The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-21
COLONEL CATID GIBSON o.. RS
THE DEMO, sATIC PARTY.

The people Of Virginia do not need TO he
Informed that at the recent election Col
onel j. Catlett Gibson ran as an indie
pendent candidate I'm Culpeper county for
the Legislature against the regular nomi-
nee of the Democratic party. Colonel
Gibson has long been marked man in
Nirginia's affairs, and when anything as
important as this in connection with him
takes place all the people OF Virginia
knew it,
Colonel Gibson, being defeated, now
publishes a letter in the Fredericksburg
Free lance. in which he announces that
he has quit the Democratic T.arty. lie
scores the Populsts so that We suppose
he has. of course united his fortunes with
the Republican party.
The Times has always had very high
. regard for Colonel Gibson. and il is with
the deepest regret we receive this an
nourcoment from him. lie says that when
the Democratic party passed the Walton
law at the last session OF the Legislature
he told his fellow-membcrs he would
leave the party. His language is as fol-
lows:
Il notified the dominant faction that
II they passed that bill | would leave
Wing party. The bill passed of course.
When / got back home | found that the
Wing party had been dead and In
heaven. 10. these many years had
no where TO go. But have never since
participated In the porpoise primaries
or genealogical conventions of the
Smithers Democracy
Colonel Gibson could not possibly be
more opposed TO certain features of the
Walton law than The Times is. but The
Times thinks the place TO fight those fea-
lures is In the ranks of the Democratic
party. The Democratic party Of Virginia
has in its ranks the overwhelming ma
jorty of the white people OF Virginia.
while If the negroes were stricken from
the Republican party of the State there
would be no Republican party in the
State To say that the Republican party
OF the State Will be appealed TO TO give
US fair elections rather than the Demo
cratic party of the State. is about the
same thing as TO say that the negroes OF
Virginia are better qualified TO admins
ter the affairs of the State than the white
people Everybody knows that this is
not fact. and we are entirely persuaded
that any man will make mistake who
seeks 10 secure reform in our laws by APP
pealng TO the negro rather than the
white vote. For that reason The Times.
though as ardent an advocate Of per
fectly fair elections as any person can
he. has remained IN the Democratic party,
making It's appeals TO its fellow white
men. and il intends 10 remain in that
partv to the last and submit 10 what
ever measure that party may mote out
TO IL
a..
against our election methods with great
force. H.. says:
1.-THE State issue IS. Shall we have fair
elections? 70 this Smitbcrs responds.
Vote for the Democratic nominee, he is
my man, 1 Smithers. am the Democratic
party SmitAers asks too much OF us;
he demands a greater sacrifice than was
ever required OF Abraham. lie calls upon
us 20 sacrifice upon his unhOly altar truth.
honor. Justice. freedom. family ties. and
filial affections 10 the hollow echoes of
s sas false notes OF the great goldsmith
Nevertheless. The Times viii not seek
redress OF this dreadful state OF affairs
from party whose backbone Is The
solid mass OF ignorant negroes.
We are both surprised ana ericvcd to
hear from Colonel Gibson what he is
ready 20 accept rather than continue the
fight for our rights In the ranks OF the
Democrats party. lie says:
II will unto with any party TO secure
fair elections ana honest trade. Better
military rule, better Republican domina-
ton than bottomlsss anarchy, bounlless
chaoa and INFINITE fraud. Under existing
election laws. as administered by subsist-
Ing bosses. there Is no help In us. Con-
eress lis our only help, our only safe
Suard We should ask Congress 10 guar
sn,ec us republican government. as pro-
yided by section IN, article ". Of the