Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-31
WILL YOU BE DECElVED2

WILL YOU BE DECEIVED2
The Virginia Democracy is prolific in
promises, and defantly bold in their vio-
lation. 1t has been hoodwinking and
buldozing the people uutil it seems De-
mocracy can do or say anthing, and, yet,
confidently rely upon succeeding at all
elections. Our readers can look back
over the past twenty years and see that
the record of the Virginia Democracy pre-
sents one unbroken chain of false prOmis-
es and predictions. In the face of this
disraceful record the Democracy still
boldly proclaims itself virtuous and the
only fit guardian of the interests OF the
Commonwealth. When man establish
es the reputation Of a chronic liar he ceas
es to receive the confidence of any one,
even though he sometimes unintentionally
tells the truth.
In Its history of Justification the Virginia
Democracy has been most conspicuously
false in its treatment of election methods
and the elective franchise. A series of
election laws, beginning with the Amber
son. Mccormick law, have been enacted,
with tile positive assurance that they were
intended to purify elections and give us
an honest ballot Under the administra-
ton of these election laws, however, a
condition of corruption and moral degre'
dation has been established in Virginia,
which, even the author of the Anderson
Mccormick election law pronounces
"cAnkering disease" This disease has
been progressing until it became so dis
gracefully offensive that those who have
been constantly spreading the germs for
their own profit have become alarmed at
its proportions. They did not become
disturbed, however, until it began to at
feet their own political organization, and
Democrats began actively to cheat Demo
Gratis. Not till then did the Democrats
become vlrtuously alarmed by the spread
of the "cankering disease" which they in
tended should only infect and destroy Re.
publicaDs.
We can all well remember how indig
nant Democrats were a few years ago
when it was charged by the Republicans
that frauds were common in elections in
nearly ever section of the State. Then
individual Democrats were insulted by
such charge, and the party leaders and
newspapers asserted that such accusations
wer nothing but Republican lies. Less
than two years ago the tone of the Demo
Gratis vas changed They acknoWl
edged that fraud and corruption in
elections were not only common, but were
threatening 10 destroy the moral tone Of
our people. With these disclosures and
admissions there came an appeal to the
people to permit the Democracy to get rid
of the "cankering disease" it had pro-
duced by reforming the State Constitution,
and especially by reforming our suffrage
laws. The appeal was accompanied by
pledges of submission Of the new Constltu-
ton to the people and that no poor and
illiterate white voter should be disfran-
cbised.
How have these last pledges been kept?
They not only refuse to ratify the pledge
TO submit the new Constitution to the peo
pie; but now deny that any specific prom
Use 10 tIdJ 6Il6Ct Was ulduc' 1uC hiOh WIZ
voted in the Norfolk Convention Of 1900
for resolution which pledged the submis-
sion OF the new Constitution now come
out boldly for proclaiming 1t. So much |
for that pledge. How about the one not
to disfranchise white men? The new sui.
frage law now pending in the Constitu-
tional Convention is sufficient answer. 1t
provides for poll tax qualification, for a
property qualification and for an under
standing clause that will disfranchlse
nearly one half the white voters in Vir'
ginia, If these qualifications are honestly
The Democrats intimate