St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-05-19
Democratic Blindness.


late number Of the Burlington Free Press
and Times:
The Boston Post ayers that ''tho
South affords as safe abode for loyal cItl
zens as sections Of cur country at any
other points of the compass" The Post
adds: eff people going there will be-
have well they will be treated well, and
most ioylully welcomed for their assist
ancc in building up what has been torn
down, and restoring prosperity equally
beneficial to the South and the North,
the East and the West" There are
none 81 blind rs those that wont see, and
the SUCCESS with which the democrats OF
the North See anything but the ku-klnx
ouIragc5 at the South Is Il notable cNam-
pllication Of the adagc.
What, pray, will the Post do with 4
case like that of Mr.. ii. c. Luce, an
iron-mastrr who went down to North
Carolina two years ago to snelt pig iron,
and who tells lis story in a clear, de-
tailed and evidently truthful narration in
the New \ ork Tribune. Mr.. Luce was
man exactly of the kind described by
the Pot a. certain to be treated well. lie
was of the class of citizens that the South
Greatly needs He went to North Caro-
lima for no political object, but to carry
capital tlither; to buld up what has
been torn down, and TO restore the lost
prosperity. " hen Mr.. Luce went to
Charlotte, y. C., the county had repnbli-
can officers, and its people Were living at
peace with each other. Mr.. Luce and
his associates employed 4 considerable
wood choppers. ore liggerS, &c, and
were for a time very popular, rs they
well might be- Being seven miles from
any church they started Il free meeting
on Sundays, and added Sunday school :;
but, in order to excite no prejudice, they
had separate sessions at different hours
for whites and blacks. Nothing was cv-
er said of politics, and no colurc'i person
was ever admitted to the white school.
Last May the democracy began to a"i-
tate for tie State election in August.
Then commenced Ku-kluN raids and
midnight whppings of negroes who were
conspicuous rs ''radical5: :" then Il white
republican was whipped, and hir mother
and daughter abused, and they Were told
that should he AGAIN vote the radical
ticket lc should be hung. y young
Episcopal clergyman, who had been =
soldier in the rebel army, was ordered 10
l,.,,,. tl,, at ,It4pth I,,.-
cause Il nero Sunday school was main
tanel by lls church. though entirely dis
tinct from the white congregation. Ihi>
was on Admiral Wilkcs's estate One
colorcd family was attacked in lis cabin,
whipped, and its school. books and Hiblr
burned to ashes OF course the effect
was the breaking up Of the church and
school. Soon after, Mr.. Luce was >erv
ed with notice, including rude draw
ing of Il man hanging 10y the neck, and
Il threat, "lou are hereby ordered 10
stop negro schools and nero equality,
or death is your portion" The false
report was circulated that he had incitrl
the blacks TO rrtalate on their peIsacu-
tors. Iii, white ncighbor, all advised
the closing of the Sunday school, and Ia
had 10 choice bat To close it. In the
midst of these troubles the election tool,
place, and the county went democratic
by Ii majority, though Mr.. l.. has no
doubt that both county and State would
have gone republican ii all those who
wanted to vote that way had dared to do
50.
Oh course his enterprise langui>heI,yr
he continued it, and had just opened Il
new orc-bcd from which he was ready
to produce eight tons of iron per day,
when hG was obliged 10 come north on
business, whcIcupon his property was
seized on attachment and closed out,
and his business wound up at Il heavy
los.
Mes,rs. W. Il. NcrniIyc and David
lloadlcy, two OF the most substantial
and widely known citizens of New York,
testify to Mr. Luce integrity and cpaci-
ty.
Now, what, IN the light Of such
case rs Thu, becomes OF the frequent as
sertion III democratic journals that only
the pestilent, corrupt, office seeking car
p2t-baggcrs" stand in any danger of mo-
lcstation at the south OF course life
and property are not equally insecure in
all portions of the south. Bat the evil
dence is undeuiable that in large portions
of the south no man is safe who is not a
Il sympathizer with the re-
bcllion, and democrat This is the
case as it has been How it i, going to
be under the operation Of the ku-klux
law of Congress. remains To he seen