The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-10-12
REVELS VS., boutwell,.



Doubtless the Republieanism, not to
say the honesty, ofthe Rev. H. W. Rev
els, the colored ex-United States Senator
from Mississippi, is as unimpeaChed as
that of Senator Boutwell,. Against the
recent garbled, unfair and false present
ment of alleged facts made by the Massa-
chusetts Senator touching the last cleo
ton in Mississippi, it is sufficient to set
the facts, as attested by Senator Revels,
who was present in Mississippi before
and during the election, and could not
but be aware of everything that trans
pired. The letter was written and pub
lished few days after the Democratic
victory was assured, and unquestionably
accounts for the great change in the vote
since the preceding contest. 1t is as fol-
lows: "I.
HOLLY SPRINGS, Nov. Z, 1875.
To His EGcellency U. S. Grant, President
of the United States:
My DEAR SIR-In view of the results
of the recent election in our State, l have
determined to write you letter canvas
sing the situation, and giving my views
thereon. / will premise by saying that
l am no politician, though having been
honored by a seat in the United States
Senate. have never sought political
preferment, nor do ask it now, but am
engaged in my calling (the ministry, and
feeling an earnest desire for the welfare
of all the people, irrespective of race and
color, | have deemed it advisable to sub
NIT to you, for consideration, a few
thoughts in regard to the political situa-
ton in this State. Since reconstruction,
the masses of the people have been as it
were, enslaved in mind by unprincipled
adventures who, caring nothing for the
country, were willing to stoop to any
thing, to matter how infamous, to secure
power to themselves and perpetuate it.
My people are naturally Republicans,
but as they grow older in freedom so DO
they in wisdom. A great portion of them
have learned that they were being used
as mere tools, and, as in the late election,
not being able to correct the existing evil
among themselves, they determined, by
casting their ballots against these unprln-
cipled adventu:ers, to overthrow them.
My people have been told by these sche-
mers, when men were placed upon the
ticket who were notoriously corrupt and
dishonest, that they must vote for them;
that the salvation of the country depend
ed upon it; that the man who scratched
ticket was not Republican. This is
only one Of the many means these ma
lignant demagogues have devised to
perpetuate the intellectual bondage of
my people. To defeat this policy at the
late election, men, irrespective of race or
party affiliation, united and voted to-
gether against men known to be inCom-
petent and dishonest.
Icannot recognize, nor do the masses
Of my people who read, recognize the
majority of the officials who have been
in power the past two years as hepubli-
cans. We do not believe that Republi-
canism means corruption, theft and EN-
bezzlement. These three offenses have
been prevalent among the great portion
of our oficeholders. To them must be
attributed the defeat of the Republican
party in the State, if defeat there was
but l, with all the lights before me, look
upon 1t as an uprising of the people, the
whole people, to crush out corrupt rings
and men from power. The bitterness
and hate created by the late civil strife,
lave, in my opinion, been obliterated in
this State, except, perhaps, in some local
tiles, and would have long sin e been en-
tirely efaced were IL not for some un-
principled men who would keep alive
the bitterness of the past and inCulcate
hatred between the races, in order that
they may aggrandize themselves by
Office and its emolument to control my
people, the effect of which is to degrade
them. l give you my opinion, that had
our State administration adhered to Re-
publican principles, and stood by the
platform upon which it was elected, the
State to-day would have been on the
highway of prosperity. II the State ad
ministration had advanced only patriotic
measures, appointed only honest men to
office, and sought to restore confidence
between the races, bloodshed would
have been unknown, peace would have
prevailed. Federal interference been
unthought of, and harmony, friendship,
and mutual confidence would have taken
the place of the bayonet. In conclusion,
let me say to you, and through you
to the great Republican party of the
North, that / deem it my duty, in behalf
ofmy people, that present these facts,
in order that they and the white people,
(their former owners) should not suffer
misrepresen alton which certain dema-
gogues seem desirous Of encouraging.
Aa Respectfully, h-H
3H .u Ja. : H. w. REvEIs.
sas' IN Y. World, Aug. 23, 1875. .