Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-09-26
THE WARMING.

VI
The VirEinian-Pllot, in speaking of
the perversion Of the popular express
sion as seen in the senatorial fight now
on IN Virginia, says: "Mr. Martins
election then may be more far-reaching
than 1t is now contemplated The
ghost Of disfranchised suffrage may
rise up to be revenged; the voice OF the
rank and file, like mad bull, may be
heard In the State; the people may turn
against the leaders in their indlZna-
lion at being outraged by the men
they trusted. for 1t is better to have
no party at all than one Offered by
men with nothing but personal ends to
accomplish"
The Virginian-Pilot might have add
ed 4 acr that the result Of such
methods as have been and are still be-
ing forced down the throats of Vir-
ginia free-thinklne, free-acting people,
will very soon be. IL kept I'D, the de-
struction of the Democracy that has
proved itself the bulwark of the States
safety. 4 house divided against Itself
cannot stand. Unity, which is the
watchword Of our republican form of
government, is the one thing that can
ensure the perpetual predominance in
power OF the best element in Virginia.
For the maintenance Of such unity
there must be harmony, and for the
maintenance Of such harmony there
must be no desire on the part of a few
to eubvert to their own selfish ends and
aims the will of the majority. AS soon
as few men arise up and seek to take
unto themselves the power to boss the
rest. trouble comes, especially If In 80
doing they endcavor to throttle the
voice OF the majority and set up be-
fore them gods that are unworthy of
them and to make them swallow dis
honest and undesirable and unwhole-
some medicine. In Virginia few men
with Senator Martin in the lead are do
ing their level best to stamp out the
independence of the Democrats of the
State. Mounted on a, high place they
have proclaimed far and wide that they
are on top and are going to stay there
whether the people are willing or not,
and while the people are recovering
from the shock caused by such cool au-
dacity the brazen infraction of all the
rules and principles of the honest omen
methods to which they have been used.
the Martin wheels are set in MOTION
and the rush made down the field for
the goal at the other end. This IRISH
although brilliant at first, because there
Was nothing to interfere with it. has
suddenly become hampercd, and II Mar
tin succeeds in carrying Virglnia's hon
or around the goal posts he will only
do so in direct opposition to the wishes
OF the majority of the voters OF the
State. II he succeeds 1t will be because
it takes time for people to become fully
aroused and because the full wra tn OF
the people had either not reached the
point Of rebellion, or had not been al
lowed expression. Whatever the re-
suit may be this fall. there is one thing
that may be put in the pipe OF more
than one Martin follower and the devo-
tee of Martinlam in Virginia politics,
and that Is that Virginia has had
enough such high-handed contro.
version and colossal appropriation of
the public's suffrage. and that the end
has been reached. There Is evidence OF
this in all sections Of the State. and
sooner or later the stain will be wiped
from the banner Of the Old Dominion.
The day OF rath is coming and when
1t does come the rats who infest the
ship OF every politician in power and
whisk their tails in the warm sunlight
Of his questionable patronage and pro-
lection. will be seen jumping overheard
and swimming ashore. Many OF them
are already doing this, and 1t is a sure
sign OF weakness, for no matter no .
small the cloud is, just so soon its
shadow falls athwart the pathway Of
the boss" his henchman will begin to
fall aWay