The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-22
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER o. 1900.


In referring 20 the revolution IN Neic-
zuela IN, Baltimore sun says
cresno gained the Presidency tnrouan
o revoiufionarv movement and heid olh,a
Tor vears. with the result mat the eo,ul-
frv entered upon "a period OF plo9p'l!'s
uis rule was aut0crauc under Iepuni-
a, forms as iu au tito Latin rcpunn. +.
but such are thc natural resources OF lH'
country that peace nc any price uilil-
about "a revival of business acuNlly' NJ"
quitting Office. however General VIC. i'''
following the rule ln S"uli A"'
named hie successor. and in doing 20 ol'-
-,leese5 "a large number of patriots. ln
1877 with Cresp0s support ocntIil AM
drada was elected Pre- Idcnt ana was ih-
auguratcd. but fraud was alleged bF hs
opponcnts There was probably NOT moro
fraud than usual but Ncnczue.a cleciioA
ave always carried lv ncE.tmaio pr s.
eure ,,on electors. and IN is 0lw1yf prac
ticahle to start a revolution on mat cF
provided one has arms and men enough
10 sustain it.
The Sun incidentally tells The secret of
This revolution and Of an revolutions FOO
the South American Republics when II
saws that General Andrado was elected hy
fraud
A well known gentleman I'm Richmond
who lived for many years in South
America informs us that elections in most
of the South American republics are al-
most invariably fraudulent and That the
rule is that those who DO not vote with
the government are not permitted o. vote
at an. or at least their ballots are viz
tuaily thrown away
Surely there IS lesson in this for the
people of the United States There are
two ways OF settling questions OF diner
ence between contendne parties. The one
is by peaceablc arbitration and the other
by force Of arms. or. TO put # differ
entity the one is by the ballot and the
other by the bullet I'm all countries whore
popular government exists. elections arc
held from time 90 time % determine which
party shall nl the offices ana control lhe
policy of government 1t SIS agreed by
common consent thot each party uil put
ma candidate or candidates TO represent
its principles and that The issue Wlii Doe
decided by ballot ON @ day agreed upon.
commonly called election day, the polls
arc opened and the people are permitted
10 90 up and vote their sentiments Mu
sworn to DO their duty are put in charge
OF the ballot box. each and every qualified
citizen is entitled 90 cast one ballot and
honor and Jaw require That That ballot
shall be polied ana hoaestly returned. II
This bo done in every instance then tho
Will OF the people Us registered and the
issue between the oont,ndng parties is
fairly decided So long as such elections
are held the people Will not grumbIe at
the result If they know that each AND
every voter. without bribery. intimidation
or trickory has cast his ballot and had
81 honestly returned. then the members of
the party which has been defeated will
acqulesce IN the result and there Will be
DO trouble.
But suppose this SIS not done Suppose
money and intimidation on other outside
and unfair means agc employed % innu-
once voters; or suppose that by dishonest
manipulation of the ballots the viii of the
people is not expressed al the polls. but,
on the contrary. thc election is carried Tor
the minority party in defiance OF the SUI
perior voting strength OF the majority.
In such an event the defeated party win
not tamely submit They may y.o.d for
the time. once. twice. or thrice. bat when
the majority have convinced themselves
that the party in contro, IS determined
70 perpetuate SIS power. that elections are
a farce and that arbiramut cannot Doe
had through the ballot. chen as surely as
there is git In men, the majority Will re-
sort TO The bullet, mock laws viii Doe
trainpled under foot. and revolution win
come. This. We say is che secret of tho
ever recurring revolutions in the South
American republics and the experience
or the South Americans viii "a the eV-
ptrience OF the North Americans If We
pursue the same line Of conduct
Hence II is that The Times has con-
tended so persistently for honest elections.
There can be no honest government there
can be no stable government II our cleo
tons become farce. The ballot box is
at the foundation OF our institutions. and
IL the foundation be rotten the super
structure must inevitably fab