Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-07-10
The White Republicans.
Richmond News.

Inc laIeNet hepuOlCdH uuuef Ine
heading can Army of Ishmaeites" warns
the Democrats of the State that if the new
election laws are enforced as the Republi'
cans fear they will be dangerous army Of
lshmaelites will be established composed
of DISTINGUISHED and consequently resent
full elements whose hands will be against
I the established order of things. At the
same time 1--WE observe, the Tazewell Re-
publicans have in public meeting decided
that they will make no contest for con-
gress against Mr.. Rhea on the ground
that no matter what Republican
majorities may be given in Tazewell they
are overcome by fraudulent Democratic
majorities in other counties of the district
and the Republican majority in the
Federal house of representatives approves
the fraud by giving its results the sanction
of law.
There was some talk in the constitu-
tional convention on this same line. 1t is
as we'll to serve notice now on the
registrars that defrauding white Repub-
can voters will not be tolerated. The
pledge that no white man in the State
should be deprived of his vote by the
operation of the new constitution was
sClemDly given and we believe that it
must be sacredly fulfilled. 1t will be un-
less all our professions and promises as
Democrats are lies and were intended to
+be lies and unless the Democratic party
in this State-representing the best blood
aud thought and character of Virginia
engages in huge conspiracy to cheat and
lie and swindle for greed of money and
lust of place. We do not believe that
sunni conditions exist. The Richmond
News, as one Democratic newspaper,
pledges itself if it finds that such condi-
tons exist to take the lead in exposure
and denunciation. We invite the Taze-
we'll Republican, or any other Republican
or citizen, to bring to our attention any
case that may arise of the exclusion from
the registration lists of white man and
we promise to investigate 1t to the utter
most and to demand public attention and
reprobation for it and to do all that can
be done to bring the guilty to punishment.
In that work we believe we would have
the backing of the masses of the Demo
Gratis of the State. They called this con-
vention because they were tired of fraud.
They wanted the new constitution because
they wanted to do away with the reason
and the excuse for fraud. We hope and
believe that they will unite solidly in the
demand that there shall be no fraud so
far as white men are concerned.
Really there was no excuse for de-
frauding negroes in congressional elections.
These did not affect local selfgovernment
in any way and the election of a Repub-
lican or even of negro representative to
congress would not have involved that
danger of immediate disaster and de-
graduation and decentralization that made
recourse to fraud necessary in other
elections. The truth is, however, that
when we accept cheating as proper for one
election we insensibly come to approve or
permit it for all, On the other hand, the
Republicans at the North are heartily
tired and sick and disguised over the ex-
pertinent OF negeo suffrage and election
committees of congress refuge to take
interest in cases involving negro voters.
With the negro out of the question diff
ferent views will be taxed at home and
in congress. Every sensible and honest
Democrat understands that the white Re.
publican has the same right TO bis opin
ions as the Democrat and the same right
to cast his vote and to have it fairly
counted so long as his vote does
not mean negro supremacy, near or
remote. Aside from that, Democrats
who think at all and who have an idea
beyond attaining Office by hook or by
crook regardless Of the means employed |
know the danger of having in tie State
what the Tazewell Republican SO &C.
curately describes as Gan army of
lshmaelites" composed of dissatisfied and |
sullen white men with burning sense of
wrongs. They know that the disfranchise.
lnent Of any body of white men because
OF their political opinions would mean
disaster and the partial depopulation of
some of the fairest and most prosperous
and promising sections of Virginia. Their
hope is to rid the State of the curse and
shame Of fraudulent elections by removing
the need and the pretext for them. We do
not believe that they will permit the wrong
to be done and the State to be shaned
and injured and the States free born
white citizens to be denied their rights and
the solemn promises of the people and
their leaders to be further violated TO
crafty the greed or ambition of anybody. /
IN other words, as we understand the
Spirit and purpose of the Democrats of the
State-the decent ones, at least, from
Governor down, it is that hereafter cleo.
hons in Virginia shall be absolutely and
exactly fair so far as the white people ar
concerned and that no white Republican
hall be denied his vote by any means,
except as punishment for crime, or
lefrauded of it. "