The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-18
ELECTION ETHICS.


ELECTION ETHICS.
SCENES FROM RECENT POLITICAL. HISTORY IN
TENNEssEE-soME STRIKING RESULTS OF A
LOCAL ELECTION.
A correspondent OF the Louisville Cour-
ier-Journal, writing from GAINESVILLE,
Tenn, gives a coed description of exciting
election scenes in that State: We have lust
passed through one of those virulent cleo
ton excitements which are seemingly so
necessary to good repu blicau form of gov
eminent. A man can not reside any length
of time i'm a lunatic asylum without being
liable to become crack Drained: neither can
he breathe the tainted atmosphere without
being subjected TO the disorders which it
engenders. As natural consequence, the
whole community, during the recent
est pitch of excitement, and bitter feelings
have existed only to be blotted out
ard remembered no more for
ever az the close of the polls.
On Tuesday, handbills were freely circu-
lated throughout our thoroughfares an
nouncing the fact that 81. p. NJ. Watkins.
Esq. formerly of Clarksville), of Howard
University, Washington, ID. c., would de-
liver a lecture at the courthouse, upon the
late Charles Sumner, his civil rights BILL
and the Freedmen's Bank. Admission p
cents" This was not exactly carrying the
war here. Watkins Is col0red man who
formerly occupied a position of barber in
one of the shops iii this city, and quite crowd
of colOred people, inberspersed here and
there with a white man, assembled at the
courthouse to listen to his siren notes. His
speech was one of those useles fanfsronades
calculated to engender feelings of hostility
between the races and result in no good to
his class. One of his arguments in favor of
sustaining the FreedmeD's Bank was that no
stealing had been done, and that the whole
cause OF the trouble surrounding the institu-
ton was mistake made by the directors in
little land speculation, for which they
paid only $4,000 more than was necessary.
This, however, was only a clerical error
the clerks having made a mistake
for which they We're not to blame.
as they have not yet arrived TO that de-
gree of perfection attained by the white peo-
ple in addition, division and subtraction
His speech has had its effect with his people,
and at tine same time has drawn, henceforth
and ioreveTmore, a distinct line between the
races which will result in the future in
establishing a white mans and a black
mans party in this county. The negroes
with the few radicals who work them as the
potter does his clay, have held the balance
of power in all elections, heretofore and
have generally sold out 70 the highest bidder
upon such occasions. But at the election
Just held, ii is source Of -congratulation to
this community to know that all the candi-
dates who attempted to ride into power upon
the backs of cOlored voters were thoroughly
routed.
THE NIGHT BEFORE ELECTION
the clans assembled at the court house to
hear discussion of the points at issue be-
tween the numerous candidates for county
Offices. The old temple of Justice was as
closely jammed as it probably would have
beed h,.d Beecher's trial been progressing
within its walls. While the debate was pro-
ceeding an old animated countryman feel
ing his patriotism boiling but his whisky
more sol, arose from his seat and was max
ing numerous gyraticns around the open
space between the audience and the speakers
stand. A policeman endeavored TO lead
the old patriot from the room, to which
he was strenuously opposed.
y row resulted, and some thoughtless per-
son suggested ''pistol." Remembering the
Hsrrodsburg tragedy, which was so ably re-
ported in the Courier-Journal, the audience
was taken with a general leaving, at which
time the benefits of the civil rights bill were
most beautifully illustrated, for there was a
perfect rush and jam of white folks sand
wiched between darkies for the space OF
two minutes. Chalk and lampblack |
cologne water and asafetida in one hurly-
bHrly rush for the outside world. Above
all the noise made by the movement of feet
and the confusion of tongues coald be heard
the voice of the reporter of one of the city
papers as he was safely slowed away in a
window, singing this gentle refrain:
"Inky, minl1y, stinky, o.
II this amt glory, tell me So"
The crowd rushed pell nell into the
street: many left tor their quiet homes at an
accelerated speed, which would have done
honor 10 Nashville Girl. Some put a brick
block of buildings between them and the
court house, while one more daring spirit
slid gracefully from the second story
of the court house down one of
the front poarch pillars. One friend
we interviewed gave as an
excuse for leaving so hastily that he had
but small policy on his life, and he was
afraid the company was not very solvent.
Order was soon restored, the aforementioned
pistol proved to be the crooked handle of
an umbrella, and the speaking continued
until late hour, amid the yells and jeers
of large portion of the audience. Any
one walking along the street, in front of the
court house, would have imagined that a
whole regiment of Balasm's asses had as
sembled to outvie each other in brsying.
Such rowdyism is a disgrace to any COM
munity, and the proper authorities should
take the necessary steps to punish anything
of the kind in the future.
Tho uunnhar Of xvhito oh.1drau otxVoan