The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-13
Eastern Shore Politics.
Extract from Cape Charles LightJ

Extract from Cape Charles lightJ
We are glad for another reason that
the Republicans have decided Co pat q
ticket in the field and have "a regular
state organizations ~ this will afford %
city Of refuge for that class ui people
who have been dickcring with the Demo
cratic party. when il suited thcirpurpuSc.
an1 who change theirpolitics ~ often M
they change their religion but who when
they were most needed 90 stand zap ma
defense of Democratic principles and
men skunk away and east their votes Tor
the opposition. Virginia Democracy has
sadly needed Republican party for the
purpose OF graduating just such plants
from their body polite. and We feel sure
that no better move could have been
made To strengthen the Democratic par
" i'm the State of irginia. than the de-
cson Just arrived at by the lenders 81
the Republican party. our own county
needs "A revival. We want to sec the sheep
separated from the gonts and men who
are Democrats be Democrats. and those
who are Republicans be- Republicans No
man il more liberal than the writer 90
give credit 20 the man or men who may
differ with us. either ia religion or poll
ties but we don { like 90 -ce Methodist
in one community. and when 10 suits his
purpose. try 10 run the Baptist or Epls
copal church when he goes into some
other community.
Il il 10 be- regretted that the question
of church or religion has been brought
into the gubernat0rial campaign 10 our
county. Mr. Montague has just ~ much
right 10 be- a niyersalist a. Mr.. Echols
has tn be- a BAPTIST il he r. one. and We
don't think thcl niyersaliSts un the East
ern Shore have any right to visit THIS
against MIR. Montague Mr. Marshall
may be- an Episcopalian, bat We don
see any reason why We should visit thi'
against him. because We are "a shouting
Methodist. az we might change our opiu-
ion ourselves sometime and Join the
Presbyterian church Mr. tllysOn isalsO
a BAPTIST. but some of Boo, friends on lhe
Eastern Shore say they would be- oppos
ed to him il he should happen To be- cn
dOrsed by Senator Martin. We are frank
70 say we have always been strong IL
tyson man. but never knew his religion
until the other day we have not changed
our mind since we heard lt and u through
the fortunes OF war. Mr. Ellyson should
be fortunate enough 10 be- the dark
horse, il would not make any difference
To us whether he was BAPTIST a Meth.
odist. Presbyterian or even Quaker
or whether he was endorsed by Mr. Mar
tin or Mr. John Edmunds. of Accomac.
we would gladly receive him n our can
didate. and believe hc would make
good governor. So Oct us drop the
church question and tight il out on polit
zeal lines this discussion and criticism
can do the church NO good On the East
ern Shore, and Christianity needs all the
harmony possible, and cannot afford to
meet dissensions wrought bypOlitical i'm
triguers, who perhaps. never 90 to
church or even contribute a dollar To it,
support. We had a little taste oi this in
our late town election. and it recOilcd.
We are a Protestant, but a. long AZ he
il an American citizen, We are not pre-
pared 20 believe that he will prove "a
Benedict Arnold 10 his country, because
biz creed il different from ours AZ 10 his
manner Of worshiping God. If hc be
lieves in God and the public school we
are willing to take him on probation.