Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-06-19
THURSDAY. JUNE 10, 1902.
BOUND IN CHAINS.

the rosy views it has as TO prospective pc.
litical conditions in Virginia. But if the
conditions which the News anticipates
should come, the men who originated the
Convention movement, who framed the
new suffrage law and proclaimed the Con-
stitution will gnash their teeth with
rage and pronounce their whole scheme Of
outrage dismal failure"
The Convention movement was not
started from any serious apprehension Of
the negro vote or negro domination, but
because of the growing strengths of the
Republicans in the great white districts OF
Virginia. If the Richmond News will
consult its files it wifi find on its editorial
page double-co column, double-leaded edi
torisl. published in the spring of 1900, exl
pressing the same views we now hold aF
to the true motive for holding ConstitJ
tional Convention. Every step taken ~
the Constitutional Convention in preplr-
ing new suffrage law has strengthens
US in that conviction, Notwithstanding the
frequent and earnest professions of ithe
Democratic leaders and newspapers that
all effort was being directed to getting rid
of the negro vote. We remember the
same professions were made wheh the
Walton law was framed and put upon its
passage in the Legislature of Virginia
On this line the receptions of the pemoc-
racy have been so multiplied that it must
REQUIRE an immense stretching of even
Democratic credulity to have any faith in
such professions.
The last important act of the Constitu-
tional Convention was enough tP convince
any one of the partisan uses contemplated
for the new suffrage law. The manner
of choosing and the make up G the Boards
Of Registration for the various counties
and cities of the State Indicate PLAINLY that
the understanding clause is I'd be worked
for alIit is worth-not agairIst the negro
but against the Republican party VI the
fifteen hundred or more commissioners OF
registration there is not Ole Republican
among the number. Eve9 in the great
white districts and counties no exceptions
we~e made. but the boaFds .fIed sohdly
Democratic everywhere. The judgment
of the Republican members OF the Con-
vention was not consulteH in the selection
of the registrars for the counties they rep
resented, but the selection in such coun-
ties. was left to the machine Democratic
county committees. qpf the many mean
partisan things the G. convention did this
was the narrowest al nd meanest-boldly
bordering ON the infamous.
Now, the Convention had declared all
along that 1t intended to frame suffrage
law that would disfd anchise no white man,
and all the prominf nt leaders, from Sena-
tor Daniel down, hi ave constantly repeat
oil this declarationi~ I'm discussing the "un-
derstanding clause, - in an editorial pub.
lislIed the 9th e. September, 1901, the
Richmond Neg naid: 1--WE record an
earnest protest PIANIST provision which
means one of fFb things
oFrand. and violation of oath by Com
missioners Of Registration with the con-
nivance ofJudges,
s.Jhe Acknowledgement of some thousands
IF moor and iliterate white men,"
There is a positive Depocratic pledge
tbut what aT|e such pledges Worth?) that
no white ma IN shall be DISTINGUISHED. So,
the News nalust see that the first named
alternative( twill be enforced, if its theory
be correct] 1t is our opinion, however,
that both will be abundantly In evidence.
With stch conditions confronting us the
News occupies the position of a Job com.
forter when it advises the Virginia Re-
poblicans to accept the proclamation of
the Constitution with serene composure,"
with the assurance that the franchise
clause will develop a strong Republican
party in,the State The idea advanced by
the News that the act of proclamation has
furnished the Republicans a club with
which to break the head of the Democrat
ic party would be Imaginable if it were not
80 serious. Furnished us a club, have
they? We agree with you, esteemed con-
temporary, if public sentiment was free to
act. But the men who made the club !
were cunning enough to see that the Re
publican Sampson was shorn of bis
strength and bound in letters before the
club was placed in sight Provision for a
perfect election machine was made and
embodied 10 the new Constitution; and
the Republican party in Virginia has,
like Prometheus, been chained to a rock
for political vutures and hyenas to feed
upon its vitals-protected by Constitu-.
tiOnal law. It is impossible for Virginia