion that IL was fair politics. But.
however the case may be, The Times must
he permitted 10 form and express its
opinion upon conceded fact of this i'm.
portance.
And. since we desire and propose 10
treat this and all other cases with en-
tire candor. we say to the Dispatch
that our mind has not the slightest ten
deney 10 judge these gentlemen harshty
IN case they do approve OF this discredit-
able trick. In 1883 a total change was I'M
ported into the theory of our politics
Up to that time we had struggled with
our difficulties like men, enjoying our
triumphs because they were fairly gained,
and manfully submitting to our defeats.
because they involved no dshonor. But,
commencing with 1883. the poisonous doc
trine began TO be inculcated that
SUCCESS in the elections was the one
and only important thirg. and that the
means by which that success was achiey-
ed were of little consequence. Inc day
dawred when money was to take the
place of honorable and manly effort. and
che elections were TO be carried to the
side that could buy them. whether that
aide had voters. or whether II did not. 1t
took very little experience tn this sort OF
politics TO corrupt and degrade the minds
Of many OF those who actively partici-
psted In them, and nothing more tneyita-
bic ever happened than the easy slide
esam buying voters to cheating them.