The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-02
PRICE,, 3 CENTS

longer TO conceal the fact that in the
Black Belt their votes are not counted as
intended TO be- cast. Moreover, every
body knows that the constant practice
OF cheating the cOlored man has led to
the desperate practice OF cheating white
until our political life Sin some sections,
nothing but a cheat"
On October IL, Congressman Flood
said In a speech at Fredericksburg; "In
thirty-five counties in the State the ne
gro vote is not counted, in order to re-
tain white supremacy. Disiranchise the
negro, and you remove the cause for un-
fair elections Then it will be Anglo
Saxon against Anglo-Saxon, and the
stain OF stealing the ballot in Virginia
will be blOtted cut.
At the same time Hon. r. S. Parks said:
"The Democratic party lived on Mount
Sinai and found its base there. It's mot
to was the Golden Rule-'Do unto Others
as you would have them do unto you.
IL had no dark places in it's history"
One OF the laws promulgated from
Sinai before the Democratic party found
a base there was Thou shalt not steal"
Ii appears from the evidence offered that
this part OF the Sinaitic code Of morals
has been entirely eliminated from the
basic virtues OF the party in Virginia.
Whether or not 'the stain of stealing the
ballot in Virginia" is dark place in jts
history time will show.
Out here in the woods where the air is
free from gaseous exhalations such as
arise from the Convention halls, the
| question narrows down to a proposition
to include all white men and exclude all
negroes possible. With this fact in view,
and also that the negro cannot be dis
criminated against on account OF his
color, The Tattler desires to come to the
aid of the Constitution-makers, and here
with presents a plan of suffrage that
ought to cover the entire ground in o
manner satisfactory to the party OF
which he has been member since OF yot-
ing age:
Any resident male Of II years OF age
and over who shall pay taxes on yalu-
alton of S. 900;
Or, who can prove to the satisfaction
OF the registrar OF voters that he is Of
pure Caucasian descent;
Or, who shall enter into good and sui
ficient bonds TO vote the straight Demo
cratic ticket every time, shall be allowed
to vote
No one shall be eligible to hold Office
who cannot comply with at least one ol
the above requirements, and who in adj
dition shall be the son or grandson oi
some former ofice-holder Of the State oi
Virginia.
The above comprehensive plan ought
to be satisfactory to all who desire the
permanent success OF the party. 1t em.
braces all the essentials; but any frills and
furbelows may be tackled on as desired.
Il has the advantage OF being easily IN.
derstood, as it says exactly what ia
meant, without any ycircumlocution what
soeyer. The negro simply is not in 1t, be-
cause be is left out. The discrimination
is not against the negro, but it isi flavor
Of the white man. The right OF the negro
is not abridged on account OF race OF
color--he only has to have five thousand
dollars worth of taxable property-but
the grandfather clause is enlarged and
extended 80 as TO include all the white
men.
Now that the way is pointed out LET
the double-salaried men at least fix up
the things in good order and leave few
dollars in the Treasury.
Another promise might as well be kept
at the same time. Submit the Constitu
ton to the present electorate. 1t will be
all right The majority can be placed al
not less than SO, 200 in it's favor. Why
Well, just listen to what the Stauntor
News says:
1--WE are unable to understand why
some Democrats should be so concerned
lest the new Constitution, II submitted tc
vote, shall fail to carry. Will it not bs
just as easy to carry it as any Other
measured Will not all the black counties
like Appomattox, for instance, give theiI
usual Democratic maiorities for the new
Constitution
OF course Did not those same black
counties give rousing maiorities for the
matchlesss ticket OF pure politicians
| Yea, verify. What's the matter with
| vo,o CJwanf Tue TATTIER