Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-08-18
PERSISTENT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,


In the Roanoke Times of the 5th inst.
there appeared an editorial headed "As
to Vicious Misrepresentation. This
editorial was an svssiye response to an ed
itorial which sppesred in the columns Of
the Tazewel Republican Of the 18th ult.
On account Of absence FROM home last
week we were unable to reply to the edi-
torial OF the Roanoke Times of the 9th
inst, but will now proceed to answer SO
much Of it as merits attention. Our con-
temporary says;
$50 offensive sAd thoroughly objec'
tionable to the Roanoke Times is the Ian
guage vicious Misrepresentation as used
in the above connection, that being de-
sirous Of maintaining pleasant relations
between this paper and the Tazewell Re-
publican, we wrote personal letter 10 the
editor of that Journal pointing out what
we deemed the insulting words, and, in q
courteous manner asking for their disa-
vowa. On yesterday reply to that let
ter was received rsAlsing to comply with
our request"
Since the editor Of the Times has referred
to the personal correspondence between
himself and the editor Of this paper We deem
it proper to publish that correspondence
in another column Of this issue. Our
reasons for refusing to disavow or disclaim
the insulting words" complained of are
to be found in that correspondence, and
are really sufficient answer to the editorial
Of the Times of the 9th inst. But there
are additional facts that have Developed
since our letter was written to the editor
Of the Roanoke Times which it will be
we'll to present to show the unfair spirit o.
cur Roanoke contemporary and Its persis'
tent effort to viciousy force the negro
Issue into the politics of the Ninth Dis
trict We want our Roanoke contem'
porary to plainly understand that We dc
not undertake to repel its reprehensible
insinuations because We believe they are
ipjuring Colonel Slemp and Mr.. Roosevelt
in this district. Upon the contrary we
know that its malevolent TRADES are max
ing our candidates more popular, and the
Republicans of the Southwest more reso-
lutte in their opposition to party that will
esteem and uphold the recent disgusting
policy of the Roanoke Times. 1t has been
perverting facts in its treatment both OF
Colonel Slemp and President Roosevelt,
and before an unbiased jury would either
have to plead guilty 10 charge of vicious
misrepresentation" or avail itself of the
defense of being vieiously ignorant or ig.
norantly vicious. The course which it
will pursue must rest with the Times.
The Arthur Sullivan doorkeeper Incl
dent, which has grown stale from use, has
again been invoked and made the basis of
foolish and seemingly malicious attack
upon Colonel Slemp's record. 1t is an in
eulting and vindictive assault upon the
record of the Readjueter party-the party
which rescued Virginia from the control
of the Funders, who were striving to fasten
upon the State an enormous and unjust
debt, and who had even declared their
purpose to sacrifice the public schools to
attain their object.
1t is well recognised principle Of moral
philosophy that one who suppresses the
truth or any part thereof when relating
transaction, with intent to damage per-
son connected with the transaction, is
more malevolent falsi6sr than one who
tells a direct untrush. This principle or
code applies to political transactions with
as much force as it does to all the ordinary
and extraordinary transactions incident to
human life.
Now what are the facts connected with
the election of negro doorkeeper of the
House Of Delegates in 1879 by the Read
ulster members of that body? There we're
a number of negro representatives in the
Legislature and they were inclined to
assist the white Resdjusters in their noble
effort to save the State from the certain
bankruptcy that was coming unless the
old "Funding Bi'' was repealed. These
negro representatives requested that some
subordinate positions be given members
of their race, and the Readjusters in caucus
nominated negro for doorkeeper of the
House Of Delegates. The Conservative