Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-03-04
Alabama-Report or the Investigating
Committee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. ~
The majority report Of the committee who
went to Alabama TO investigate the affairs in
that state Is signed by Messrs. Coburn, Al.
! society and political parties In the State prior
to the election. At the commencement OF the
| campaign the Republicans were denounced
| as common enemies of the white race, whose
| suppression was necessary to the prcserva-
ton of that race. Long before the ling
| of a convention on either side Democratic
newspapers were filled with appeals to the
white people Of the State to stand as united
against the advance of the Republicans. These
appeals were founded on pretended assump.
tons OF Republican aggression as charged by
Democratic politicians. In order to inname
the white men and arouse the deadliest Of
human passions the Democratic press of the
State were filled with accounts of negroes
arming and drilling in order to intimidate the
whites, and that negro military companies
were being organized for the same unlawful
purpose. Pointed inquiry on this subject
totally disproved every assumption of the
character, and established the further fact
that not single military company existed
within the borders of the State. These in-
cendiary appeals produced disastrous effect,
and the wonder is that it was not more so,
and the committee believe that but for the
timely interference Of the Administration in
Louisiana affairs a revolution would have
been precipitated upon the people Of Ala
Dama. 1t was not long before an era Of in.
timdation, social ostraclsm, personal violence
and murder was inaugurated and the true
men who stood by the faith OF the Republj-
can party were subjected to series of indig
mites and maltreatment heretofore witnessed
only in savage warfare and unworthy Of the
Christian age in which we live
The principal objective point, how
ever, of the Democracy seemed to
be to crush out the white leaders. To this
end the new feature Of American politics, Of
social and business ostracism, was introduced
These few OF the notorious facts which
convinced the committee that the campaign
of the Democratic party In Alabama was made
against the colored man and his white ally,
and all other Issues were buried out of sight.
Appeals were made to the passion and preju-
dice, and principles and lag were not in
voked, but the CANVASS on the part of the Dem.
ocrats was inaugurated in bitterness and
strife and ended IN victory won by fraud, VIC.
lenee, prescription, intimidation and murder.
The evidence shows that the political meet
| ings Of the colorcd men were broken up by
| armed Democrats, who went among the
negroes, burning their churches because Re-
| publican meetings were held in them. Col
| ored men were threatened with loss OF EN-
| ployment unless they voted The Democratic
ticket. Black lists Of colored men were PIE
| pared for future dismissal Pledge meetings
were gotten up, to which colored men were
| brought under pain oil dismissal from efn
| ployment White Republicans were insnlted
| and maltreated, and business taken from
them. THIS enumeration embraces some OF
! the methods by which the White Mans party
| proposed to carry the State OF Alabama. The
| state authorities were pOwerless to quiet the
| disturbance, protect its citizens and enforce
| the law. Officers were in league with The
| law breakers. The courts Of justice were
| I,owerlcss TO make arrests, and the Governor
nad no militia to obey willing officers except
| the very men who were committing depreda'
| tions. Under all the circumstances, the com
mittee say: "Our one regrets that there were
| not more United States soldiers than there
was for the purpose of aiding In the enforce
nent Of law. Up 10 the time wheh the
| troops arrived the Republican party re-
NAMED dormant" The liberty OF speech was
| throttled, and the leaders Of the party were
unable to take active measures IN the cam
paign But they did SO, and the story Oh no"
| brsyely and how sterDly they met The storm
OF obloquy, reproach and personal. danger
| that eByIroned them deserves prlsat page
! in the annals OF American history, The best