Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-06-02
FRIDAY. JUNE 2nd. 1890
THE ELECTION

not refer 10 any particular P"'''
70 auy particular candidates; fol we
believe that tie open and disgraceiul
yiola,ion of law was not confined to
any one party or to amy one set OF
can lidates. The regular bar rooms
were closed, but others, IN some cases.
in tie same uildirgs, were opened
aud whisky freely issued TO every de-
graded creature who was Wiling 10
sell his vote for drink.
In some casts, We are inior'he"
the election bars were openly conduct
ed. In others, the whisky was dealt
out in private rooms, under lock ana
key.
Men shamelessly offered their votes
TO the ligl est bidder and from early
morn TO late in the afternoon were on
the market. These were not isolat-
ed cases, but there were a large num-
Der of them. Some men, well to do
in the world, would not receive
bride, but they demanded days
wages for the time spent in coming to
the polls. Some just lacked five DOL
lars 10 be able to renew note ana
they besought the candidate Tor OIL
fee for the money, others whose
credit was worthless only wanted
candidate to endorse note for TWEEN
,y-fve dollars.
The day before the election the
streets of Woodstock presented the
appearance offs County Court day
The Vampires from all sections we've
in. They were ready to sell their IN
fiuence, their labor, or themselves Tor
few dollars in cash. When we re
feet that these people, lost to every
sense of personal honor, control the
selection OF our county officers, Is 1t
not time that the conservative people
of,he county call halt? Brides OF
every kind were offered and accept
cd. 1t has reached a point when
candidate canuot even hope to be
elected, unless he is willing to resort
to disreputable means to secure his
election.
As far as the eople generally are
concerned, the offices might as well
be put up at public auction, and only
those, who can command a large
mount of money, could be success.
full bidders. 1t would really he bet
ter plan, for then the money could
be used for the benefit of the whole
people, while now only the baser
classes receive any benefit.
Some persons favor rigid lawsto
prevent the class of crimes enumerat-
ed above. The ancients had maxlm;
"Amid arms, the laws are silent"
and it was not one whit truer than >
AT Virginia elections, the laws are
silent" When one party resorts to
bribery with money or whisky, the
opposing party will resort TO the same
tactics, and generally the party that
uses the more money will De success
full. Laws are useless unless sustain
cd by public opinion and enforced by
honest officers.
The people ofthis county have it
in their power to put a stop to these
dlsgracefnl practices, which virtually 7
rob them of the right Of suffrage.
Their continuance threatens not only
the existence OF our county govern
ment, but they endanger the morl 6
existence of the youth OF the county.
II the voters OF the county c9n be =,
publicly bribcd with impuniiy, why :.
may not our jurors and our Court Of
ficers be bribed, and the result If
any of the cases tried in court be de- .
pendent upon the length Of the purse Y
of the plaintiff or DEFENDANT We y
were told years ago tha:, "Eternal
vigilance is the price OF liberty" and
it is as true now as 1t was then. If
we do not check the corrupt practices j,
that control elections, We may bid r
farewell not only 10 orr liberties, but
TO our power of retaining property !,
by the restraining Influences Of our !;
courts of justice. Il.
Laws will not stop it, but as said
above, the people can stop 1t. Let
them form an association, every menu :,
Der of winch shall be pledged to vote
against any man VINO uses, VI per 9.
.nits his friends to use, money OF -
or any kind of bribery, to i
secure his election. There are peo- \
pie enough in this county opposed :
10 these practices, to enforce their -
will in this respect. BY a united eft :
tort, it can be accomplished, aud u
once accomplished, the poor man has n
As good a chance to secure an office f
,s has the wealthiest maa OF the i,
county.
This subject is too important TO lie
dropped. We wonld be glad to see
i faIlyvensilated aud we open our W
H. onrnosol An assOcia- -,