Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-09-25
UNCALLEDFoR ABUSE.

last issue Of our esteemed neigh.
Dor, the Northern Neck Msrs, we
would like circulated as much rs
possible. Itspeaks for itself, though
we do desire to comment mildly on
the premature and uuwarranted
venom that seems to possess its
author:
Driven by the Times Dispatch, and
other influential Democratic journals, to
give out some public statement as TO his
attitude towards the Democratic primary
plan, Senator Martin has at last secured
his own consent so far as to be willing
to say that he Is perfectly satisfied to
submit" his political fortunes" to the
people OF Virginia "under the existing
plan or under any other plan that may
at any time be provided by the party IN
the State" He further declares that he
is not "antagonizing" tho primary and
knows of no organized effort for or
against II. II Senator Martins friends
are satisfied with this explanation OF his
position on the great question of sena-
toriai primary, his opponents certainly
ought TO be. When the question was
first raised at Roanoke he was unques.
tionably opposed to senatorial primaries,
and he worked with might and main to
defeat the proposition. when two years
later the May Conference requested the
State Central Democratic Committee to
give the Democratic masses an oppor-
tunity, either at primary election or In
State Convention, to nominate Dem
ocratic Senator, the junior Senator
caused this most just aud reasonable re-.
quest to be denied. But so rapid was
the growth In this State of public senti-
ment In favor of the popular nomination
OF u. s. Senators, that the convention
which assembled in Norfolk two years
ago, without one dissenting voice, de-
clared In favor of senatorial primaries.
The question, then, for Senator Martin
70 answer is, not whether be is willing
to submit" his political fortunes" TO 8
primary election; but whether he favors
primary elections for the selection of U.
s. Senators. His party has gone on rec
ord as favoring them and II the system
Is not abandoned he must submit his
political fortunes" to it whether he is
willing" or not, or else get out of the
senatorial race. Why, then, talk about
his willingness to submit" his political
fortunes" to primary. The condemned
felon submits his fortunes to the tender
mercies OF the hangmsn-not because he
wishes to, but because he cannot help
himself. And this is just Senator Ma.
tins position. Having done all In his
power TO thwart Democratic and popular
aspiration for senatorial primary be
graciously, and with evident reluctance,
tells the united Democracy or the State
that he Is willing to submit" to such
. method OF selecting his successor, that
method, with no thanks to him, having
been adopted by his party. he does not
say he favors IL. Oh, mol He does not
even say he will not advocate Its repeal
should the opportunity present itself.
He does not even "see" any occasion 10
enter into any discussion OF It," But, 40
to this, he may change his mind within
the next two yesrs. The forces which
opposed senatorial primaries were
thoroughly organized and we'll supplied
with the sinews OF war, and like every
saSg ssgTgFEs f4E ai ina III Sa. lA sss
dom, this fight was not won ut the first
engagement. But now that il has been
won. those who led 1t are not unmindful
that eternal vigilance Is the price OF
liberty.
1t should be borne in mind that
the fight against Senator Martin can
not take place for over two years yet,
and that his term of office does not
expire until 1907. The fight in
question (Which should not be q
HgaD will be within party lines, and
not with the political enemy. As
was the case three or four years
back, when Senator Martin was re.
elected by an overwhelming EXPIRES
non OF Virginians, campaign of
mud-slinging is contemplated (and
In the foregoing it seems already
begun) by some who desire his seat
10 the U. S. Senate. A tried Demo-
crat is to be the target OF sll the
political mud that can be generated
within the Democratic camp. With
more than two years yet in which, if |
'ver justified, it ought to begin, the |
honest and open expressions of our |
representative in the United States
senate are arraigned as insincere, or |
to use milder term, and
liz is likeped to the position of the
condemned felon" who has to sub.
nit to the gihbet!l
"He does not say he favors it,
hese are the above writer's words.
ct rs reproduce Senator Martins
xact language on the subject of the
Urinary after being driven" as
harged, and see how near the truth
he Mems comes:
at is being given a trial in
ae State and 7 think it ouqht
hape a Just and fair trial.
Italics onra.) So far as / am
ersonally concerned am not antag-
'izing it, and have no desire to ace
n 20