Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-12-13
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1900.
AN USELESS UNDERTAKING.

Until conditions are changed or polite
al methods reformed in Virginia it looks
like an useless undertaking for the Repub'
loans to contest for anything in either
State or Federal elections. This applies
not only to the Republicans of the State,
but to the honest, conservative Democrats.
They are more thoroughly enslaved by
the Machine than are the Republicans.
The honest Democrats are 80 situated, or
at least think they are so situated, that
they have to submit to the dictation and
domination of corrupt Machine, from
fear that revolt will place the Republi'
cans in control. In this respect the anti
machine Democrats occupy more hui
initiating position than the Republicans,
for the latter can fight the Machine and
expose its corruption.
Conceding that it is almost Impossible
for the Republicans of Virginia to defeat
the Machine, orIfor the honest Democrats
to get control of the party, we ask, why
does the impossibility exist? The first
reason is, that the Machine is entrenched
behind an election law which gives it the
power to suppress the popular will, to
defy tboee men in its party who disap'
prove of dishonest methods, without fear
Of punishment for its crlmes-as all au'
thoriiy Of punitive character is lodged
in the bends Of the Machine, 1t makes
the laws and retains all the power for
their execution in it's own HANDS. Even
the Sta,e C ,urts are powerless to afford
any rel I. from the peculiar provisions OF
the law under which they can act, or from
indisposition, because of their sympathy
for the Machine. The Federal courts
have also declined to act, either from the
belief that they we're without jurisdiction
or from lack of inclination. The FEEDER
al Constitution, however, says: mo
State shall make or enforce any law which
shall abriige The privileges or immunities
of "a citizen of the United States" If the
Virginia election law does not abridge the
privileges and immunities of citizens OF
the United States, by the way the Machine
operates it, We would like to know why.
There is one tribunal where the outrages
that are being inflicted upon Republicans
and upon other citizens can be reached and
removed-thst tribunal is Congress. But
that tribunal has either been lacking in
courage or desire to take hold Of the situa'
ton and flrnish the ample relief it could
give. 1t permits men to take their seats
in the House of Representatives and in
the Senate Chamber who have secured
them bv fraud, violence and by COM
pete overthrowing of the rights of ma
jority of the citizens of the districts and
States they are permitted to represent.
The Republicans of the North know this
to be true; the Republican journals of the
Eastern and Western States fill their col
umns full of criticisms of election methods
in Virginia and other Southern States;
Senators and Congressman, even in the
halls of Congress, admit that the Consti-
tuition is violated and popular suffrage
outraged, but Republican Congress takes
no steps TO prevent the frauds or deprive
men of the seats in Congress they have
dishonesty secured.
How long are these conditions to con.
tinue? AS long as they continue, what
use is there for the Republicans in Vir.
ginia to continue making hopeless and un-
appreciated fights? 1t seems that the
Republicans of Virginia are expected to
make contests every four years for no
other purpose than to swell the popular
vote of the Republican Presidential can
didate, and to keep the membership of a
Republican State Machine prominent,
that it may secure for its members fat Of
fees and control the Federal patronage in
Virgins. Without the honest men of
Virginia can secure an honest election, or
if Congress does not give relief by driving
from liz halls the men who secure seats by
the most. vicious and unlimited frauds
upon the ballot, it is useless for Repub'
licans to continue to make political fights.
The Fredericksburg Free Lance seems
to be alarmed over the prospect of the
Machine. getting control of the coming
Nu.ot;t,.h;cnol Nonyoufi0n Tho Machine