The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-23

| all who were not informed as 10 his po-
tontial position IN the political manage
! ment OF the State. he was elected over
| General Lee. That men were induced to
vote for Mr.. Martin because of pecunisry
I aid which they had received IN their
| election we do not for one minute doubt
and We believe that il the election had
been before the people General Lee would
have been Overwhelmingly elected. The
choice Of Mr.. Martin was at once an as
| constituent and a shock to q great body
/ OF the people Of the state. and TO none
more than IL was 10 the Richmond Times.
We were. however. prepared TO give MIR
Martin full and fair recognition Of
| whatever the merit his services might
! disclose. The morning after his nornina-
| ton The Times said editorially.
In the nomination Of Mr. Thomas S.
! Martin. who has been chosen 70 succeed
| General Hunton, the action of the caucus
| IS incXpicable upon any Of the grounds
! TO which The people OF this state have
| been accustomed IN such matters. His
| nomination will be a surprise and aston
| Notwithstanding often TO q shOck-to
! great majority of the people OF Viz
ginia. TO whom he is almost entirely un-
: known.
.'Mr Martins friends claim for him
superior qualities Of judgment, organza-
ton and management Certainly he VIII
bear the heavy responsibility OF Jusuly
/ ing by his course q complete revolution
I'm the influences which have prevailed
from the foundation of our government
in choosing senators i'm Virginia
a. tho nominee or inc party.
and as our representative, we most earn
estfv hone that he may prove In every
resnoct equal 10 his high duties. but the
fact that he has been nominated WIN
etir tho hearts ~ the people Of this Stale
~ searching deeply into the poutl'al
methods which have produced suoh
transform alton scene
such was our opinion then and such IS
| our opinion now. but we have not thousht
and we do not think II is fair 10 Visit
upon him alone the indignation ana
odiun which a change Of public senu-
nents attaches 20 methods which lor
years before had been considered not
merely endurable but desirable. There
was many a politician in the state high
mn i'm PARTY councils who would have ac-
cepted the place which Mr.. Martin mus
attained and have enjoyed the results as
he did. lie was the exponent OF condi-
ton not the author-the creature not the
creator lie was a part of a system which
was adopted and approved for an emer-
gency. and then continued FOR con'en-
fence. il was q rotten system and one
which should be dug up root and branch
The Times cordially approves the May
Convention as a means for awakening
/ the proper interest Of the people in the
election of their senators, but it desires
most positively to put itself on record as
against M king this convention the means
merely for assailirg Mr. Martin or for
promoting the interest Of some individual
/ of no different political principle. but who
merely hungers and thirsts for the fat
office While Mr.. Martins course has
| i'm many respects met our most hearty
disapprobation. il would destroy the good
! results of this convention to make IT the
I formulation OF an organization merely
to fight him. 1t may be that a majority
OF The people of the State do not agree
with as at AN I'm our views Of Mr.. Martin
| and that he IS their choice If So the
people are entitled TO have their wishes
respected We do not wish convention
SO fun OF promise for the publication OF
the politics of the State 10 degenerate
into scramble of the outs against the
ins. There is ring rule in Virginia be
yond a. doubt. and We are for the people
against the ring but We do not want TO
swap the Devil for witch" We think
&c much TO be regretted that Nj Martin
and his friends VIII not participate in the
convention.
The Junior senator would have done
well TO "face the music" and submit his
claims TO any sort OF trial II in fair
campaign he should be beat he would al
least have the satisfaction OF enjoying
the open and unblushing support Of his
admirers, while if he should win, he
could claim the seat by the most unim-
poachable Of tites-the voluntary choice
of the sovereign people.
We trust the convention will be as rep
resentatlvo a body Of the best Democrats
in Virginia as can be assembled We trust
that they will be inspired by high
sense OF the dignity and Importance OF
their undertaking. and that they VIII an.
peal to the conscience of the people and
set before them the highest and purest
standards Of political duty ANYTHING
short OF this will be but TO disappoint its
t-+ e-fr,1e