Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-28

The Richmond Times has gone 10
prating about "honest elections again
II regulates the suggestion OF the Dis
match that the Virginia elections. In the
matter of fairness, will average as highly
as the elections OF any state OF 'h'S
Union. Indeed. so far from agreeing win
ne on this subject, the Times INDUCES
IN language which must grieve many OF
its readers, and can prove agreeable 10
none but those who talk Of southerners as
'unreconcied slaveholders.'
We are not content to let the Times
stand as the exemplar of honest cleo
lions" methods in this State. Its RECORD
on this subject will not permit us to do
so. So far from 1t, We assert, without
fear OF successful contradiction. that no
newspaper in Virginia, nor any any
where. has ever gone further than the
Richmond Times I'm advising the sup
preston" of the negro vote.
Though the Times had exceptional op-
portunities for many years to know what
was going on in the inner councils OF our
Marty. and though it must have been a
close observer of events in jackson ward
II uttered no complaint, raised no howl
had naught &c say against the virginia
election methods" But lately IT mas
had ideas of its own, which are at va
rance with what 1t charges have been
the practices of our party, and 1t has
now taken position which is well de-
scribed in the following article from the
Lynchburg News:
The Times is confessedly in favor Of
the shotgun policy. Two years nave
scarcely elapsed since the Times unblush-
ingly proclaimed the doctrine of intiml-
dalton and bloodshed at the polls in this
state Having denounced alleged manip-
ulation I'm the Black Belt by Democrats
a Southampton man asked II the blunt
question whether or not it favored negro
rule I'm the black counties. 1t did not
favor an educational qualification 1t did
not favor any complex system that would
thwart the negro voters. IL favored
manhood suffrage" and advocated a
free ballot and fair count Southamp-
ton county has 5000 more negroes IMAM
whites. An unrestricted ballot means
the destruction of white civilization
there And when this southampton
white man pinned the Richmond Times
down to the appalling alternative what
was its reply! Here are It's OWE WORDS
uttered in January, 1891:
"Our answer is a very simple one.
The white people of Southampton
county must exert themselves In an
omen and manly way to CONTROL
THE ELECTIONS in Southampton
county, but they must not use cheat
ing and frauds in elections as their
means. We say again TO White
Democrat and his Southampton
friends. assert yourselves like men
NOTIFY THE NEGROES AND
THEIR MEAN WHITE ALLIES. far
worse than the negroes: THAT t oyv
ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW
THEM TO RULE YOU. and then
bring out all the voters, white ana
black. YOU can. TO preserve the control
of your county in your own hands
BE perfectly honest be firm. be falr
and avoid violence, If POSSIBLE;
but there are things in life worse
than THE FIGHTING NECESSARY
TO SECURING AND ENJOYING
THOSE RIGHTS WHICH BELONG
TO ALL MEN"
In plain English, enact law giving
every ignorant negro the right TO vote
but shoot him down II he exercise the
right which the law gives himl Enact
no law lndt VIII hihu'i u
vicious and ignorant In the exercise OF
their suffrage. but murder them at the
noIlsi Make a pretence OF giving them a
right 10 vote but warn them on election
day that they will exercise that right at
the peril OF their lives! a newspaper that
proclaimed a doctrine like that cannot
hope 10 discredit the Democratic party
of Virginia by the cry OF fraud, whicn
II has raised in the interest Of William
Mckinley and the Republican candidates
for Congress.