Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-08
"THE MACHINE.-
PRESS,

Tho Richmond Times, upon seeing a
statement in the Dispatch that the people
OF Virginia will next spring vote upon
the question of calling a constitutional
convention, hastily jumps TO the con-
clusion that 'the machines" next move
would be TO dsfranchise the negro. etc.
When the machine" held its convention
at Staunton last spring. the matter OF
holding a constitutional convention was
referred to q subcommittee Of the Com
mittee upon Platform, and with the result
that the convention did not declare itself
for or against a convention. SO the mat
ter win come up to be voted upon in May
next, with all the Republicans opposed to
the proposition and with the machine
divided upon 1t. 1t would, therefore. seem
quite improbable that the convention
which the Times breads 50 much will
be ordered by the people.
For ourselves, we are free to say that
we do not think the present an oppor-
tune time to order a convention. As IS
well known, we, in common with the
mass of white voters in Virginia have
long and ardently wished TO see a con-
vention composed Of Virginla's noblest
and wisest sons TO revise and amend the
Constitution which was framed for US
by Judge Underwood and his associates
But we would rather have no convention
than q misrepresentation convention. We
90 not know what sort OF mixture"
We might have If we were 10 elect dele
gates 10 a convention now. We shall
however. continue to cherish the hope
that some time in the not remote future
1t may be in the power Of our State 10
assemble just such a convention as is
desirable for just such work as is needed
II such a convention could relieve the
Southside and Tidewater counties OF Vir-
ginia from the danger by which they are
menaced by an ignorant and venal voting
population, Virginia could well afford the
expense Of a convention. even though the
convention did no other work. But al
present. we repeat. the way does not
appear TO be open for such a convention
The time may, however, come, and sooner
than we suppose. when the people Of the
white counties may see as clearly as the
people Of the black counties do now that
some regulation Of the suffrage would be
a great blessing to this whole Common
wealth.
The Times says 1t is absurd 10 fear
negro domination in Virginia" The
Times IS right. The whites OF the Black
Belt haven't the slightest idea Of sub
mitting to it. Upon this point they grow
more and more determined every day
They mean TO rule.
In the very issue of the Times wherein
that paper pronounces against a re-
stricted suffrage and speaks contemptu-
ously of the machine" is an editorial
laudation of Hanna. How things have
changed! Up TO last spring the Times
was represented on the State Executive
Committee OF the machine"
The Times advised all Of Richmond's
Democrats 10 80 into the primary cleo
lions OF the machine" The editor Of the
Times was elected a delegate to the
State convention Of the machine" and
promised TO take pot luck" with the
snachine-beg pardon, with the party.
IL was only when the Times found that
Il could not run the machine" as il
wished to. that 1t bolted and set UP
separate machine; a machine that IN
frlnged upon the patent Of the old one.
and did such bad work that it's spurious
ness was at once detected by the dis
eliminating public.
The Times even now insists that the
machine 1t is running is a genuine Demo-
cratic article. yet It seems to be on the
% hot
Brady Waddnl machine, and the products
Of the two mills are so nearly alike that
the average man can't detect the diff
ference.
Really. II Is not becoming In the Times
20 talk about the machine" II has
parted company with its old political as
sociates. but It Is not necessary to abuse
them. II has taken into its affections
some Of the Democrats for whom IT form
erly had the greatest possible aversion,
and II now commends where It formerly
denounced. But let all that pass. What
wo would call its especial attention TO
&c the ungraciousness OF its referring TO
Its old political partners as the ma
chine" We do not care whom It praises.
but let II not speak so despitefully OF the
machine" OF which II was part and
parcel for so many years: II 1t will insist
that Hanna has deserved well OF the
country. all right. That Is its opinion.
Which may be Weighed along with It's
eulosy OF the late Judge Bond as o great
and just Judge; but let It speak more re-
spectfuily OF the arm OF which It was
90 long an influential member
Our own estimate Of Mr.. Hama Is quite