Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-27
From the Republic
49,. .-.. r,. From the Republic.
Burning COlOred SchoOl-hOuse'
and Churches.


Burning COlOred schoOl-houses
and Churches.
Doythe democracy of the South mean
to challenge the attention of the world by
deeds Of outrage and vilainy that shock
the sense of every thinking being' All
civilized nations have regard to the relig-
ious convictions of their citizens, and pre-
fer to see the erection of places of wor-
ship rather than their destruction. Edu-
cation also is looked upon as a necessity,
inasmuch as ignorance has been found to
be far more costly to the State than in
struction; and it is better to teach the
masses of the people, in order that they
may peacefully support themselves by la
Dor, than to do so after the character has
been lost, and as punishment for crime.
But the Southern democracy do not appear
to regard either education or religion as
of any value to the citizen, for they have
often made away with the school fund.
and even the school and church buildings
themselves. I
The parish of De Soto, in Louisiana,
has been the scene of some characteristic
exploits of the democracy. Before the
war it had a population of 1928, Of
whom 4.791 were free and 8.507 slaves
There are no slaves now, but the colored
citizens are in majority and she white
democrats are determined that they shall
not have the advantages of school instruc-
ton if they can help It, How inconsis.
tent and criminal Democrats complain OF
the ignorance of the colored man, and
then burn down the school-houses in
which be was to be educated and the
church buildings in which he worshipped.
As far as can be ascertaned there had
been no .disturbancein DE Soto to irritate
the delicate sensibility of the democracy :
bat there is a strong republican majority
In the parish. The usual democratic in
ducements had been offered to colored
voters to support the democratic ticket.
These had failed; and the white minority
was vexed at the cstubborness of the COL
ored people who corld not be persuaded
that the men who had owned their bodies,
and bought and sold them, and put the
money in their pockets, or made them
work from dawn to dark without paying
wages, We're their most devoted friends.
Blood had also flowed in that parish--hu-
man blood--and of course that of repub-
licans. A reign of terror had to be inau-
gurated. The shotgun and the revolver,
the hangman's rope and the lash were
ready. But a master stroke of policy had
to usher in the outrages resolved upon to
intmidate republicans. So the torch was
added to the implements of democratic So
licitude for the colored mans welfare; and
the work of the torch becomes the subject
o. report In the Southern journals. The
colored school-houses on Amos Hender-
sons and Robert Holmes places, on the
Keachi and Logansport road, were burned
to the ground few nights ago. Mount
Zion colored church, in the same locality,
was visited hy the parties who did the
burning of the school-houses, and the fur
niture was defaced in most disgraccful
manner. Another school-house, on diff
erent road, in the same locality. was
burned the same night.
No doubt these burnings were consid-
cred as the strongest evidence of demo-
cratic zeal on behalf Of the colored peo-
pie thatcould be produced at the moment.
Ordinarily. however. they could hardly be
expected to call forth much love from the
persons Interested. The democrats said
they had to strike the blow and if il either
drove the eolored voters from or TO the
polls. and the democratic ticket got the
benefit OF it, the Object was attained.
whether ii was through love or fear.
One Southern journal, perhaps, took
view Of the transactions which presents it
in light that most persons will be VII
ling to thiak. though sensible, might have
been made stronger. 1t says:
"We take occasion to remark that SUCH deed.
should not be tolerated BY the better thinking men
OF that locality. They certainly reflect no credit
upon the conmunify and the hot heads who per-
petrsied them shoufdbe checked in their mad ca
reer. II was in this same locality that Squire
Hesdrick was killed during the campaign OF 1874
and the law abiding people snouI assert their
power right IN the beginning, and put stop TO
such proceedings 10 this anpalgu. One of the
scbooi'hsuses burned Was useo as u church also.
This riilainy was perpeuated just be.
fore the passage of MIR. Scott Lords reso-
luton. The record has been made. and
the evidsDee OF, its truth consists 10 the
scattered children Of the colored families /;
In the honseless churches that assemble
now in the fields for worship, and the