Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-30
SIXTEEN PAGES
SUNDAY. JULY 80, 1899.
WHAT IS

1t is incredible that the people of Viz
Ginia. after their startling awaNening
in 1898 to the fact that the monster that
had throttled liberty in so many other
States. had already invaded this sacred
soil, can now welcome this monster by
re-electng the l.. S. Senator it 50 rude
~ fastened on their unwilling shoulders
in place of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
1t is not Incredible however, that the
alleged representatives of the people,
constituting the legislature OF Virginia
may do this very thing. for they did
substantially this very thing six years
ago. when they ran over Lee to embrace
Martin with effusion.
And who was Lee? 4 gallant eX-
Confederate who had done heroic SER
vice. and who had made defeat
glorious. The people had since made
him Governor of Virginia. and by their
free will he was to take his seat by
the side of John w Daniel as a L. S.
Senator from this Commonwealth. But
q supreme Legislative body had grown
up in connection with our General AS
semby, the lobby. not at all represent
ing the people, nor receiving it's in
structions from them; and from this
lobby emerged a person, since known
as "Tom Martin whom the lobbyists
conducted. without more ado. TO the
Seat which the people had reserved for
Lee!
WHAT Is IT that dciies the people
In this monster. whose power is ~
seemingly irresistible among Office
holders. onice-seekers ana politicians?
What is it that so mysteriously mas
ters all the departments of govern
mont all the popular organizations in
tended to express the peoples will. and
ell, high and low, whom the people
trust, only TO be deceived and betray-
ed? What is it.? We put this question
yesterday in the presence OF n plain
spoken citizen. who at once replied:
There les nothing mysterious nor con
cealed about it, except in its methods:
IT IS NOTHING BUT MONEY. AND
THE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
OF MONEY. WITH THE FEAR AND
FAVOR THESE INCITE. That is all
simply, Plutocrats have got control
of the government AMI have established
an 'OniceTrust in their own indlvld-
ual interest"
ut is a system of government which
has no form, being adaptable to all
forms, and is one devised by knaves for
knaves and fools, and is 50 simple that
any fool can run it or administer +;
with success. as it depends on money
alone and the love OF it. on one hand,
and the fear of 1t. on the other. Many
a man who disdains mere pelf ana
hates it's mnions. is n trembling caitin
to money and its manipulators, because
he knows and shuddere AZ their insid-
tous potency. II is master Of all crime
and criminals; and everything these can
effect Is easily within It's power. Yet /,
is hardly less powerful through virtue
and the virtuous, as 1t controls the men.
the means and all the facilities OF i'm
position; by which show and false pre-
fence deceive the very elect IT Is.
NEVERTHELESS. THE TRIUMPH
OF IGNORANCE AND VICE: THE
CONQUEST or THE TEMPLE AND
PALACE BY THE PLUTOCRATS:
THE ULTIMATE SURRENDER or
THE COLLEGE AND THE CHURCH
THROUGH THE MEDIATION OF
MONEY-TO THE RUM-MILL AND
THE GAMBLING DEN AND TO THE
QUALITIES THEY BEST REPRE-
sENT AND CULTIvATE!"
That IS an extreme view, possibly.
but 1t cannot be denied 10 nave some
sasis OF truth and 'reasot. The goal 1t
presents Is certainly ."on the road"