Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-09-10

profess to have permanently removed the
negro as a factor. When the Walton law
was drawn and introduced in the Gener-
al Assembly many Democratic representa-
tives from the white districts were re-
luctant to give it their support, because of
the many suggestions 1t made and the OPP
p)rtunites it would furnish for fraud.
Their opposition was removed with assur-
ances given by representatives from the
"black belt" that the chief purpose of the
law was to enable negroes, who so desired,
to vote with the Democrats They affirmed
that it was the wish of great numbers of
negroes to so vote, but that they were
prevented from doing it by dread of local
Republican leaders. We know one hon
est Democratic representative from the
Southwest who was not deceived by these
professions, and he voted against the
Walton law.
How easy is it to recall the fact that for
some time after frauds began under the
Walton law the Democracy denied the
fat, and asserted that the great maj 0ri-
ties they were receiving in the counties
where the negroes were in the majority
was because the negroes were voting with
them. That they were then adding the
contemplate crime of lying to the various
kinds of frauds practiced is proved by the
bold admissions now made by the Demo
cratic newspapers. The Norfolk Virginlan-
Pilot says: Democrats have stolen from
the Republicans in Virginia. Ifthere has
been any pretense that they did not, it
has not been in this quarter Nor have
the Democratic papers generally hesitated
to say that there was stealing in the coun'
ties in the "black belt" First they
claimed the negroes were voting with
them, now they admit they were stealing
their votes.
The Democrats have persistently de-
clared that they made new Constitution
AMI DISTINGUISHED the negroes to get rid
of the necessity for stealing votes, Posi-
tive assurance were given that with a new
electorate we were to have new election
laws and honest elections. The News
Leader reiterates this as follows: "Having
removed the danger Of negro rule the
Democrats of the State, through their
leaders and newspaper representatives,
uge rigid obedience to the law and
-trict honesty and fair play. Our contem'
porary then casts this sarcastic utterance
ut us:
"Of course, as Republican newspaper,
he TazeWell Republican is not expected
10 have faith in Democratic promises or
even in the purity of Democratic pur
loses"
Have we not more than just reason,
from past experience, for having no faith
in Democratic promises or even in the
purity of Democratic purposes? Besides,
what evidence is the Virginia Democracy
BOW furnishing that it is honest or intends
to be honest? When a confessed thief
rrofesses reformation he is expected to
change bis habits, dismiss his associates
and assistants and lay aside the imple-
m nts of his trade. If he is found travel
ing around the country with kit of bur-
glars tools, assoclating with professional
cracksmen, bis pretended reformation is
known to be lie.
We find the Virginia Democracy still
operating its forces under the Walton law,
with the same conscienceless partisans
manipulating the registration, controlling
and stufing ballot. boxes and tampering
with the returns. The men who origina-
red the infamous "Scott County Ballot"
and committed various frauds at the Con.
gressional election last Fall in this district
remain the trusted heutenants of Mr..
Ellyson and the honored leaders of the
party. This is reinforced by the reports
that come from all sections of the State
that the Democrats are cheating each
other at the primaries. With such facts
staring us in the face, is it any wonder
that we have no faith in the declared re-
formation of the Virginia Democracy?
One more thought and We will con-
clude this already lengthy article. The
News Leader asserts that every clergy.
man and layman of the churches in Vir-
GINA, who is Democrat, is as guilty as Mr..
E Tyson and those who have done the
crooked work for the party. Can this be
a fact? Ifso, we may now account for the
fearful lack of spiritual force in the
Church, which is preached from the pull
pits each Sunday. Men cannot be liars
aud thieves in politics and saints in the
Church. ANY effort to make them both
,au only produce an organization of con.