Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-02
The Louisiana Terror.


The Louisiana Terror.
The evidence of Eliza Pinkston before
the Returning Board OF Louisiana in rela-
ton to the atrocity of which she and her
family were victims. has aroused the
country to shuddering Indignation at the
horrible crime itself and the barbarous
system Of intimidation for political pur-
poses of which II Is only one example
amongst thousands. Her testimony as it
was given may be found in our columns
this morning. 1t ought to be read in
every home In the broad land where there
are hearts TO feel and heads to understand
the terrible exposure of brutality and vio-
lence which it makes. No wonder that
Gov. Palmer and Trumbull and others of
the men who had gone to Louisiana in the
interest Of Mr.. Tilden were shocked when
this simple woman told her awful story OF
wrong and showed the wounds inflicted
upon her person by the numbering Ku
Klux. Brought face to face with the
damning reality of southern cruelty and
oppression employed to crush out the
black vote and give "solid South" to
Tllden. their natural and better feelings
predominated for the moment, and they
exclaimed against the barbarity practised
upon Mrs. Pinkston and her family with
~ much vehemence as the republicans
This case" said Gov. Palmer, "is not
one of tho election of President 1t in
wolves the dignity and honor of human ma
ture." ~
or the Louisiana whites he we'll said
that SHERIDAN should hold with grip OF
iron, people who can see such infamy
without remonstrance even in their pub.
lie prints" Gov. Smith of Wisconsin, a
colleague Of Palmer in the mission to Lou
isians, also turned upon the Louisiana
democrats present and exclaimed, "you
have deceived u.s." At last these north
srn democrats were compelled to see and
acknowledge that what their party ridi-
cules Is the bloody shirt is a horrible
fact. In supporting Tilden they became
coadjutors 10. the greatest crime of the
age. the shooting, manning. outraging.
Killing Of men, women and children, not
alone In Louisiana but all over the south
ern states, as the only means to elect
democratic President. And when repub-
leans spoke Of these horrors as reasons
why the party for which and by which
they were committed should not be placed
In control OF the government of this coun-
Try. the response from democrats was
burst of derisive laughter and the excla-
nation, "Oh you are Haunting the bloody
shirt ~ They even went so far in their
spirit of diabolism as to make In the State
Of Maine and this very city the "bloody
shirt" the symbol Of their supposed victory
on the 7th of November, that garment be-
ing suspended across our street in the
presence Of the chairman of the democrat
ic State committee and over the office of
the democratic newspaper of which he is
editor. 1t was the sign in which they
conquered If they conquered at all,
bat the utter depravity and want of
humanity Of the leaders Of the party was
never more shamelessly displayed than
tn hosting this emblem of the bloody
deeds done BY the democracy in Louisi-
ana as the signal Of a supposed Tilden
victory.
A great effort has been made to break
the force Of Mrs. Pinkston's revelations of
democratic outrage upon her, but without
avail. The facts are too glazing and well
sustained to be successfully disputed. If
any are yet incredulous of her story let
them read the straight forward evidence
nthis paper Of Breyet Major Gen. Brooks,
relating what he knows of political out
RACES In Mississippi. For ten months pre-
ceding the election. he declares, nothing
Wa left undone that could inspire terror
among the negroes. Men were dragged
over rough roads, with ropes around their
necks, and whipped. Others were pulled
from their beds, and driven into woods
and spamps. from which they never
snsarged.d Marders were 30 frequent that
C0svaerywere warned that they must hold
~ inquests, and in the majority of cases
1qnsats we're not held. The effect, as cases
AessEibsd BY Aajor-Gen. Brooks, Is not
suFpriang. In the back districts, where
~ t6pefsts boast of large majorities