Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-03

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ants ana buixhers who create wealth.
ana make their country great Suppose,
now. some Of their own people were 70
90 TO those dlkes and begin to dig ana
pick and cut and oh. let the sea IN; "
won't hurt you. These waters nave
right 20 fow there. You are taking
away the rights OF the ocean? what
would they think Of these people? Now.
you can imagine what we think OF you
when without experience. without KNOW
ledge OF the prevailing conditions you
propose to cut down the barriers that pro-
tect us.
ARE yIRGINIANs TRUE SONS?
1--WE come from the land Of Randolph:
of Giles, Of Archer. Of Drumgoole, OF
John Winston Jones. We are their kins-
men. They have illustrated the pages
OF Virginia history and added to her
glory wherever her name Is known among
men. In war we have marched and fought
by your side. on your mountains
lie the bleaching bones of our COM
rades. and every valley has been ferti-
lized with their blood.
How wildly do / remember one fact.
NY regiment was composed or men
from the lands by the sea and from your
mountains and valleys. When we
marched towards the sea the tide
the mountain boys followed them. ana
then when we turned our faces to
the Blue mountains your boys rejoiced,
but we ali fought for the honor OF OLD
Virginia wherever our feet trod ner SOIL
Are you going to forget us nowE why
should we not have n law to protect our
dearest interests? Let me tell you that
all the States, except five, have the Aus
tralIan-ballot system, or some modihca-
ton thereof. whilst Arkansas. Georgia
N,ssIssippi. South Carolina, Maine, Mas
sacbusetts. Nevada. New Hampshire,
New York. Pennsylvania, Vermont. and
wyoming have qualified suffrage In some
form. Massachusetts and Maine require
every voter to be able to read the Con-
stjtltion and write his own name In Eng
lish IL these ignorant negroes were in
those States they could not vote at all,
and vet some of our own white Demo-
Gratis are so conscientious and tender or
the negroes rights that they must not
only let him vote. but must show MIN
how he may harm us most
TO PREVENT FOREIGNERS VOTING.
.Why did these States fix that qualifica-
ton? Ii was to prevent foreigners unac-
quented with our own language from
voting. If that was necessary for their
protection. why should we not be protect
ed against the wild frenzy OF a people
debased by long years OF bondage; we,
the descendants of freemen for ages past?
Why should we debase ourselves by bow
ing the knee to Baal,' just at the time
when the whole North is recognizing the
action of South Carolina and Mississippi
as justified by necessity? The much
slandered constable feature Is not even
attacked In the congressional contests.
The Walton law has been declared to be
constitutional by our own courts. why
disturb 1t? 1t is good enough for me. but
I am willing TO make such reasonable
concessions as will not destroy its value
TO us. Therefore, 1 favor the Parker
substitute for the Senate bill. All these
other measures absolutely destroy the
secrecy OF the ballot and destroy all that
is valuable in the law.
APPEAL FOR THE HUMBLE.
'In conclusion, Mr.. Speaker. let me
say that my home nestles amid the pines
and broomstraw fields Of Amelia. The
presiding genius of that home was
girl from the foot of the Blue Ridge.
Our little children play and prattle around
us. When / so home a little black-eyed
and black haired watcher-the image of
her mother-runs TO meet me, her hair
streaming In the wind She puts her little
up on the horse before me, and We ride
home together as comrades. / love that
home / would die for those loved ones.
All around me are the brave fellows who.
though poor. and many OF them in the
humber walks Of life, fought for their
native State like heroes, and have never
proven false. These are the men who
have made our State what 1t Is; they are
the bone and sinew Of the land. Certain
transcendental gentlemen who SANDER
our beloved section are able to take loved
ones 10 Italy for the winter. and to Paris
for the summer. What matter these
things TO them? IL is these humble fell
lows and their boys and girls that will
suffer II you break down the barriers
that protect our land. 1t Is for them 10
speak. Men in high station have proven
false in these direful days; but these men
never. Shall / forget them? No: not
until am ready TO have God forget me.
l fear not to trust you. Give us your
help"