The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-28
HOW SHALL II EE MEI?

The following plank in the platform or
the Republican party of the State OF Vir-
gnia, adopted at Staunton a few days
back is drawn with consummate art, and
is destined 10 play most important part
in our next election Of a Legislature and
Governor. 1t reads thus:
The Republican party Of Virginia, in
convention assembled, denounces the
proposition, coming from the Democratic
party OF this State. through the last Legs
lature, TO call convention TO revise the
Constitution of the State. as being the
first movement OF the enemies OF our
public free schools It's manifest pur-
pose is to stem the swelling tide of Repub-
liCan progress in our State, by an effort
to disfranchise our ilIiterate voters. both
white and colored: to set up a fraudulent
and pretended educational qualification,
and to SO amend the present free-school
provision as 10 place IL in the power Of
future Legislatures TO practically destroy
the benefcent system of education en-
grated in the present Constitution OF
the State by the Republican party. The
call for such a convention means that its
members are TO he elected under our
present obnoxious and detestable laws, and
that to them Is to be given the power also
Of the Constitutions; the clause TO exempt
our religious non-combataDts from the
compulsory military services. and other
wise amend acceptable provisions in that
instrument. and. judging from recent leg
islation, TO put also beyond the power OF
legislative appeal a law for a higher
rate Of interest upon money.
We don't altogether understand the pro-
vision in respect 10 interest, but that win
cut very small part in discussion. The
important part is the arraignment OF the
Democratic party of the state for a scheme
to do as the faction that controls il
pIeases. with all the fundamental rights
Of Virginia citizens. by means OF manipu-
lated elections. This is the sermon that
will be preached upon every hastings in
the state from this day forward, and this
sermon the managers of the Democratic
party must meet before the people, and
in a way that will satisfy their minds and
consciences. There is, of course, a very
large body of voters in the State who are
satisfied with the plea that whatever the
Democratic managers may do is
TO preserve the control of the State
to the white people. But there is also
a very large body Of voters who will tell
these managers that the talk of negro
rule in Virginia is nonsense and that
they do not propose to allow themselves to
be dragged into the approval Of measures
that they abhor and that their con-
sciences condemn. upon any false pretext
Of this sort. If this body Of citizens votes
the Republican ticket in our next State
election, the Republicans will carry the
State.
What defence will the Democratic party
make 10 this arragnment Of 1t? Can it
say 10 intelligent men that the course Of
the party in the State during the last
ten or welve years is not one that justines
a charge Of manipulated elections? When
ever 1t opens its mouth 10 make such an
answer. Smithers' precinct and the plea
OF guilty entered by the officers OF cleo
ton there confront it, and it must stand
silent and abashed. Can il say it does
not ask for constitutional convention in
order that the illitoratc may be- oisfran-
chisod? Enrontery itself would not dare
make such a plea before the intelligent
people OF Virginia. and yet. il that pur-
pose be confessed, there are thousands
and thousands OF conscientious Virginians
who viii not sustain it in what it aims
at doing.
The fact OF the matter is that the Demo
cratic Convention that meets at Staunton
on the 9Th Of June must adopt as part Of
its platform that the Democratic party
is opposed to holding a constitutional con
yention. or it will put this State in serious
jeopardy Of being turned over to the Re
publican party. The insidious sugges.
tons OF the Republican platform quoted
are going TO percOlate through the minds
OF the people OF Virginia from this time
on and they are going 10 undermine the
loyalty to party Of many unless they are
met by a plain, straightforward declara-
ton from the Democratic party that IL
proposes 10 look upon every citizen OF
Virginia as the equal Of every other
citizen before the law; and that It pro-
poses TO found all OF its official actions
upon a sincere recognition Of that fact;
according to every citizen every right that
belongs by law 10 any.
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Jewish Comment. published In Balt-