The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-17

in the Executive Mansion, is to-day as
absolutely DISTINGUISHED as the most de-
graded negro feIon confined in the State
uenitentiary. Ask Charles T. O'FerraN
how he found it in the election of 1896
Now what are we going to do about il"
The purpose of this letter is not 10 COM
plain OF what is passed and gone, nor
10 say anything of an offensive or untdud
nature against any individual. So far as
| haycE alluded to the present election
laws it has been only for the purpose OF
showing the necessity for finding an AIDE
quate and effective remedy for the evils
which now exist. The avOWed purpose OF
a Constitutional Convention Is to eumln-
ate the negro vote. The wisdom or the
necessity for that action | do not pro-
nose to discuss. That only a small per
cent of the negroes Will be permitted
TO vote under the new Constitution take
to be as certain as any future event con-
tincent upon human action can be- II IS
the vote Of the white that am
concerned about When the negro has
boon diSfranchiSed the excuse for the
nresent election laws and methods VIII
he gone Men can no longer attempt 70
Justify the crimes of perjury ana ira.rt
mon the ground that society must ne
protected from the ignorant and CORRUPT
,arrn vote Shall we then continue to
Il
rhe Commonwealth in the hUllo" Oh us
hand? "a,
Tror no source has there come the
sintect suggestion of Il change III our
election laws. Many men In pubitc uie
go a..crared themselves concerning the
c,,astions to come before the 1ohS'itu-
tioraI Convention, either III letters
in interviews given out thFou9H
They have discussed the state
Il1lf,F L..
- ~ ,IhIic officers and their S3saiieS,
1T, the division OF the public schoot
80, ;,a+,,ae,, ths, two races, the Juat-
l:',.u ND :, great number of other Hues
- 80. ,To-t of all they have dlscuSSeti
artio, of eliminating the heSio
- hnF not the smallest intlnlatioii VI
go SLIGHTEST hint has come 80
rl,,b,fc man of any intention o, ~ I<,r,
itv for providing an hotleS' t.sa,f ar nv
either in the toiSti'e
legislative enactment o,,r nr1blic
W iis'e tI,,f,f or so well satlsned VIII
,,,asanr condition of AFFAIRS a.
- bava given the suplect d t,,re.
49, their knowledge OF h.llii''at 80
"a +ban, to believe that men VIZ
,ea' ttar,seiy es in power Tor SCI ise
kept .,,est election methods VIII
se1i i, ~ down the spoils OIL ohlee
~ tiav held in their hands tie lattle
instruments of fraud ~ nracant
Iiaya they forgotten that the ns
TO, ia,ys are used for purposes Oh
er,,11 in sectors Gf the State where tnere
:: n,acticalI. no negro vote? Rave shes
,nL. reason to believe that the uhs ,,I
lbisanent of the reSro IN the ,. a
80 nv constitutional! provision VIII esihS
70 =, realizing sense of their Naiftity .iis
'Ii.t,,nest election officers of the count!
OF Scott? $50 of
,ho,,eands Ct white men, the very bone
and siney of our people. honest. indus
trious lovai and devoted 10 the oid Com
ronweatth who must have help IN marx
inc their ballots in any general election,
and that many years must elapse before
this class CT voters Will cease to pc the
controlling factor in all elections winch
are warmly contested!
Have they forgotten that among the
old soldiers still there are some thou-
sands of uneducated Ineu2 IN the days
Of their you'll these men save PROOF OF
their patriotism and devotion To duty
and were always ready to follow where
E'itz. Lee. or ". II. Payne. or James ~
Walker led III their old age they are
simple and guiteless as they We're brave
aud Seif-sacriueing in youth. Are the
leaders of tia Democratic party WILING
that these OLD men shall continue TO be
at the merry Of any conseisncetess ticket.
marker whel they so to the polls
Have the Democratic leaders forgotten
that if this matter be left to legislative
enactment what one Legislature may
enact another Legislature may repeat.
i If they say they are willing 70 trust
Democratic Legislature, VIII they also
affirm that tIey are willing to trust