Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-07-10
THURSDAY. JULY 10. 1902.
WHAT ARE DEMOCRATIC PLEDGES
WORTH
W0RTH7

conclusions as to the direful results that
will follow au extensive disfranchisement
of white voters in Virginia. Even the
DISTINGUISHING of large number Of negro
voters will seriously affect the material in
terests of the Commonwealth by causing
many negro laborers to leave the State
and by making those who remain cor
daily hate the government which de-
prives them of right Of citizenship vested
by the Constitution of the United States
and which they have exercised for many
years past. If the vast army of disfran
chised, sullen negroes is to he reinforced
by considerable number Of desperate,
decitizenzed white men, it will create a
condition so alarming that the anticipa-
ton of such possibility ought to call a
halt IN the reckless partisan movement,
which began with the Constitutional Con-
yention and is to be followed up by the
enforcement of q suffrage law that is in
tended to subvert Constitutional rights by
temporary fraudulent device.
We are astonished that the News and
other intelligent journals continue to ex-
press confidence in the motive which
prompted the new suffrage law and the
methods that are to be employed IN its
operation. The fear Of negro domination,
nor disgust with fraudulent elections, was
not the impelling motive, but dread of
4 the growing strength of Republicanism in
the great white districts. What stronger
proof can we have for knowing that this
is true than the absolute exclusion of
white Republicans from all voice in the
making of the suffrage law and the denial
ofany participation in its operation? The
= News says: 1.-The pledge that no white
man in this State should be deprived of
u..h,s vote by the operation IF the new Con-
ssMs,tea was soemnly given and we be-
lieve it must be sacredly fulfilled. 1t will
be unless all our professions and promises
as Democrats are lies and were intended
y to be lies and unless the Democratic party
in this Siate-representipg the best blood
and thought and character Of Virginia
engages in huge conspiracy to cheat and
lie and swindle for greed of money and
lust of place.
We believe the whole convention move
mant and the making of "a new Constltu-
tion was a scheme to break the power OF
the Republican party in Virginia. Every |
act of the Constitutional Convention has
strengthened this conviction, and we be-
lieye that the future will show that our
judgment is not at fault. The "under-
standing clause" is the main weapon by
which the purpose of the consplrators is
to be effected. The Richmond News,
editorially speaking of the understanding
clause, ;" has said that cit means one of
two things
Fraud and violation of oath by Com
missioners of Registration with the con-
nivance of judges,
1.-THE disfranchisement OF some thou
sands of poor and illiterate white men,"
Tha best thing the News can now prom
Use for the Democracy is that 1t Will make
good its pledge to dsfranchise no white
man, by the use of ''fraud and violation of
oath nv Commissioners of Registration
with the connivance OF judges" In
other words. the Virginia Democracy will
keep faith by having Commissioners of
Registration commit perjury, and by hav-
ing the perjurers sustained by the judi
ciorv of the Commonwealth. Briefly
stated registrars will have to be made
periurers or white men will have to be
DISTINGUISHED. ~
IF one Of these alternatives will have to
be adopted and the first is chosen what
.h;nI vou of the men who will consent to
he rsed for such work, or Of the party and
,,o,;t;cal leaders who will appoint such
persons to sit in Judgment upon the quail {
;acot;ons of honestcitizens for the exer-
o;ss If the elective franchise? Men who
q, oonssnt TO do such vicious work, and {
,hs nartv and political leaders who en-
.onso,,e and sustain it, will have no re-
oard-for any solemn pledge they have
rooda the white people. Therefore, if we
have fraud and violation of oath by Com
m;ssioners of Registration we will have
these same commissioners undertaking to
djsfranchise white and black Republicans r
indiscriminately, ID
We hope to see neither Of these alterna- d
tives employed; but with the declared is
purpose of the Democracy to use the one, b
what reason has anyone to suppose that h
the other will not be used when conven. p
ient and supposed 70 be necessary for par n