Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-26
WONDERFUL AND rRorEAN.v


"WONDERFJL AND PR0TEAN"
We find the Richmond Times OF yes
terday not little nettled with the Dis
patch. and we lay this to the account
OF our continued rubbing Of hat paper
because of it's eulogy OF Mark Hanna.
However the specific complaint that 1t
makes against us is that we have not
given it credit for willingness to help
restrict Suffrage. And 1t goes back
many days to show from its files that
il has said that any plan which is honest,
just. and impartial would meet with the
approval of the white voters OF Virginia,
etc.
We did not construe this or any part
of the article I'm question as committing
the Times to the support OF an amend
ment TO our Constitution, such as seve-
raj other States have found it necessary
to adopt and such as Alabama is now
taking measures to adopt TO regulate the
negro vote. If we erred in this view
we humbiy beg pardon. But we submit
that we have not mistaken or misrepre-
scented the Times; and that we are
right in supposng that it has never Of
ferod us any real help in this matter,
we quote from its issue of yesterday as
follews'
For three years the Times has in
sisted with an its power upon election
reform-a reform upon basis that was
fair square, and honorable. and would
be removed from all subterfuge and
| trickery. When the suggestion OF a
qualification of suffrage was proposed,
we declared at once that such step
should not be taken as means TO en-
graft fraud and deceit On our Constitu-
ton. We still maintain that position,
and will always do so. If. in this course
we have not helped the Dispatch, so
much the worse for that wonderful and
Protean journal.
1T would be difficult for the Times to
help the Dispatch; We are not sufficiently
versatile to keep up with the changes
| Of opinion il adopts, and have a preju-
| dice in favor of following a manly con-
| viction Of our own of what is true and
| Just. rather than committing our con-
sciences unreservedly into the hands Of
politicians who may be INSCRIPTIONS or
! corrupt"
Now, does this look as If the Times
really meant TO help us in regulating
negro suffrage in Virginia?
| our modesty forbids us to accept I'M
| reservedly the compliment to the Dis
| patch implied by the term wonderful
and Protean journal" We cannot over
| look the fact that the Times has some
claim to distinction in this respect. We
| cannot "disremember' that while the
| Times has complained Of the Democrats
/ for obstructing and cheating the ne
! groes. It has advocated the use of the
bludgeon and shotgun to keep the same
class Of voters from the polls wide the
| Times's answer to the Southampton
farmer. Fair and square" as the
| Times is, our memory runneth back to
the time, and this, too, since it has been
an election reformer. when it suggested
that If needed there might be other Dam
vile riots. This was a very significant
remark mind you. and one showing that
the Times was not ignorant of the fact
that our enemies had charged us with
causing the Danville riot in order to ter
rify the negro voters throughout the
State. Just two years ago the Times
had a "manly conviction" that our CON
| querors" had been exceedingly generous
to us, and it held that our congressman
would do well to take back seats" Did
it ever change its opinion there? Nor in
| trying to award TO the Times the credit
that is its due, can we forget that the
Times claimed the Walton law as the
fruit of it's valuable work in behalf of
honest elections, though it has often
abused it since.
SO. too. the Times is entitled to credit
| for urging all Democrats of Richmond
and Henrico to make their fight inside
| the party-its editor promising TO take
pot luck with the party" Yet, next
we saw the Times's Protean form urging
on, shaping. and supporting the Indiana
polls convention. Again, we saw the
Times flying the Democratic banner at
its head. and leading movement to
elect Mckinley "a radical Democrat
and a dear lover of Confederate veterans,
the Times would give no help to John
| Lamb. the Democratic nominee in this
| district, when he was beset by the enc
mics of our party, and when he was
OppoStu Wy bi4t WIZ nav ~ AOb VI pal
with the Confederacy. And yet the
Times. with immoderate modesty. now
| protests that it is not versatile" and
that it is not skilled in changing opinions,
etc.
We note too, the Timess profound
adherence Of politicians who may be
INSCRIPTIONS or corrupt" and we ask
ourselves can this be the radical De-
mocratic" journal. that few days after
the election eulogized Mark Hanna? In
credible as it is. it is the same Times
Are we not therefore, right in disclaim-
ing the honor that the Times would
waive and put upon us? Is it not VERSA
tile? Is it not skilful in changing its
opinions? Is it not wonderful and Pro-
team? We think so. In short. If we
sought for ages for one single word
which. in itself, most clearly crystalized
the qualities aforesaid. we could not find
one better suited than the name of our
TOO modest and too radically Demo
cratic" contemporary-the Times.
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The Secret-Seryice Bureau Of the Urea