The sun., 1901-08-12

could do wonders IN the way OF uls1raii-
,hising Republicans without regard To
color. The yirginians, however, have
still further improvements in their plan.
They have provided for exemptions
which will let every Democrat out of the
prohibitions. 1t is pro-
posed that all voters of 60 years Of age
shall be exempt from the property and
poll tax exactions, as also are the vderan
soldiers of the Union and Confederate
armies Of the Civil War, unless they
happen to he pensioners of the United
States. This seems to cover every pos
Sible necessity of the Democratic party
of Virginia, but to make sure about it,
another exemption, that of recognized
good character" is established, and the
election boards are constituted the judges
Of what constitutes recognized good
character" If there is any forgotten
provision legalizing infamy and outrage
in that we fail to see it. or this pro-
poscd plan for DISTINGUISHING Republi-
ans. the New York Tribune says:
No eligibility tests could well be more
llmsy or slipshod in character, or more
open to the grossest perversion and
lbuse Under them equality before the
law will remain in Virginia as empty and
nocking fiction as it has been for
fifteen years past under the Old Domin-
ton's present corrupt and fraudulent cleo
i've system.
In Delaware we know to what gross
1erversions and abuses these things lead.
rhe poll tax. alone. corrupted Delaware''
electorate sixty years ago. to such an
xtent that the abolition of it was dis
ussed in constitutional convention MS
, measure to prevent the buying and sell
ng of votes. This fact which is record
ii in proceedings Of the constitutional
convention is contradiction OF the
lnti-Addicksite claim that the practice
vas confined to a few individuals, and
vas in no way part of the political
york of the parties. The old Wings and
democrats OF those days, from whom our
prominent Anti-Addicksites are proud to
lain descent. were not virtuous or wise
nough to abolish it; their children were
lot virtuous enough. and were too wise
politically, not to take advantage of the
situation their forehears had created
or them. The delinquent tax law OF
1878, put all and every advantage that
he Democrats are now seeking in Nir
,inia into the hands of the Delaware
Democrats, and right earnestly did they
wall themselves of them. Color, age
condition made no difference; enough
trpuhlcans had to br disfranchised II
arry the State.
out If the conditions made by those
.lorious old forrbcars, the Democrats
nd Wings Of antc-hclum days, whose
raises the Anti hddickSites never ceasl
10 sing. arose n condition of things ii
which Delaware was bound hand and
cot in a depth of Democratic political
corruption from which ii could only be
lifted and released by paying the ran.
som the Democrats demanded; and pay
ng II upon terms which they dictated.
But why, with knowledge OF what
such political efforts as are being made IN
irginia leads to. and with n knowledge
Of what has occurred in other States
from like causes, and the difficulties oi
| ransoming the state from the control ol
The corrupt makers OF that condition
| must tLc Tribune, and other newspapers
lccuse wrongfuly, and dcfame thos'
| thoSc work and sacrifices have ransoInct
Delaware from tyranny Of Democrats
'orruption, and given the State n nrV
md more liberal constitution? And VIII
hould these Democrats, ana Anti Ad
| IlckSites whose crime it is that Ella
ware was ever brought to such cond
ti"ns be allowed to accuse and drfam
i" State he listened to, and nccrrditr
with u monopoly Of political honor an
lrccncy?
Why Shonld the Tribune give itself /
h" defense, in Delaware, of men, law
nd conditions which it dcnounccs i
| Virginia? What Delaware has 1T Ia.
'scaprd, Virginia is inviting. If the pr
rnt nttitud" Of the Anti A,ldicksit
newspapers toward Delaware is CORE,
hey will hn found defending the CORFU
zion of politics ny the Virginia conve
lion when the development of that co
rnption has bound the State hard ar
'aSt' and is redemption can only be .
'"rtcd hN ranSom ~ revolution.