Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-13

OF the Underwood Constitution. IT there
were inordlnate frauds committed at cleo
lions during that period that the Ricn-
mond Times was a Democratic organ no
body ever heard OF them through the
medium OF that paper. IL either kne"
nothing OF them or IL blinked at tnem
and winked at them, connived at them,
and defended the beneflciarles OF them.
When II wanted to create a diversion
three years ago and attract attention TO
ITSELF ii raised a great outcry about dis
honest elections I'm this State. particularly
IN the Back Belt. Then IL was that
citizen OF Southampton county cornered
tho Times by asking Il II IT favored negro
government for the nesro-ridden counties
OF Virginia. There was but one avenue
OF escape for the Times. II mad opposed
an educational qualification. IL had op-
posed any sort OF complex system de-
signed to exclude ignorance and venality
from the ballot-box. 1t had cried aloud
for manhood suffrage" and an honest
count" Had II said II favored negro rule
In the black counties, 1t knew 1t would
be execrated. 1t advocated boldly, IN
cold type. n scheme Of riot and blood-
shed: a programme Of enticement and
butchery. 1t wanted to make pretonce
of giving the negroes a lawful right 10
vote as they pleased and then to murder
the poor wretches or break their heads
with bludgeons IL they walked into the
trap which tho law had set FOR them.
No such barbarous doctrine as that was
ever heard of before in this Common
wealth II shocked the humane sense OF
Virginians and made them ashamed that
such savagery should have emanated
from q public journal within me con-
fines OF their State.
But az a result Of this cutlery at kich-
mond. the. election laws were changed
The Walton law was adopted, ana the
Richmond Times hailed its adoption as
triumph for itself Nevertheless II mas
been incessantly, for two years, petauhs
its own progeny, and holding virginia up
as State in which election frauds arc
rampant. We believe the charge Is
libel. we believe it IS utterly false But
II il were true. il comes with poor grace
from a newspaper that wanted TO XIII
the negroes until It found their votes
necessary to carry Virginia for the Ike
publican party and the gold standard.
The Times does not want elections con
trolled" by the white people Of the black
counties now 1t does not want any
negroes kept away from the polls now
oy threats Of assassination. 1t does not
want their white allies, far worse than
the negroes themselves" threatened
with shotguns or frightened by thu night
rides of n kluzlux clan. Things have
changed since Hanna came on the scene
again. The negroes sud their mean white
allies have recruited the Times, and the
whole shootng-match is hustling to-
gether for the defeat OF Democracy and
the triumph Of Mckinley. Hence we
read in the Richmond Times this
monstrous indictment OF the election DILL
GERS OF Virginia:
"They Ohe electoral boards appoint
two Democratic judges without con-
science and a nominal Republican, VINO
may be a stupid negro, who will do any
thing for s. note. These three persons
then manipulate the ballot-box and poll
list. and make them show such return as Is
iosirod, without regard to the votes that
have been cast"
In its application TO the city OF Lynch
burg and tho county Of Campbell we
know this indictment 20 DO outrageously
untrue We have no reason TO suppose
that II IS less so IN reference TO vast
majority OF the cities, towns, and coun-
ties Of the state. We believe It TO be
wholesale calumny. Here in Lynchburg,
the Electoral Board has been composed OF
men like Thomas y. Davis and Lewis
G.. Bell. and the Judges Of election are
men like Colonel James w. Watts,
Richard Pollard. Thomas W. Watts. and
others-men OF wealth. business promi-
hence, md high church connections. In
Campbell county the Electoral Board, as
recently constituted, comprised men like
Stephen Adams and DR.. George W. Car
rington, the former now Judge OF the
County Court. and the latter Grand Sec
rotary Of the Grand Lodge OF Virginia
Masons. Who could have believed that
newspaper in Virginia would ever 80
so far mad as 10 put men Ike these In
the category Of knaves and scoundrels!
And this IS the paper that leads the fight
In this Commonwealth for honest
money" and honest elections" Let 1t
lead It's lack Of moderation and fair
ness will XIII its cause, and the Demo-
cratic party will grow stronger by tire
insane violence and rank misrepresenta
tlons OF such adversaries.