Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-17
THE DISPATCH WON'T PUBLISH
THIS.

THE DISPATCH WON'T PUBLISH
THIS.
The Times charges that there were out
rageous frauds in the conduct OF the
late election insists on q reform in the
election machinery Of Virginia, and de-
clares that while il sis willing 10 let the
Sead issue Of free silver rest in its grave,
there can be no peace for honest men IN
Virginia so long as our elections are
corrupt" The Dispatch insists, on the
other hand. that free silver is not dead,
not even sleeping. and tries to make 1t
appear that the cry Of the Times for
honest elections has nothing in IL. We
shall not attempt TO judge between them
at this time. but express the hope 'that
they will not resort 10 violence until the
event advertised for next week has beep
safely passed.
we do not intend to take sides in the
controversy between our Richmond
friends: but we would suggest to the
Dispatch that there is no reason why II
should resist the efforts of its neighbor
90 purify election methods and protect
,he baIlot-b Fraudulent elections may
he necessary to the maintenance OF
fraudulent finance. and no political party
can be held together long by sharp prac-
tice at the pools. The Times shows by
the official figures that lin the white
counties Of the State there were RepuD-
ucan gains of 1880. while in the black
districts. where the negroes voted almost
10 a man for Mckinley. there were Re-
nuhNcan losses Of GIG" The Times
states it's deduction from the facts in
hand as follows:
."There are two conclusions that are
inevitable from these figures. Inc one
IS that many sound-money Democrats
took Candidate Bryan's advice, and vo-
ted straight for Mckinley; the other. that
the Democratic losses in the white coun-
ties were offset by manipulating the PAL
lot-box i'm the black districts
Republican gains OF 1880 in the
white counties Of Virginia has an ugly
look. Instead of trying TO get up hght
our Richmond contemporaries. both Dem
ocratic should try to get together. Inc
marty or faction that depends upon the
MANIPULATION Of the ballot-box in the
black districts for its maiorities Is fool
ing with fre.-Charleston News ana
Courier.
The foregoing article. heading and all,
appears in the last issue of the Richmond
Times. We had OF course. seen 1t pre-
vlousIy In the News and Courier; but we
had laid II aside with many other articles
taking the opposite view of the matter
some of them hotiy attacking the Times
hoping that the people of Virginia were
going TO be allowed little breathing
eoeu from politics before being forced
into another campaign. But this hope Is
not 20 be gratifed. From this and other
publications in the Times, the war is to
go on right along. it would seem. The
Man of the businessmen of Richmond
composing the "Sound-Money League IS
"a be carried out, we suppose. All right,
b. 1t so.
We cannot but be amused at the Times
and the News and Courier coming TO-
rether on this subject. and we cannot
help thinking that they are grinning at
me another as the Roman augurs dld
when they passed each other. The News
ana Courier which thus favors Nirginians
with its views on fair elections Is pub
usbel in a State the population of which
in 1880 consisted OF 1872 OOs whites ana 6SS-
9A negroes. Yet, ever since 1876, South
Carolina has been controlled by the
whites.
we are not In the habit OF accusing
our southern brethren of dishonest cleo
ton methods. nor can we suppose that
such methods would be tolerated In a
state where the News and Courier is
uubllshed but If the Times We're to APP
rlv 20 South Carolina the same reasoning
tsat II applies to Virginia, South Caro-
lnn would not escape criticism so easily.
Tuo. south Carolina has just adopted
n constitution placing great restrictions
mon suffrage: but this Constitution Is
rn~h like Misslssippfs. which the Times
hos over and over again denounced as
froyduient. And then, too. II the Times
were investigating South Carolina cleo
TONS as IL is investigating Virginia elsc-
lions. il would inquire how 1t was that
IN State where the negroes have ma
ieri,v delegates wws elected to con-
;cntion TO disfr&achise the negroes.
For our part. we as satisfied that the
Hhl,cs OF South Carolina have done The
oroper and needful thing in managing
.heir elections. and. with the information
low before us, we have no words OF con-
gemnation for them; but we must CON
fess that we are taken aback Mite
When the News and Courier takes "a haha
n preaching honest elections TO the peo-
,le Of Virginia. The GOODNESS Of 1t almost
lakes our breath away.
As for the Richmond Times. 1t never
could see anything wrong In the Virginia
siec;ions until Colonel OFeirail came be-
fo;c our people as a candidate for Gov
.rnor. The Times's hostility to the Col
oncl yerked the scales of its eyes. II
hen began 20 see what bad hitherto been
concealed from II. and from that day to
ins II has been demanding honest cleo
lions" Yet II has taught that our people
may In cases OF necessity use the shot
gun or bludgcon to down the rule OF the
negro majority. The Dispatch has argued
that the great evil OF negro suffrage In