The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-14
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH II. 1900.
APPLY THE REMEDY.

The seating of DIR. Richard a Vase ana
,he o,,stinr of Hon William A. Young
as representative from the Second Dis
trict of Virginia is IA warming to Demo
Gratis that we can expect nothing better
from a Republican majority in Congress
as long as we continue our present cleo
tlon laws in force. The returns for the
election of 1885 gave DR.. Wise G,2oA ana
Mr.. Young 12,1Ss. This would seem TO be
an fnsuperable majority, but 1t was not
suf11c TO keep Mr.. Young IN his place,
in the face Of the indisputable facts OF
our election laws and methods. MI. AID
rich (Republican) has just been seated in
THE Fourth District Of Alabama, although
on the face of the return he was nearly
\, 800 votes behind mis- opponent Mr..
G. A. Robbins CDemocrat). The same
argument OF fraud in elections is sufti-
cient in every case before a partisan
house TO evict a Democrat and seat a
Republican. We expect the same results
in .tlie case Of MessrS. James A. Walker,
OF Virginia, and Richmond Pearson, of
North Carolina The question is. How
long shall we people of Virginia stand
this when we have the remedy in our
own hands? The only remedy is in the
qualification of suffrage SO as to eliminate
the negro vote. and then the only justiti-
cation-if that be su11icient-for fraudu-
lent elections will be removed. The
only way in which the negro vote can be
III, TOD 4r INV, all ~
ton, and yet we see that some office
holders are so much more concerned by
the possibility that they may be per-
sonally affected by constitutional con-
vention than they are by the supreme
interests of the Commonwealth, that they
are organizing to defeat the constttu-
tional convention in order that they may
continue to keep their noses in the public
crib.
The class, and 1t is not merely a class,
but it is becoming almost a caste, of
office-hoaders. seem to consider them
selves privileged against any interference
with their divine rights, and the bare
suggestion that amy change may be made
AFFECT their continuance in Office. is re-
gardcd as an assault upon their natural
and inalienable rights. How rapidly this
class can grow. and what desperate ex-
Incidents. are resorted to to create them,
has been we'll illustrated in the recent
legislation touching the Commissioners
of Valuation. Ii there ever was a time
when the people of this State should get
together. and. by intelligent representa-
tipes. take time TO consider what re-
lates 10 their weafare. it is now, and no
more fltting occasion could be found than
IN a constitutional convention, where all
matters can be fully discussed and where
special legislation. as, for example. re-
pealing laws against gambling, will not
be introd iced and slipped through under
The courtesy of the floor" but where the
general principles which affect the vel
fare OF the State and "the vicious results
OF diseased opinions which assaai the fun
dan1ental laws and virtues of a free peo-
PIE can be fully considered.
The terrible confusion into which Ken
tncly has been thrown is directly trace
able TO the Goebel election laws. which
were modelled after the Virginia statutes.
What a commentary upon the leslsla-
sdon OF the great Mother Commonwealth!
TAX LAWS Nor UNCHANGED.
In reply to the statement recently made
{yaf ,l,..
of Valuation law is not a tax Law. and
does not change the existing tax laws,
we have received the following cnmmu-