Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1908-08-28
An Object Lesson i'm Politics.
(EDITORIAL)


certain disclosures recently made i'm
Keystone, in Mcdowell county, West
Virginia. The disgusting and de-
grading state of affairs, disgusting
and degrading alike to self-respecting
negroes, as well rs white people), is
declared TO be the result OF the abuse
and misuse of political privileges
conferred upon the negroes.
The NewsLeader In Richmond, in
commenting upon the incident from
political point of view, calls atten-
tion to the significant fact, that
Tazewell and Mcdowell counties adj
join, and that, by singular coinci-
dence, Tazewell and Mcdowell have
identically the same number OF adult
negroes-males, 1882, and calls at
tention forcefully To the difference I'm
existing conditions in the two coun-
ties. Says the News-L Leader: Both
are Republican counties. TazewelI,
however, is in Democratic state, in
which the nergo is forced and kept
out of politics. Mcdowell Is i'm Re-
publican state in which the nergo
holds the balance of power and con-
trolls conditions. On one side OF
the line we have peace and order and
civilization; on the other side condi-
tions as bad, rs degrading, as dis
graceful as any i'm Dahomey or
Haiti. "
And here comes in the teaching Of
this object lesson in politics. There
was time when just such n state of
affairs could have existed, and did
actually exist, i'm parts of Virginia
and other states in the south. In GER
tain localities in Virginia, where
the negroes were In the majority,
and every adult negro, however
vicious or ignorant, had the right To
vote, conditions similar TO those
disclosed in the article referred 10
existed. Led on by unscrupulous
politicians, black and white, the
ignorant, viscious and dangerous elec-
torate threatened the overthrow OF
society and the utter perversion OF n
white man government. The Demo-
Gratis of the south, in spite of the
fifteenth amendment, and the opposi-
ton of the Republican party, by con-
stitutional enactment took the ballot
out Of the hands of this Ignorant and
vicious electorate, and thereby rem
dercd forever impossible, legally and
lawfully, such combinations and
conditions as exist in our sister coun-
ty in West Virginia, and we have
peace and order and decency. But
now comes the distressing, discourag-
ing and surprising fact that Republi-
can newspapers and speakers In this
state bitterly denounce the Democrats
for DISTINGUISHING the nergo and for
putting him out of politics, and
placing him where he is beyond the
reach of doing ether himself or the
white people harm. In every cam
paign, on every stump the charges
are rung on these suffrage clauses OF
the new constitution. Do these
newspapers and speakers and the
party which they claim to represent
want the clauses repealed and the
nergo reinstated with the right To
vote, and with the power, II he sees
fit TO use it, TO bring about West
Virginia conditions ? How can Mr..
Slemp, an intelligent Virginian and
highly respected citizen and gentle
man, give his support and encourage
ment TO such a position? How can
this object lesson In politics be
ignored? In closing its comment on
the BIuefield Learder's article the
Richmond NewsLeader says:
1--WE hoped we were rid of the
negro question. All of us are tired
of it and ashamed of it and eager tC
give our attention To subjects more
pleasant and more improving TO the
mind. But the Republicans hav,
forced that hateful issue on us once
more. They have done 1t in thei
general platform and by local utter
ances of protest against disfranchise
ment of the negro. Therefore, let th,
South meet the challenge that hal
been given. Let the people of Taze
| we'll c0unfu and tho uhoIa NfnfI