Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-07
WHERE THE FRAUDS CAME IN.

WHERE THE FRAUDS Sh"h iN'
In its Yesterdays issue the Times pro-
fesscs its faith in the success OF Demo
cratic principles. and weeps over irauos
which n alleges were committed by DEM
ocrats in Tuesdays election. Nor does
the Times hesitate TO say that X there
had been a fair count, etc. SCUM
money!. es McKinley-would have car
rled Virginia
We cannot agree with our contempo-
rary. SO far from II we insist that II
there had been perfectly free, fair. ana
unconstrained ballot. Bryan's majority
would have been about double what 1t Is
II Is generally understood that between
them. the Boilers and Republicans had
about 100000 Uhe Norfolk Virginian says
sl50.O0O TO spend In this campaign-a sum
five times as great as any campaign fund
the Democratic party has had at Its COM
mand during any campaign that we know
cs.
This immense sum was used by our
enemies in divers more or less reprehensi-
BILE ways to advance McKinley's cause
and obtain Democratic votes. And then
think of the thousands OF Democrats who,
to keep I'm the good graces OF their en-
ployers. either voted for Mckinley, or
did not vote at all, when their inclination
was to vote for Bryan. In Richmond
alone these stay-at-homes must have
numbered some thousands. In view OF all
these facts-looking at the canvass in the
I~.,n oil i'm
that the victory achieved here by our
party on last Tuesday was one OF the
most wonderful victories that we have
ever won. Certainly not since 1882 when
our people were moved TO prompt and
heroic action by the Danvlle riot. has our
party in Virginia fought such odds, fought
so well, and won such a signal triumph.
1t Is altogether unlikely that in any
future campaign we shall have to lace
so many hostile corporations and I'M
friendly newspapers. And we count II
not the least Of the difficulties with
which we had to contend that the Demo
cratic administration at Washington
helped the enemy wherever 1t could ana
turned its guns upon us.
So far from agreeing with the Times
in its Recommendations, we reiterate
our opinion that this years Democratic
victory in Virginia ought to be chronicled
as one of the greatest, If not the greatest
ever won by the Virginia Democracy.
Our people would be the dullest
ON earth If they permitted their judgment
in this matter to be warped by the
Times,s cries of fraud" Though we may
hardly expect justice from the Republ-
can House Of Representatives in the con-
tests. the foundations of which are now
being laid certainly we may confidently
anpeal TO Virginians TO hear the truth.
when the case is heard before such
tribunal the Dispatch cannot but believe
the verdict will be that not we who are
accused, but the accusers are the guilty
parties.
1t is not to be expected that our people
should bear in silence the taunts OF the
Times. when II is so we'll known that
money and coercion were both lavishiy
used on Tuesday to run down the Demo-
cratic majority in this State. or course
those who secured northern money upon
the promise that Virginia would be car
ried for Mckinley need some excuse to
give their friends, but the Times ought
not to encourage them to say that Vir-
einia was lost to Mckinley by "out-
rageous frauds" However, if the Times
will keep on in its cry about frauds 1t
cannot but stimulate our people to
gather all the facts and write in true
colors the record of the opposition In Its
recent work Of debauching the suffrage in
Virginia.
And with such record written up, and
freed from some of the difficulties that
encompassed us in the recent campaign,
we may 90 before the Virginia public and
"show up" the anti-Bryan coalition In
light which will put at heavy discount all
that our enemies may allege as to Demo-
cratic misdoings in the contest which was
closed on Tuesday last, but which is now
reopened by the Times. with the view we
suppose. Of affecting the campaign OF 1897.
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II is pitiable to see the Bolter organs