Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-09-16
/. EIGHT PAGES
Sal SEPTEMBER ls. 1899.
THE REAL ENEMY is wEIITEl

AasS2fl The gravity OF the political situation
grows daily in Virginia, both with re-
81 spect to Federal and State affairs. and
4 no good citizen who loves liberty and
& respects himself can regard it without
ipninful msgivings as to the future.
81 Six years ago the Democrats Of Vir-
~ glnia were amazed and disguised to
S1earn that their trusted Representatives
in the General Assembly had betrayed
gAthem in4the most fragrant manner by
suddenly becoming the servants of
some unknown and secret will against
Stthe public will and deserving Gen.
sSIFi tzhugh Lee. patriot. soldier and
statesman the well-known choice OF
sssthe people for u, S. Senator for one
Thomas s. Martin. heretofore unheard
~ Of, but the choice Of the same unknown
and secret will and Its mysterious in
4 ifiuence.
Scratic people of8thls grand old cons
II monwealth gave vent to their stern in
e dignation in unmlstalSeable expressions
sSofSwrath and resentment, and all over
81 the State they proclaimed the just de-
y termlnation, BY NIL available means. to
n preyent the recurrence Of a treachery
s so base and monstrous. But they sub
\ naltted to the Inevitable. as became
s. good citizens. The foul deed was done
and Its purpose accomplished; yet con-
4 scious Of their right and power. they
sss possessed their souls in patience and
q bidcd their time
s55A9 That time came with this year, and
SS the ting people believed and re-
91otced that it brought with 1t the OPP
q per eaa-
sSstitution. and secured by party orga.
"a nization, to right the wrong OF 1898
ss'T The expiration of the term OF the Sen
AZ a tor so strangely foisted upon them and
the State six years ago was ap
preaching; new legislature was to b,
chosen this year, that would choose /,
successor in the u. s.. Senate TO the un
y known stranger VINO pretended to rep
s. resent Virginia in that body; and th'
8sDemocratic voters battered themselve
that now they would dismiss the In
trud err with quiet scorn, and replace
tllln by u ltndil ~ VI ttHelr-1- oNu cHolcc
worthy In character, capacity, pas
y 81 pu blio services and popular acclaim o.
4 he gh and sacred trust.
The May conference at Richmond
sSfva s the first step in this movement OF
gsSSt The people Of the Democratic party OF
asss ginia to assert and vindicate theil
II insul ted and dethroned sovereignty; bu
s4Eslo ID Sfwasgat once seen that sinister In
sfluences were at work to obstruct ant
IL af1e the movement; and before tn,
conference at Richmond adjourned
nouGh was d disclosed to assure all OBJ
ssseryers that the mysterious agencie.
hich, had subYerted popular govern
4 men anon us Intended to maintain
ys3t heir usurpations at all hazards and
s. any means.
AZ 1898 the abortiye and mock inves-
fig la5 ton ordered by the legislature in
ssss resp onae 5 5 to public demand revealed
81 that large sums OF money had been en-
Dyed by q number Of corporations and
ssGoin Doines TO subsidize and debauch GER
sat I'm members OF our party organiza ton
and gone Of our candidates for the leg
81 turs "a that time it was supposed
ia e 4 6efsettsn and generalization
~ q 5eniy to Individual officers and
IssSnsaA dlAatssy and that III : Of orators w.r.
& e d field only tenlporarIlv
ssssht 4 ew plain. obvious to all but
SshsS most plrblfnd, that the plottera
sainat OH ibertles are permanently
fganix Il. I'm HE sfle cid to stay. with no
81 d dessi gns ana operations
thes isrlcsl q the public. The