Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-10-31
MOUNT JACKSON, October 20 1907.


by the returns, very many of the people in this
district, who were duly registered and entitled
to vote, remained away from the polls on the
day Of election, whilst the negroes and their
nominally white brethren. of the Loyal League
were present in much larger force than was
| expected. The absence Of The whites from the
polls may be attributed partly to the impress
sion very generally prevailing in the public
imperilled liberties would be afforded when
the question Of the ratification of the Constita-
ton is submitted to the people, and partly to
an apathy and Indifference which appear
strange, indeed, when the magnitude and i'm
portance Of the interests involved in the con-
test are considered. There are, I suppose,
more negroes registered at this precinct than
at any .other in the county, ewing to the fact
that many Of them find employment and sup
port ON the large plantations in this vicinity
These negroes are organized and led by I'M
principled men, who are using them for their
own selfish purposes, and Turing them to ulti-
mate destruction. Such is the discipline en-
forced through the fundamentally of the
Loyal Leagues that the negroes voted the
Radical ticket with a unanimity that has new
err been known among thinking people. This
is of itself sufficient evidence that they are no
more fit to exercise the right Of suffrage than.
a drove of cattle, and that voting with them is
Il merely me cLanical operation. Every negro
in the county, crcept one, voted the Radical
ticket. The exception was Old uncle Willough-
By, who lives with Erasmus F. Rinker, Esa.,
and who voted at this precinct for MessTs.
Walton and Rust and against Convention in
defiance Of the threats, promises and solicita-
tons Of the Loyal Leaguers. lie remained
true to the Southern people through the entire
war, and nc threats or promises Of the Yankees
could ever induce him to betray those with
whom he lived. His devotion remains unchan-
ged, and he has the sagacity to see his own
true interests and those Of his race. He kncws
that tie negroes caunos permanently remain
in the ascendancy over the whites, and that
reaction will bring retribution in the end In
thus voting according TO the true interests Of
his race, bat contrary to, their preuiices, he
displayed a courege ana fidelity which arc de-
serving Of all praise 1t was with difficulty
that the indignant Loyal Leaguers could be
restrained from ipaicting violence en- the old
man for daring to vote his sentiments. Not
witLstanding the vote WAS by ballot, AMI the
proceedings of the Loyal League are conducted
in the darkness Of night and with the utmost
secrecy, the names Of nearly all the whites
who voted with the negroes at this precinct
are known. Many of these had been passing
themselves OF as lluc Southern men up to The
day Of election, and had on several occasions
repealed the slightest insinuation that they
belonged to the League, or would condescend
to conspire with the negroes tie effect the ruin
of the people from whom they were receiving
patronage aud support, Now that their trea-
cherry Is known. they seem to feel deeply the
disgrace they have brought upon themselves
ia afiliating with the negroes in this unloly
crusade against oar people, and they carry
about with them u sAeey-stealiDg cast Of
countenance. Some Of these men were sedu-
ced into the League by their love of whiskey,
which has been used here as q motive power,
and they may yet :pe out tosone extent the
disgrace they haze incurred, and redeem them
selves in the opinion Of our people, by at once
withdrawing from The infamous dsrk-laptern
organization, and at the next election voting
the Conservative ticket. / believe many of
them VIII do 50, and that our district viii pre-
sent faireI record at the next election
sfti ~ " p