The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-01

| N
| idea IS 80 exempt from such a provisidN
all persons who served in the Confederate
army. 1t is pointed ouc IN advocat-
| ing this scheme that the laws OF Maine
disfranchise all persons who served on
the Southern side during the civil war
One OF the most prominent lawyers Of
| Virginia. who has examined into the
! constitutionality OF exempting ex-Confed-
crates, says there seems to be no bar
TO the enactment OF such clause. 9th
| crs, however, take a different view OF
4 this matter Many Of those who have
opposed an educational qualification
have done so largely upon the
ground that II would exclude
thousands Of men who served
CALAMITY in the Confederate army. They
are not willing. these gentlemen urge,
I 10 support any proposition which would
! disfranchise such a class Of men simply
because they were unable 10 read their
ballot.
This idea Of oxempting Confederates
from a disqualfying clause Of pro-
posed constitutional provision has, II u
said, been discussed with Senator Mar
tin. lie favors it. in the event a con-
yention is called.
II now seems reasonably certain that
the election law enacted hy this Lesis-
lature will be one endorsf by the Demo
cratic caucus. As one Of the most prom
inent and influential members Of the
party said to-day. an the members OF
that side who favor the Walton law are
united. whilst those in the party Who
are opposed TO il are widely divided as
20 the particular lines OF reform they
advocate.
We are free to admit that we attach
a great deal OF Importance to this state
ment. because the correspondent is cX-
ceptionally well informed as 70 what goes
on in The interior circle Of the coterie
that runs Democratic politics in Virginia.
When he made the foregoing statement
he knew what ho was talking about.
IL is made clear. thorefore-what We
have never for a moment doubied-that
the ruling spirit Of those who run our
politics IS 10 defeat fair elections Tor us
If # can Doe done. and that some sort
Of hocus-pocus, Misunderstanding game IS
10 be played upon The people, mat VIII
have much sembance Of fair-doalins'
while IT practically works fraud. And
another most noticeable thing in the
case is that as soon as any scheme OF
this sort is 10 be worked, its manipu-
lators run 10 Washington to consult SEN
ator Martin. Can he not be content
with his reputed authorship OF the Wal
ton law. and leave us alone with our
election laws hereafter?
But we tell the gentlemen who are
organizing their plan TO disfranchise an
the miterate whites except those VINO
served in the Confederate army, that
the people of Virginia are not going 10
tolerate any such measure. The illitef-
ate Virginians who worked out for their
state deathess renown with their
bayonets when they charged up Gene
terry Hill have sons that they have
been TOO poor to educate. These sons
are as good men as their fathers were
before them. and would do the same
for their State If it fell 10 their lot
10 charge up a Cemetery Hin, that their
fathers did. The people of Virginia are
never going 10 permit the sons Of these
old Confederate soldiers to be- put at
any disadvantage whatever. ia compari-
son with their fellow-ciuzens, in the
competitions Of life. In other words. our
war showed that when peril befalls the
state. there is no class OF her citizens
upon whom she can call for her defence
with greater certainty than upon her
yeomanry, too many alasi of whom are
unable 10 read. Shall it be said that
these men viii do 10 rely upon when the
question is the life or death Of the state
but that they are not TO be trusted 20
take part in choosing those who are 10 ad-
minister our laws? The suggestion can
not be entertained for moment. The
case comes down. then. 90 this. The
people Of virginia demand that an sus-
piclon of fraud shall be removed from
their elections. whether every negro votes
or whether De does not and they will
tolerate no measure that shall dsfran-
chise one single white man. whether it
be an open measure or secret
trick The sooner Nirsnia's Lcgi-ia-
ture recognizes This as the true state
Of the case, and frames our election laws
upon it, the better the chance for the
Democratic party retaining control Of
the State Will be.