Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-18

TO conduct our State and county af-
fairs at less expense TO the tax payers.
we believe. is conceded BY . major
ity of the democratic voters Of the
State. Mr.. Griffith fears that if the
the Democratic party makes the
movement a party issue it will there
by be injured. In order to hold q
constitutional convention . majority
of the democratic voters of the State
would necessarily have TO endorse it,
as the normal majority of that par
ty in the State numbers about &c, 900,
and as 1t is believed the republicans
are opposed to the movement, in fact
their convention at Norfolk adopted
resolution against il.
If the Democratic voters of the
State believe that our organic law
should be changed, why should they
fear to engrsft it in their psrtydeclsrs-
tions. If they believe the movement
is wise and TO the best interests of the
people they should be manly and brave
enough TO say so, and not try to hide
their convictions by means of the
secret ballot box.
If the educational test is made .
provision of . new constitution, the
voters that will suffer most thereby
DO not belong to the democratic par
". We have been taught to believe
that the democratic party is composed
of the most intelligent element of the
State of Virginia. Those of 1t, who
have not taken advantage of the
splendid opportunities offered the
people by our slendid school system,
should not decry their lot. Such q
provision In our constitution will, no
doubt, stimulate the growing "gener
alton" to give more thought to al ed
ucation. Further, the elimination of
the illlterate vote, THAT does not be
long to the democratic psrty) from
the county elections will insure our
people against a repetition of certain
features of these animated contests
which are shame TO the civilization
We are prone to boast of. AS for the
Confederate soldier, it cannot be pos
slble that many of the "bovs'' who
lmmortalized themselves under the
banners of Lee and Jackson are de
void of sufficient education to pass
this test Surely, men who gave such
al exhibition of chivalry and BRAY
cry, have some knowledge of
reading and writing. However. the
few, that may be affected by such a
law, could be provided for by a pro
vision similar to the one in the Mis-
slsslppi Constitution-that is, all
persons, having the right of suffrage
prior to 1860, are not to be disquali
fed. We will remind Mr.. Griffith
that the Congressional represen tation
Of the two Carolinas, Mississippi, and
Alabama have not been reduced. al
though the educational test is EN-
bodied in their constitu tons. A re
publican Congress, no matter how
partisan, would hardly pass a meas
ure affecting such State law, as the
constitution of several Northern
States provide for an educational test
for voting, Ostensibly to lessen the
democratic vote in certain Congress
sional districts.
Mr. Griffith is labOring under the
Impression that We attacked the pres
ent officeholders of the State in our
editorial. That was far from our
purpose. We are in no respect fight
ing the officeholders, but the number
of offices. AS long as the law pro
vides for these Offices some one has
to fill them, and why not the men
who are competent and intelligent
and placed in their positions by d
majority vote of the people. We be
lieve many of our present officials
look at the question with a broad
view of good citizenship. If they
favor or oppose the movement they
do so with as honest convictions as
ours are in favoring it.
Since Mr.. Griffith takes the view
ne does of our assertion and declares
1T unwarrantable and adjustable, We
would like to observe that as far as
Mr.. Griffith is concerned it looks as
if we are justified and wsrrantable in
making such a remark.
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