Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-12-05
JOHN SULLIVAN WISE KNOCKED OUT.

JOHN SULLIVAN WISE KNOCKED OUT.
On last Saturday Chief Justice Full
Ter and Judge Edmund Waddill of the
u. 8. Court, sat in Richmond to hear
argument in the cases brought by
Hon. John s. Wise in behalf of some
negroes whom he claims are disfran-
chised by the new constitution, and
who by reason thereof had applied to
the q. s. Court for injunctions re-
strainIng the State Board of canvass
ers from issuing certificates of election
to the ten Congressman from Virgin
ia. The court decided promptly that
it had no jurisdiction IN such cases.
Chief Justice Fuller being clearly of
that opinion, and Judge Waddill agree
ing as to the law. but stating that the
law was not what, in bis opinion, it
ought to be, thus sealing the question,
because had Judge Waddill not been
clearly convinced the law was as pro-
pounded. he would have unquestiona-
bly, decided otherwise, as bis sympa-
thies are all that way.
That these suits should have been
brought seems strange. They would
not have been by a more capable, com.
petent and learned lawyer. But Mr..
Wise Is out fer reputation or money or
something of the kind. Because he
could not have things his own way
when he lived here, he left the State,
hurting at her as be fled, the bitterest
anathemas. He bears her some deep
grudge, be has often to his new found
friends expressed his deep. undying
bitter hatred of the men who control
affairs here, as was evidenced by his
attack upon Hon. John Goode, the
president of the convention, in his
speech before the court in this case.
Mr.. Goode had much to do with those
things which caused Mr.. Wise's depar-
ture, and Mr.. Wise has not forgotten
it. There is no Democrat of prOmi-
nence in Virginia, but Mr.. Wise is
ready to fling a stone at him, especially
If he belongs to that school of which
Mr.. Goode is a conspicuous member.
When Mr.. Wise uttered bis celebrated
philippe against the Republican office
holders in Virginia who enjoyed posi-
tions at the time he gave voice to the
sentiment, which was that they were
''apOstates for the price of their apos-
tacy," his hatred was for them. A little
later he changed and began hating the
Democrats, and he has continued this
hatred with deepening and widening
intensity ever since. 1t is this, with
Of course bis fees, which causes him
to come again into Virginia and asso-
ciate himself with negro lawyer and
take up the cause of what be calls the |
downtrodden negro, to the annoyance
if not disgust of the people of the
State generally. Most mon could be |
better employed, many could doubtless |
be more profitably employed. and few
in this quarter who could not be EN-
ployed in more respectable and self.
respecting work.
He announces his purpose to sue
every member of the convention IRE
publican members excepted of course). |
1t would seem that man who claimed |
a cow by proceedings before justice
OF the peace and lost his claim, would |
have as good ground to sue the mem
bers Of the legislature who passed the
law creating the Office of justice of the
peace, as these negroes have to sue the
members Of the constitutional conven.
ton. Why not 60 back to first prin
ciples and sue the voters who elected
the members of the conventions One
is about as logical as the other.
We are not at all uneasy about the
results Of any of this litigation. 1t is
not expected to win, except in fees to
Mr.. Wise. 1t has a different object.
1t is intended to stir up the Crumpack-
sr crowd in Congress, and put them to
work to reduce the representation of
The Southern States in the lower house.
Whether this will succeed awaits to be
'een. 1t may be a part of a gigantic
attempt to gain perpetual power to the
Republican party and may get through. {
We cannot see far enough into the fu-
'ure to tell. 1t will succeed if many
If the Hon. John y. Wise class can car
y into effect their wishes. In the first I
,out, however, Mr.. Wise got it in the {
olar plexus and went down. His !
pairing partner, Jim Hayes, trained :
Tim badly.
A Paris dispatch announces that a
etired army officer has recently pur-
hased an invention that will "com- Q
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