The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-23
A DISAPPOINTING START.

The statement published i'm The Times
yesterday that the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections had determined
TO report the Hay election bill, but with
a provision for retaining the single spe-
cial constable, was great disappoint-
ment 10 those who hope TO see this Leg
islature enact an election law that will
give the people of the State perfect salts
faction-that our elections are to be here
after perfectly fair and relieved of any
suspicion of fraud and dishonesty. If
our legislators think there is no dissatis-
faction amongst the people at the ex-
listing state Of things, especially the sin
gle constable. they make the mistake of
their lives. Within the past two days one
of the most distinguished citizens of
Southwest Virginia asked one Of this pa
pefs staff if the people of the Southwest
should at the next election chang forty
of the special constables" would The
Tines stand by them? lie said there was
"A sentiment amongst the people of South
western Virginia that made such an
event possible Now, we don't believe in
any hanging except by due process Of
law. We don't believe anything of this
.sort is going to occur, but it is an evil
dence of popular discomfort with the
present election law, and that discomfort
will find expression in a diminution OF the
Democratic vote that Will be larger than
the most expert special constables can
make up.
The popular discomfort is recognized
even by those who refuse to have our
laws so amended as that the vote Of every
man entitled by the law to vote should
be cast and counted as he wishes il TO
be- Here is the Dispatch for instance,
again raising its voice for a constitutional
convention saying the people of Virginia
will never he content until such restric-
tions are put upon suffrage as will give
permanent peace to the state" and it
adds:
Doubtless it will be in the power Of the
LEGISLATURE TO amend the Walton law so
that II will satisfy the great majority
OF voters, for the time being certainly,
but the best security Tor a lasting peace
would be the adoption of an amendment
TO the Constitution taking IL out OF the
power OF ignorant and vonal voters 10
menace the peace and prosperity OF the
State Then, If we chOse-wo doubt If the
10 the Viva-VOce voting
Now, If We should have a constitutional
convention to amend the right OF suf-
frage. We would certainly encounter the
most serious problems-iust such Difficult,
ties as embarrassed the South Carolina
Convention. If our constitutional con-
vention should adopt some device that
VIII nomnally operate upon white and
black alike but that shall be put. for
practical enforcement. into the hands of
unconscientious officers who have been
given the cue 10 make il so operate as 10
allow all white men to vote. but to prac-
tically exclude negroes from voting who
under the law would have the hight 10
vote. the very element that Is now dis
gusted by our present politics Will be
equally disguised by any such device as
mat. because II would found our whole
election system upon fraud, and the thing
which now disgusts them-the thing they
are resolved 10 disconnect themselves
with absolutely and entirely-is trickery
and fraud OF every sort and kind I'm our
elections. They have no such fear of
negro rule as they have of corrupt poll
tics. The negro rule is nothing but a
Dugaboo and not possible at this day I'm
Virginia. II there was ever a time when
there was q danger or negro rule that
time has passed. The element, therefore.
the managers OF the Democratic party OF
the State are determined 10 have per-
fecty fair elections. and they viii not