Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-11-03

bearing and defiant toward Republicans.
The bitterest invective, the most denun.
ciatory language is too mild form of
expression for these cavaliers when ad.
dressing colored voters. Each man is
thoroughly armed with the most i'm.
proved rifles and revolvers; and the as
sertion is boldly made, not only here,
but by Northern allies and sympathizers,
that n minority of less than one-third of
the whole number of voters will be
successful in carrying this State at the
November election.
To understand the absurdity of such
result being accomplished by peaceful
means, you must know that the majority
represents solid rote, whose interest and
sympathies are in direct opposition to
that of the minority. Any accession,
therefore, to the ranks of this minority
will be secured through force and intim-
idation. Such is the avowed purpose of
the Democratic leaders, and they hesitate
not to assert this as apart Of their plan
for carrying the election Every planter
is duly authorized to look after his ten.
antry, and see that they vote with the
Democracy. Every imaginable device is
resorted to, such as persuasion, threats,
bribery and the shotgun policy" The
planters, each and all of them, tell their
colored laborers that they will no longer
employ them, or allow them to work their
lands, or remain on their plantations un-
less they vote the Democratic ticket.
That If they refuse they will be turned
out on the public highway, to starve, or
be shot down by armed bands of rife
men detailed for that purpose.
And this threat is not without its polit-
ical significance. 1t is a fact, verified
by the strongest proof, that no colored
man will of his own accord vote the
Democratic ticket; that IL any such
votes are secured, they are obtained
through fear of personal injury, not
otherwise. Armed bands of white men
visit the cabins of colored men, and with
pistols and guns drawn threaten dire
vengeance if these colored men do not
join the Democratic clubs. ColOred men
are shot do,oR in cold blood, for no cause
whatever, other than voting the Repub-
lican ticket. And the horrible brutali-
ties and nameless outrages committed
upon the persons of young colored fe-
males are too revolving to mention, and
would be more characteristic of Modocs
or Sioux Indians than of civilized men.
Our Northern friends tell us about wav-
ing the "6Iooay shirt; why, this whole
country, from the mountains to the sea-
board, is ablaze with red shirts, that
flaunt their reasonable utterances and
murderous purposes in the face of law
abiding, loyal and liberty loving people.
Talk about free speesh! Freedom of
speech is not known here no more than
it was previous to 1860, except where the
presence of United States troops gives
partial protection to Republican assem-
blages; otherwise such meetings are
ruthlessly invaded, speakers are driven
off, and Republicans forced away under
cover of pistols and guns. 1t is hardly pos
siblc to conceive of the perilous condition
OF the colored people and white Republic
ans South, nor the amount of abuse and
vituperation they receive at the hands of
the Democrats. 1t is treason and loyal
ty, each struggling for the mastery. If
the former wins them, all the i'll effects of
bad government will be speedily real
lied. The danger from this source is
truly portentous and not to be misap-
pretended. ta.'.s.I.
power and controlling Federal legisla-
tion the South means to have pay for her
slave property and other rebel losses.
This fact is boldly announced by every
leading Southern man. Thus, disloyalty
and treason, instead of being made
odtOuS and punishable, will be held at a
premium, while the honest and loyal
citizen at the North will be compelled to
bear heavy burdens of taxation, in order
to reimburse the South for its alleged
losses.
trust our loyal friends at the North
will pause and ponder we'll this matter
before casting their votes on the side of
secession, repudiation, political dishonor
and national disgrace, involving the
prostration of our commercial and manu-
featuring industries, and speedily cul-
minating in our financial ruin. The
South has nothing to complain of except
her ignorance and her barbarism, the
outgrowth of her Democratic proclivi-
ties. Financially she is better off than
ever before, while her productions of all
kinds are greater now than before the
war, and, thanks to Yankee enterprise
and genius, numerous manufacturing
and commercial establishments are
springing up all over the South, adding
greatly to her wealth and the develop
ment of her resources.
What the South needs is a system of
fair and honest dealing with her labor
ers. AT present it is little better than
servitude or slavery. The planter tries
to make all he can out of his laborers,
giving in return the barest pittance for
subsistence and clothing. The COM
plant is made of idleness; there is no
inducemeRt to labor; no encouragements
held out to acquire property, to educate
the young, to take higher positions in
society, to become useful and Independent
citizens. The old relation of master and
sIace substantially exists. In the rural
districts the terms "master" and ennis
tress" are most frequently heard, and
every phase of Southern society points
to the abject degradation of the social
life among all classes. A change must
come; for the better, hope. Give us a
Republican administration four years
longer. Give us free schools, free
speech, and free ballot, with protec-
tion to the person and the property of
the freedmen, and will guarantee that
our most conservative friends in the
North will be proud of our achievements
and tho rooult