The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-12-07
A HOPEFUL CIRCUMSTANCE.
There is a good deal that is farcical

1ASIS Is d ROOU U6e11 tu6t 10 1dlClC1ti VI
worse about the presence of the visiting
statesmen at New Orleans to supervise
the officers of louisiana in the perfor-
nance of their duties, but alter all it is
possible that good may come of it. Il
the Democratic visitors will bear true
witness to what they see and learn, they
can do much toward effecting a settle
ment not only of the presidential ques-
ton, but of the whole Southern prob
lem.
During the session of the Returning
Board on Tuesday, the colored woman
Pinkston was brought in on cot, and
holding up her left arm, her right being
shattered, took the oath and told her
story. The scene is thus described in a
special to The Inter Ocean:
During the latter's pitiful recital that
her husband had been emasculated and
then killed before her eyes, that her
babes throat was cut in her arms, and
limbs mutilated, and finally that she was
outraged by two white Democrats, ex-
Gov. John NJ. Palmer leaped from his
chair and said in wrath, eff this story
be false, those who prepared it for this
poor woman should be hanged. But II,
as I firmly believe, it is true, the wretch
es who can perpetrate such atrocities
should be executed without mercy. L
will spend $4,000 to ferret out this case.
It looks true. This poor woman has
certainly been cruelty wronged. The
question is broader than president MAX
ing It is one of humanity. If she has
told the truth Sheridan should come
back at once and hold with grip ofiron
a people who can see such lnfamy with
out renonstrance, even in their public
prints!" Gov. Palmer was greatly eX-
cited while making these remarks, and
astounded the Louisiana Democrats who
tried in vain to pacify him. Gen. Geo.
B. Smith, of Wisconsin, also exhibited
much excitement, and turning upon the
local Democrats, said: ''You have de-
deived US - Subsequently Lyman
Trumbul who was absent from the room
during the woman's recital, fatty con-
CURED with Palmer. The demoraliza
ton of the Democrats here is complete,
not only because of the facts disclosed,
but because of the names of leading
Democrats who are exposed in detail as
the murderers and ravishers.
OF course nothing is said Of this Incl
dent by the New Orleans agent of the
Associated Press, who reports nothing
that is not to the advantage of the bull
dozers. 4 correspondent of The Chi
cage Times, however, is less unfair and
refers to the circumstance, saying that
''the woman's story and exhibition OF
her wounds before the Board seemed to
have marked effect upon Democrats as
well as Republicans. Gov. Palmer of
Illinois, said that il the woman's story
was true, the Parish Of Ouachita ought
to be sunk into hell. He has declared
himself determined to probe the matter
to the bottom.
Now this suggests how Gov. Palmer
and the others may render a great ser
vice to the country and gain for them
selves an honorable fame. And it is not
too much to expect of Gov. Palmer or
ex-senator Trumbull that theywill do SO.
We are compelled to add that we look
with less confidence to Hon. George B.
Smith, of this State, for he has never
shown a capacity to rise above party,
and attain the plane of Judicial and pat
riotc craftsmanship. But let all OF
them if they will, or as many as have the
right spirit, follow this line of inquiry
with a determination to get all the full
and exact facts. Let them ascertain
whether this woman's story is not true.
Then let them learn whether such events
have not been common in nunerousparta
of Louisiana for the last 3 OF months.
Let them further satisfy themselves
whether like practices did not prevail in
half dozen of the Southern States.
Having procured these facts, the first
use that they should make of themshould
be to bring them to bear on Gov. Tilden.
They shonld state to him plainly what
means were employed III the South to
secure his election. They should ex-
plain to him that there are thirty OF
more electoral votes claimed for him
that are only his by denial of the bal
lot to thousands of citizens, by fraud
and intimidation, and by violence and
murder. They should tell him that if
he becomes president, he will be simply
the creature Of these crimes. Finally,
should advise him to instantly and in
the most public and unequivocal man.
ner withdraw all claims and pretentions
to the presidency. and to recognize the
right of Gov. Hayes to that Office. Such
demand upon him, from such a source
with forciable statement of the facts
upon which it is based could scarcely
fail to be effectual; at least it would re-
quire great effrontery On the part ofGov.
Tilden to resist it.
L nus dIl tIlC uIlucuitlSS duu OGuS5iS
growing out of the presidential election
would be obivated. But that is not the
only end to be attained Mr.. Palmer
and his colaborers in this cause should
then rally the Democrats OF the North
to the duty of putting stop to these
outrages. Northern Democrats have
not been wholly guiltless in this matter.
They have absolutely. encouraged theil
Southern bretheren to shoot negroes,
but they have kept very busy denying
that negroes were shot in the South, and
thus they have aided materially in Sc
curing immunity to the ,ssassiEs. Gov.
Palmer and the other Democratic visi-
tors at New Orleans have it in their
power to establish the facts so that they
can not be denied, and this is the main
condition precedent to the suppression
of such wrongs. 1t is monstrous to sup
pose that it can be an issue between the
two parties whether negroes ought or
ought not to be murdered
The first thing is to have the fact that
they are murdered in large numbers
made known upon high Democratic au-
tnority. When that is done we prefer
TO believe that the Democrats of the
North will unite with the Republicans
in taking measures that will prevent
such crimes. And probably the most
effectual measures of all would bea clear
declaration from prominent Northern
Democrats that outrages upon negroes
in the South must cease at once and
forever,