The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-10
The Georgia Murders-why taOy are Com
mittsd

mitted
The Southern Radical b,uuderbus is thus
un,oaded and spiked by a Georgia cores
pondent of the New York Times, which is
sufficiently "loya" to raise It above the sns.
piclon Of circulating democratic documents
unless truth and fairness require it
Politics have no. more to do with the
murders which have taken place in Georgia
than the religion, dress, height, or personal
appearance of the victims. Ashburn was
killed by the company which usually FIRE
gueuts negro houses Of III fame. Aver was
killed by "a negro who had refused ~ allow
him to become q bosrder 10 a negro board.
ny house. Both Ashburn and Aver were
men Of abandoned character and most pro
hfgAte habits. and however, for greater pol.
iucA emphasis, their names may be paradei
as the Honorable Mr.. Ashburu aud the
Honorable Mr.. Aver, those who knew their
history, If they tell the truth, must admit
that long before either had any political US.
ptratOus, no decent negro would have per
mltted them TO associate with him. Adkins,
who is represented by the Writer'S Of sensa
erabte and exemplary preacher Of the gospeA
was also notorious debaucher His negro
aDlDurs are moro numerous than the mum.
Der OF his years. lie was at one time u
Baptist exhorter, but for many years, since
his example was found to square 50 liz with
his precep.s he has been regarded as a very
dIsrepu.abs hypOcrit, with whom nobody
but the lowest aud most abandoned had any
associations. These are the facts, which
can be corroberated by the testimony Of
thousands, whose word nobody
who knows them would hesitate to
believe. would not depart from
the rule to say nothing but good of The
dead, # 1t were not necessary 10 protect the
living Hgaius. cruel Misrepresentation aud
wrong. Is 1t anything surprising that man
who takes up his residence IN negro brothel
aud has no associates but those who frcQueu,
such places should meet violent death
Is it wonderful that q man who has fallen 5,
low rs to be even refused admission 10 a
negro boarding house, and who was known
10 have several hundred dollars on his per.
son, should be robbed and murdered rs he
wandered about among the negro cabins
asking for place to lay his head Or is it
so unnatural that one addicted to the lowest
prolaIayg, and who, 1t is proved, made in.
decent oVerturts 10 respectable young lady
should fall q victim to tho anger Of some of
the friends and relatives Of the iusulted girl
1t is true that oil three were radical po'ili
cans. 1t is true that they were brutaliy
murdered But they were murdered for
their vices BY some OF their vicious associ.
ates or, as in the case Of Adkins, they we're
murdered By those whose honor and the
sanctIty of whose family they had attempted
10 outrage
Let any man select the same society and
character Of residence IN any part of the
world, as did Ashburn aud Aver, oy Yet nm
puysue the same habits Of hte as ana AdhIn'
and the wonder would be that he should d.
natural death. These men were political
ly obnoxious, bu! not nearly as much so q
an hundred others whom | could name who
more observaut Of the decencies of life, g
about daily without the least molestation o
threat. Even were the people of Georgi
wiling to instlgate assassination as wa
to get rid of political opponents, why shoul,
they commit the crime on such obscure foe
as Ashburn. Aver, and Adkins, and leave
the leaders in peace and safety? What or
earth could any political party gain by the
death of any or all Of these men?