Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-11-12
Intimidation"
The Way the GeOrgians sTerrorize'
Negroes into Voting the
Democratic Ticket.


So much is being said nova
days about intimidation and ter
roism Of n agro voters at the South,
that the following illustration of
the way it is done will become of
interest, as showing how negroes
weere inundated into voting the
Democratic ticket during the re-
cent election in Georgia A cor1
respondent of-ihe Republican re.
Gently travelling in the South saw
at Chattanooga a number of ne
groes who, in charge of white
boss. were OH their way to work
on the Cincinnati Southern. road.
They had been doing froad
work in Georgia. E
Entering into conversation with
the white boss of the gang, The
correspondent asked if the report
that the Georgia negroes largely
voted the Democratic ticket Was
true.
"Oh, yes" was the reply; "a
great many of them did. All of
the gang You see here with me vo-
ted the Democratic ticket at
Rome" How did you induce
them to do so; by threats or by
persuasionP"
The man laughed. "There is
old Uncle Nelson" said he, point,
ing to a Congo patriarch who sat
on a pile of lumber with a cane
in his hand and venerable look
ing carpet-sack at his feet. "There
is old Uncle Nelson; he carries
water tor the gang week days and
breaches to them Sundays. Ask
him, he viii tell you"
The correspondent approached
the venerable African With
Uncle, they tell me ,ou are a
Democratic darkey, and that you
preach Democracy to your con
gregation. How is p
"Well, Bos>; | recon you se
hearn bout right. | voted de
Democratic ticket when Ise down |
in Jorjy."
But thought, Uncle, that all
the darkies vuled the Republican
ticket always, unless they were
scared away from the polls or
scared into voting the Democratic |
ticket. Were YOU scared into vo;
ting the Democratic liaket?''
"Lor bless you, I'se neler scarf
no way. | done vote de way de
boss axed me to an so did alllde
balance, cos de boss tote fair wid
us an Go de right ting.
"Tell me about it.. ~Jaa. -t /
"Well. you see one day de boss
he say, 'Boys, Is'e done been TO
Rome and had you all registered
to vote. Den be say, Boys,
come up to my shanty, Use got
some of de true Democratic doc
triue up dar.' So We all folIer de
boss up to his shanty. Den he
bring oct a big demijohn an a
.up an ham round de whisky
lar. Boys be say, dat whisky
come all de way from Kentucky,
made dat whisky in a
Democratic still, out of Democrat
&c corn, an Use just poured it out
of Democratic demijohn into a
Democratic cup for you all to
drink Den we all laff. Boys
le boss say, 'Bimeby de Election
'ome. Den | glib you all holiday.
Your pay go on jis same as if you
. work ali day. We all 60 down
0 Rome an hab a good time. Il
BAYS all de bills. You drink all
lie good Democratic whisky you
a,ant.
swell, den, in two or free weeks
lie boss came agin one night an
ay: Boys, come up to my shanty;
more OBJ dat true Democratic doc
:rine up dar.' So we all go.
Den he bring aut dat same Demo
cratic demijohn an pour dat same
Democratic whisky into dat same
Democratic cup. | tell you it
mighty good Den de boss ne
say: Boys, we all 60 down to
Rome and hab good time to-
No work. Heap O
sun. Ipays all de bills All de
in Rome is like dis
Democratic whiskey. You vote
lie Democratic ticket and dat
whisky make you all fat. But
It pizen cherry man dat votes de
Radical ticket sure. Den we all
aft, We kroT boss jokin' bout dat
Dizenin, but we make up our
min to vote de Democratic ticket
,os de boss tote far wild as an we
ike to please him. So we all go
Town &; &c T. Rene ii an march right up