The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-18
WEDNESDAY, APRIL is. 1900.
THE CAUSE AND THE I.E,,EDy.

Some time ago IN discussing the Sltu2-
lion in Kentucky The Times said that
tine only reason why there had not been
a kentucky outbreak in Virginia was be-
cause the whites had felt that they were
compelled to stand together in order to
prevent negro rule.
The Loudoun Telephone reproduces that
g,arayrap h and makes it the text for a
dong article on the political situation in
Virginia, the substance of which is con-
sained in the following extract:
Our esteemed contemporary, The RICH
unond Times, which is usually correct re-
Eardins the matter of election frauds, is
all wrong in the foregoing declaration
As a r:later of fact the white people of
this State have not stood together to
prevent nsEro rule or for any other pur-
pose. a very large proportion of the
white men of Virginia are in the Repub-
lican party ana many coiored men vote
with The se-caiied white mans; party.
Mo better evidence of this is needed than
the notorious fact that the white coun-
ties OF the State are the Republican
counties. while the Democrats get their
greatest majority in the so-called BLACK
belt
We may admit that There are many
respectable white men Of Virginia IN the
Republican party, and we may admit
that the Democrats now get their great
est majorities in the black belt, without
in any way altering the fact of our con-
DENTON.
The great body of white men in Vir-
sinia are in favor of white supremacy.
whether they be Democrats OF ReDub-
iicans, and the Virginia election law has
been tolerated because the people have
been led TO believe that it is necessary
to save the whites of the black district
from negro rule. The law does not show
the cloven foot in the white Districts
In those districts where the negro does
not figure as d political factor elections
Elaye been honestly conducted. There
mas heeE no cheating, and hence there
has been no outbreak.
The Telephone says that the reason that
there has been no Kentucky outbreak in
Virginia is simply and only because
the opportunity has not come. We say
that it is simply ana only because there
has been no electian corruption in those
districts where the whites are anything
like evenly divided. In short the cleo
ton law has been tolerated because, app
narentls. il has not hurt the white dis
dricts, and she whites in such districts
have been persuaded to believe that the
law is necessary TO the protection of the
whites in The black districts.
But the people of Virginia are at lasa
opening their eyes 10 the fact that cleo
ton corruption in any part of the State
spreads its evil influence over the whole
STATE and that the Generalization from
such practices is broadcast Therefore,
unless We utterly mistake the temper of
the. people Of Virginia. they have de-
.sermined to remove the cause. The
loudoun Telephone says that there is 40
danger of negro r.ile in Virginia even
under present conditions. That may be
true. but the negro vote is used as an eN-
cuse or prete3t for political corruption,
and The thing 10 do is to remove the
preteNt for cheating. That IL the real
anunus OF the Constitutional Convention
movement. There are other reasons for
holding Constitutional Convention. Our
machinery of government. needs repair
sng but the s,rincipsl reason for holding
afat convention is to disfranohise the
negro. and the reason for DISTINGUISHING
the negro Is 10 gel rid Of election cor
ruption, for as ones of the newspapers
In the black district said the other day.
our election methods are revolutionary.
nnd as The Times said in reply. revolu-
tionary methods, II continued. must In
: cyitabiy lead 10 revolution.
The great body of whites are opposed to
4 aegro rule. hui they arc also opposed
- fraudulent elections. The remedy. is
slain, and 1t will be employed.