The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-26
WANTED--A STRONG MINORITY
PARTY.


PARTY.
The Portsmouth Star, commenting on a
recent article in The Times in which we
said that the disposition recently shown
in this State 10 cover up and conceal
party corruption was due 10 dishonest
elections. replies that while this is I'M
doubleday in a great measure RESPONSE
bic, another cause for the dry rot which
Is manifcsting itself in the Democratic
party, as at present constituted, is the
absence Of anything like an intelligent,
vigorous and watchful opposition party.
No political party, adds our contempor-
airy, can successfully resist the corrupt
ing and degrading influence OF long con-
tinued power. And the Star adds:
For the past twenty years the Demo-
cratic party in Virginia has been practl-
cally in continuous control. There has
been no opposition worthy Of the name
To-day we are suffering the Inevitable
consequences of such a state Of affairs.
II is impossible to discipline the party
managers by defeating them at the polls.
These are sure of their hold upon power.
and so long as they can have assurance
of this private interests will be further
ed 10 the neglect OF the general good.
Until Virginians make up their minds TO
purify the ballot and make possible the
existence Of an alert and watchful oppo-
sition party there can be no hope of
clarifying and eleyating political thought
and action
If our contemporary has read The
Times closely, it has seen this same idea
suggested more than once in our col
umns.
The safety Of Republican government
depends upon the existence of two strong
parties, that one may act as a check
upon the other Conditions in the South
since the war have been such as that It
was necessary for the whites to stand to-
gether and form compact organization,
called the Democratic party, regardless
Of the fact that there were wide differ
ences among them on questions Of ma
tional politics.
il is not denied that there is a large
contingent of intelligent white men in the
South who are in full accord with the
principles and policies Of the national
Republican party, but they have affiliated
with the Democratic party because Of the
race issue So long as the negroes vote
as a body with the Republican party and
so long as the Republican party en-
courages that sort Of thing just so long
will the whites continue TO stand to-
gether and to vote together as they
have done I'm the past.
But this condition cannot always exist.
As time goes on the negro population will
be more evenly distributed Throughout
the country and the negro will become
less and less a factor In Southern poll
itics whether the negro vote be divided
or not. As soon as the whites determine
that negro rule is no longer TO be fear
ed. there will be without doubt a read
justment of party lines in this section OF
the country
It is not necessary to say that The
Times believes in the true principles of
Democracy. But we believe that it
would be a most fortunate thing in Vir-
ginia and other Southern States for the
negro question TO be eliminated and for
the whites to realign themselves accord
ing TO their political predictions. II
there were two parties in Virginia, such
as the old line Democratic party and the
old line Wig Tarty Of ante-tellum days,
we should have cleaner politics.
But the first step IN this direction is
undoubtedly an honest election law, a
law that win insure TO every man the
right to cast free ballot and to have
IL fairly counted. Without such law
there is no such thing as political free
dom. II by manipulating the ballot, the
Democratic party or any other party IS
TO perpetuate its own power, then our
liberty is gone and Republican govern
mcnt becomes a mockery.