Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-08-15

30. in spite oi The malice which h d given
them such stdltling proofs OF lis ltrce
ness and unScrupulOuSness, they sun
trusted 10 their Owl conscious roctItudc
and their peaceful spirit TO protect them
But. alas there is diabolsm in parts
OF the South which no goodness can pro-
piliate, and a malevolence which no gen.
tleness can subdue. The fact is beyond
question.
In May last Mrs. Willis was broken in
health by her great sufferings, and Mr.
Twitchell and Mr.. King, who were absent
in New Orleans, were sent Tor. Ihey
started Immediately. and as they were
crossing Red River in a small boat, on
approaching to within four or five yards
OF the shore horseman appeared on the
bank, and, Unbuttoning his lage coat,
took from under it n Henry repeating
rifle, from which he discharged fifteen
shots ut the men in the boat. Mr.. King
was instantly killed. Mr.. Twitchell was
wounded IN one leg and in both arms,
and Was LETT by the bandit for dead
Alter the assassin was gone, however. the
faithful colored boatman, who was him
wo, nded, lifted the mutiiated man into
the boat again out OF which he had sprung
Tor safety, and conveyed him to Spring
vile, where the Army surgeon was com
PEELED to amputate both arms, but was
able 10 save the wounded leg.
The faithful sister, smitten by shock
after shock, and almost PROSTATE as the
result of them, still came 10 her brothers
side, and waited aud watched. The sur
geon also watched, and night after hight
sat with rifle on his knee ready TO de-
fend his patient from the midnight assault
of some chyalrous Southron.
At length the brother and sister were
able TO start for the North, being furnish
ed part OF the way with military es-
cort. As soon as they reached region
OF safety the fearful nervous tension by
which Mrs. Willis had kept up gave way.
and she rapidly approached her end
Chronic dread of evil from murderers
became too heavy TOR her. In her last
illness in this house she would wake.
look around her half bewildered and
alarmed, then close her eyes again, and
on opening them again and recognizing
her friends would say weakly, Yes. |
know you; am not afraid OF you; you
are Marshall's friend : and Ike soothed
child she would lie quietly down to rest.
And so the weary wheels at last stood
still. Her husband, her brother, and her
sisters and their husbands all sleep in
Southern graves, and every male relative
was murdered.
la her last moments her only surviving
brother was unable TO do any thing tor her
except 10 weep. a nurse mnst have hands
and be able TO walk. No wonder she died
without dread. She was too weary ol
human cruelty aud wrong to desire to
remain longer here. She sent word TO
her mother, now in New England, that
she had no lear of dying; she gave her
last requests To her friends and then de.
parted, ietus trust, TO where "the wicked
cease from troubling and The weary are
Ut rest
We are sometimes accused Of Haunting
,he bloody shirt for political effect; OF re-
viving memories which ought to sleep IN
iorgetlulness of dragging before the
startled aud unwilling eyes Ot lhls age
the ghas,ly skeletons OF horror which,
but tor our persistence. would have been
forgotten before now. But this to-day IS
no mere memory. This is no buried
horror Just now newly exposed tor tragic
feet. This woman. whose weary body
we to-day carry TO a new-made grave. is
almost as much the victim OF Southern
cruelty AS though some assassln's bullet
had pierced her heart. They have loaded
her with horrors until her Trail body could
endure it 10 longer. indianapolis is
called to-day to the task OF burying one
OF the victims OF Southern hate, and the
victim is woman. And what OF her
only surviving male relaiive' Is this
some ancient terror? some forgotten
wrong but just now restated Tor effect!
His wounds are not yet healed they are
almost fresh enough TO be ghastly.-
Scarcely three months ago he was as well
as any Of US, and now he is so helpless
that he cannot wipe away his own tears.
And this is America, 1.-THE land OF the
iIee and the home OF the brave" the
land whose historic boast has been its
Southern chivalry; the land where men
can think as they please, and speak what
hey think; the land where more has
teen said about freedom and the rights
Of man than has been said IN al other
nations since time began. Oh, how the
eloquence of these mute lips rebuSes and
scaIhes US in our bOastlng. Oar talk oil
freedom is a sarcasm. These white lips
10 mock at US Freedom for the South
yet waits its natal day.
am sure | say only what these lips
would say coud they speak, and only
what this brother will approve, when |
ask. not as partisan, but as man Has
the time come Tor US to elevate this pro-
scription into power9 Shall we dare.
with these facts before US, TO enthrone
the political principles with which these
sssassins are identified? Shall we give
to such gigantic and bloody wrongs as
these the sanction of political victory ?
1t becomes US TO consider the question,
not as partisans. but as men who love
freedom and as Christians who love God.