The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-18
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER, 10. 1897.
IT'S NOT FOR the NEcRo's SAKE

n
It is vain for the people OF Virginia 20
shut their eyes to the fact that their cleo
lions are in great measure dishonest.
There are many places where the pre-
tended elections are not elections at all.
They are what the election officers
choose TO make them and they make them
what suits those election officers best
without the slightest regard 20 the votes
that have been cast. What is the
use Of the voter going to the
polls If a dishonest election officer is TO
fix the election up after the voting is
done to suit himself? The voter had
just as well stay at home and let the
officer put such ballots into the box as
suits him. for that is what he does any
how. This makes our elections farce.
They are not elections at all
When The Times discovered that this
had come to be the case in our cleo
lions and made the announcement, those
who connive at the dirty business denied
the allegation with the most impudent
cffrontcry. But The Times unearthed
the procedure at smlther's precinct in
Henrico county and showed that the Off
GERS of election there filled the ballot
box with nearly three hundred false
and fraudulent ballots IN one cleo
ton. There are many parts Of
the State in which everybody
knows procedure Of this sort 20 be the
rulc and the ballot boxes arc manipulate
ca with hardly any 7retence Of conceal
ment.
People must not think that The Times
makes its protest against these practices
from regard for the negro and a desire
to see him given an opportunity to ex-
orcise right the law has conferred upon
him.
The Times thinks unqualified negro suf-
frage one Of the greatest curses any peo-
pie ever had inflicted upon them. There
Is. however, greater curse, and that is
the degradation and corruption of the
white yoter-the destruction Of the moral
sense Of the noblest branch Of the Anglo
Saxon race-the people Of Virginia.
The Times fears. however, we are
never to have peace and order
IN the South until the fifteenth amend
raent to tho Constitution OF the United
states IS repealed so that each State
may regulate the suffrage for that State,
and say who shall vote at It's elections
and who shall not This would
at once relieve the situation of
the horrid menace Of indiscriminate ne
gro suffrage and would encourage the ne
sroes to lead orderly lives that they
might come in time, TO exercise the
highest privilege Of d freeman. The re-
peal Of the fifteenth amendment would
instantly change the Southern States
from being the hot bed Of Populsm and
free silver to their true position Of the
White men could then divide upon econo-
mic questions and We should have intelli-
gent discussion OK the issues OF the day
with voters casting their ballots accord
Ing TO their views upon the questions
presented instesd Of all the white men
being compelled to 80 in a body to the
polls to vote as a party convention may
direct them TO vote.
In insisting upon fair elections there
fore. the Times is not concerned about
the negroes right 60 vote. II IS seek
Ing TO secure the white men OF Virginia
from the demoralizins influence OF fraud
uient elections. The man who will steal
a ballot will soon find himself prepared
20 steal his friends pocket-book. There
are no degrees In this sort OF infamy
The honest man will no: steal anything
ballot or pooket-book. The dishonest maa
will steal anything. and the maa who
persuades himself that the exigency Of
the case justihes him in stealing a negro's
vote will soon persuade himself that
there is no harm In his nlching a small
sum OF money II the theft can be con-
cealed.
II is 10 avert the process which Is de-
bsuehing and demoraliEing the white
people that The Times insists upon fair
elections. our elections must be fairly
conducted or the old time characteristics
~ 49, -anrfn Mill - We shall 10