The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-09
GOVERNMENT IN VIRGINIA.

The Newport News Press Of last Sun
day printed a sermon from Rev. E. T..
Wexford, pastor OF the First Presby-
terrain Church, of that city. in which
the question of suffrage in Virginia vas
discussed. Il am a white man, d Vir-
gfnian, and a Democrat said the
preacher, but assert as the cold die
tate of reason and the philosophy Of fact
that our own and our country's welfare
is safer IN tho hands of an honest black
man than q corrupt politician
There Is no occasion to discuss that
proposition, seeing that it is not an
alternative In this State between the rule
OF the black man and the rule Of the
corrupt politician of the white race. It
has been decided, to be sure. that the
white man shall rule. The question has
been settled forever in Virginia and in
every other Southern State,.and to that
extent it has been settled right. This
Is the white mans country. The white
man discovered 1t, the White man fought
for its independence, the white man de-
veloped it and made it great and glori-
Gus. therefore the white man proposes
to occupy 1t aud rule it, and he does
not propose to take the negro into
partnership In the matter of govern
nent
l3ut that does not imply as the other
alternative that the State of Virginia
must be ruled by corrupt politicians and
crooks. we nave had corrupt poilu
Clans in Virginia and they have been
more or less IN authority. But they
We're the direct outgrowth of the ff-
teenth amendment, which put the ballot
into the hands OF the negro. The white
men were compelled by one way or an
other to Keep the government out of
the hands OF the negro party. and so
the opportunity was open for the ballot
box stuffer and the political trickster.
1t is not necessary to so into discus
sion OF this painful and dsagreeablc
SUBJECT We ali recognize that evils
have existed: we all deplore them; we
all hang our heads in modification when
we think OF the methods that have
been employed and that have been
winked at by respectable men.
But thanks TO the honesty and decency
OF the Virginia people they have deter
mined to remove the cause and the very
pretext for such practices. Henceforth
the negro VIII not be a factor in our
politics and there will be no occasion
for fraudulent practices. There will be
no occupation Tor the ballot-box suffer
and the trickster. The honest and de-
cent people OF virginia. who are in over
whelming majority in this State, have
determined and decreed that elections
snail be lair and honest, and that gov
eminent snail be pure. IL this be not
tho result Of the Constitutional Conven-
non. the convention Will have been a
dismal failure and the people will try
some other remedy. But we believe that
the remedy which has been applied will
avail AT any rate, we counsel the white
men of this State to give it a fair trial,
ana we urge the honest and decent men
of the state to exert their influence in
bcnalf of the proposed and demanded
reform IL SO. there Will be no failure
and we shall not be in the hands either
of negroes or corrupt politicians. Under
such a condition the corrupt politician
ana the crook viii have but little part
in the arairs OF government, and will
be dealt with as often as he is found
and according 20 his deserts.
But The Newport News preacher will
gain nothing and do the cause no good
pv dragging the negro in and pittins
the negro, honest or otherwise, against
the white man.
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