The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-27
THURSDAY. OCTOBER q, 1904.
Sowing and Reaping.


~ the situation Mt Berkiey says that one
man who is a close observer Of posiuca
p conditions in Norfolk county was heard
Ito state emphatcally that politics was
back Of the murder. He ventured the
abatement that tho members OF tie
straightout faction were Responsible 1of
the scandal and that their purpose was
$50 strike back at the Fusionlsts. An :
d other report has It., he continues, that
The F,lsionists and their allies had given
he negroes so much liberty that the muir
der was the natural outbreak OF the
whites who had suffered at their hands
ana that it is their purpose to stamp out
( negro rowdy-ism.
~ This confirms and emphasizes the view
expressed the other day In this paper.
Whether this side or that is directly re-
sponsible for the murder OF the negro,
Boun,, OF course, we do not know. But
there can be no doubt OF the first state
men. made by our CORES pendent that
G .poities vas back OF the murder The
murder. OF this negro politician Is the
8logica, result OF political abuses III Nor
folk county The election laws had been
grossly violated. and this sort OF thing
could no, 60 on indefinitely without
bringing the whole system Of laws into
disnuie@ana# contempt. The law in itself
lis {, mere abstraction. 1t has no Inherent
force. It's character and efficiency dc
pend Upon The men who administer and
s execute ii. The people judge the Ia "
by tile officers of the law, and they
wi}l not have In,ch respect for the one
wien they hold the others in contempt.
We nf Virginia are by nature and edu-
cation nwSat,iding people, and VIC obey
and respect and uphold the Law so long
asst commands our respect and performs
its function and It's mission. But mea
{ viii not respect a system of law which
does not command their respect and es-
4 pecially will they be inclined to disregard
ii when It fails to preserve peace and or
der, protect individual rights and pro-
mote the general wclfarca. It is needless
& TO say to those who are Informed that
T the law as administered in the county of
Norfolk for many years past has not met
4 these requirements, The administration
and execution OF the laws have not been
such as to command the respect Of the
1.people, but the rather to excite their
!. disgust and it is self-evident that that
whichis contemplate will be held in con
tempt. T. ::
We make'thcse observations not for. the
pleasure of denunciation, for wo take no
pleasure In denunciation; not for the
pleasure Of saying harsh things, for we
take no pleasure in saying harsh things,
Z but for the purpose Of emphasizing the
fact that whatsoever a community sows
that shall 1t also reap; for the purpose
OF showing that lhwlcssncss begets law
4lessncss; for the purpose Of showing that
corrupt and vicious administration OF
civil law, according TO the natural In ~
of cause and effect, must, il continued,
eventually lead TO decentralization and
revolution.
Our sympathies go out to the good ci,l-
Gems Of Bykley and Norfolk county. Thev
have fought manfully against this long
continued regime of political corruption.
and VIC hope that tho storm which has
NOW broken Will have The effect 10 clear
ana purify the political atmosphere.