Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-07-30
THURSDAY. JULY 30. 1905.
WHY NOT?


The Democratic press affects great
indignation and contempt over the suc-
gestion that Virginia might possibly
give her electoral vote to Judge Taft.
Would Republican success in Virginia
entail any serious injury or bring any
disgrace to our people? Why should
Virginia remain permanently Demo-
cratic? Has the Democracy in National
or State affairs so acquitted itself as to
merit the enduring confidence and sup
port of the people? Have Republican
or have Democratic policies contributed
most to the upbuilding and development
of the material interests of this Com
monwealth? These are serious cues
lions that the Democratic NEWSPAPERS
cannot forever derisively cast aside.
A majority of the people of Virginia
are for the economic and financial poll
cies Of the Republican party. They
have witnessed the wonderful progress
that all sections and all classes of peo-
pie have been making for the past ten
or more years under Republican laws
and administrations. Even now, at a
time of so-called panic, we find that in
dustrial progress continues in the State
and no depreciation of real estate val
ues or reduction in wages are reported.
Though Democratic journals have been
proclaiming to the people the false CRY
that disaster must and has come from
Republican legislation and administra-
ton, they have been and are now con-
fronted in every part of this State with
conditions of progress and prosperity
that disprove every assertion these
papers have been making. The Demo
cratic daily papers have, at repeated
intervals, been publishing with joyful
reclamation accounts of the immense
strides their respective cities and sec
lions have been making industrially
during the past ten years. Now they
seek 10 discredit their own previous
statements Of facts by telling their
readers that Republican rule means
ruin to the industrial interests of the
State and Nation? And these same
papers call upon the people to vote for
candidate they have heretofore, and
even now, declare to be uncertain and
dangerous, and to uphold political doc
trines they have avowed to be undemo-
cratic and repulsive. The only excuse
they seek to offer for such misrepresen
tations and inconsistencies is, that the
special welfare of Virginia demands
that it should be made subject to per
petual Democratic misrule. The re-
verse, however, is true.
For twenty-five years the Virginia
Democracy has held absolute control of
the State by force, fraud and outrage.
Can a government founded upon crime
be benefcent? Ought honest, intelli-
gent citizens to help perpetuate such
control, even at the sacrifice of their
convictions upon great governmental
questions?
1t Is no longer denied that from 1888
to 1902 the Democrats controlled Vir-
GINA by frauds that were born of per-
jury, theft. forgery and brutal force.
And it cannot be disputed that in 1902
they sought to perpetuate their power
by the making and proclaiming Of a new
constitution that was conceived in sin.
begotten by fraud and brought forth in
dishonor. This new constitution has
outraged the rights of free people. 1t
has overthrow representative govern.
ment within our borders by provisions
that have already destroyed one-half
the white electorate of the State; and a
wicked effort is now being made to de-
prive one-half of this remaining one half
of voters of the right to vote, through
partisan judicial interpreta-
lion of the poll tax qualification for
yoting.
This new constitution has taken from