The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-19
HONEST ELECTIONS.

The people of Virginia have at last
awakened to the fact that Il change in the
election laws of this State, SO as to
insure an absolutely fair and impartial
ballot, is necessary, and it is very en-
couraging sign that the papers of this
| State without regard to party are discuss
ing the question with yigor and interest
Honesty at all times is the best policy,
and this is especially true in regard to
elections. No community or State can
expect to prosper in the long run that
countccances irregular methods in CON
duct of elections. Sooner or later such
| practices will return to plague the in
ventors, for, beside the principle of right
which is primarily involved in this Ques
ton, the demoralizing effects of cheating
in elections are sure to make themselves
| felt in the degradation of the voter and
| decline of the community. All unpreju-
diced people must admit that the election
| laws OF this State are so framed that they
admit of fraud and corruption. The late
| election has demonstrated this most I'M
deniably, and it is plain that rs long as
| the people of the State permit the evil to
stand unremcdied they are placing in
| the hands of their enemies Il most potent
weapon to use to their injury Public
| opinion, too, has reached the point that,
| unless the intelligence of the State take
| this matter in hand and bring about the
cirn Of
| and responsibility will cast their ballots
with any party that promises to. effect
the necessary reforms. In view of this
fact it is absolutely essential that good
citizens everywhere grapple ut once.with
the problem and proceed uninterruptetlly
with this work until the needed changes
in the election laws have been effected
This reform must he thorough and COM
plete. No halfway measures and none of
doubtful propriety need be. attemptcd
for the honest people of Virginia are re-
solved TO have none of these. The old cry
of negro domination will not do. l!sThe
whites of this State are too largely in the
majority for such II fear to impress the
POP'A''i hiAiiNA. II ili'tA l4Ol DC " TIC III
forest of certain cliques for the power to
pass from their hands, as it would with
honest elections; but they are not to be
considered in this matttr. The good
name and prosperity of the State are at
stake, and IA compromise with dishonesty
in any shape or under any circumstances
is not TO be thought of. The people want
an honest and impartial election law that
will work the same way in one locality
that it does in another, ard if there is
danger that ignorance will be inttthe ma
jority in some sections, let the represent
atives of the people agree on Il plan that
will remedy this evil, while mt the same
time it guarantees to all classes of voters
free and fair ballot, one THAI will be
cast intelligently and counted as it is
cast Until this is done Virginia cannot
expect TO prosper. What the people of
this State need to promote their happiness
and progress is capital and immigration
neither of which will come rs long as
there is the slightest faint of suspicion as
10 the purity of the ballot. Capital is ut
all times timid. 1t will stay away from
a State where the people resort 10 doubt
full methods in electng their lawmakers,
and the honest immigrant is just Us sure
to do likewise when he finds there is no
assurance that he can vote as he pleascs
on all questions affecting his interests
From the tone of the press and the talk
OF the people, either in public addresses
or private conversation, it is evident that
honest elections is to he the one great
issue in Virginia until it is definitely set
tied in the Affirmative. The Times has
always under its present management en-.
deavorcd to advocate that which was best
for the people of Virginia in general and
| OF the Southwest in particular 1t has
stood at II! times for honesty in elections,
| ana i'll view of recent experiences III va
| rious portions of this State il is more
| firmly convinced than ever of the neces-
| sity for reform in the present laws relat-
ing TO the ballot 1t has always believed
that Virginia could not afford to rest
| under the stigma Of unfair elections and
1t will cheerfully join hands with those
| who are working to remove this blight
! from the statute books OF the State. Give
US fair election law, ana immigrants
| and capital will come till Virginia will
| bloom like a garden and all within her
| borders will be contented and happy.
Mrs ALMA MERRITTS DEATH.