Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-09
Southern Barbarism-The Case of
TWitchell and His Sister.
From the Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin.

from the MllWSuke Evening Wisconsin.
An illustration of the political pro-
scrlption and bitter hatred and barbarous
cruelty Of the southern Democracy is
found in the history of the Twitchell
family In Louisiana. Mr.. Twitchel]
was Republican member of the Lou
isiana Senate His death would give
the Democrats control of that body.
Accordingly his death was decreed by
the Democracy, and he was attacked,
some months ago, while crossing a river
IN boat, and literally rlddled
with bullets; but, strange to say, hesur-
vlved his many wounds, though q mere
wreck, having lost both hands. His
sister, Mrs Willis, had lost her. hus-
band by the murderer's hand two years
before, and that shock, together with
the more recent one resulting from the
murderous assault upon her brother,
had left her wrecked in health. These
two victims of Southern hate started
north some weeks ago, and reached In
dianapolis, where the failing health
OF Mrs. Willis compelled them to
halt. Here Mrs. Willis died, on the 9th
inst, and was buried. It was not
enough that this woman and her broth
or had suffered p resolution and outrage
that would almost wake the compassion
of barbarian, but Democratic paper.
the New Orleans Bulletin, must insult
the memory of the woman whom South
ern' insolence had murdered, as much
as If it had plunged dagger to her
heart, by comparing her to Nancy Skies,
the lowest and most degraded charac-
ter in all of Dickens works. Yet
when such diabolical deeds are held up
for the Reproduction of mankind, and as
an evidence of the intolerance of the
South, Democratic o, CANS and the soul
less partisans of this kind of barbarism
cry out " bloody shirt !" and Con-
gressional buffoons, like Sam Cox, jeer
and sheer at it, as if the subjects of it
We're of less impor lance than the dogs
of the street. So long as these things
exist it is proper to charge them all to
the policy of the Democratic party, as
illustrations of it's principles and policy.
AT the funeral Of Mrs. Willis Rev.
DR.. Baylis, of the Methodist Church of
Indianapolis, officiated. After sketch
ing the history of the deceased and her
family, and their suferings in the South,
he said: f'i
The chronic dread of evil from murderers
became burden too heavy for her. Ia her
last illness in this house she would wake. look
around her half bewildered and alarmed, then
close her eyes again, and, on opening them
again and recognizing her friends, would saw
weakly "Yes,, know you; I am not afraid
Of you; you are MarshalFs friend" and like
d soothed child, she would lie quietly down to
rest.
He then concluded in the following
thrilling words: a Ia IN -
We are sometimes accused Of Haunting the
bloody shirt for political effect; of reviving
memories which ought to sleep IN forgetful-
ness; OF dragging before the startled and I'M
willing eyes of this age the CHASTITY skeletons
of horrors which. but for our persistence,
would have been forgotten b. fore now. But
this day 10 no mere memory. This is no bur-
led horror just now newly exposed for tragic
effect. This woman, whose weary body we
to-day carry to the new-made grave, is almost
as much, the victim of Southern cruelty as
though some assassin's bullet had pierced her
heart. They have killed her. They have
could endure it no longer. Indianapolis is
called to-day to. the task of burying one
of the victims OF Southern hate,
and the victim is q woman And
what of her only surviving male relative ? L.
this some ancient terror, some forgotten
wrong, but just now restated for effect? His
wounds are not healed. They are almost
fresh enough to be CHASTITY. Scarcely three
months ago he was as we'll as any of us, and
now he is so helpless that he cannot aoipe deoay
has oao1s tears and this is America the land
OF the free anu the home of the brave The
land whose historic boast has been it's South
ern chivalry The land where men can think
what they please and speak what they think !!
The land where more has been said about free
dom and the rights Of man than has been said
in all other nations since it began Oh. hoac
the eloquence Of these mute lips and these hand
less arms rebukes and scathes as I'm our
bodsting! Our talk of freedom is sarcasm.
These white lips do mock at U.s. Freedom for
the South yet waits it's natal day. l am sure
say only what these lips would say could
they speak, and only what this brother will ap
prove when [ ask, not as a partisan, but as
man, has the ri1ne come for us to elevate this
prescription into power? Shall we dare, with
all these facts before u.s. to enthrone the po.
litical principles with which these assassins are
identified !? Shall we give such gigantic and
bloody wrongs as these the sanction of polit-
ical victory It becomes US to consider the
question, not as partisans, but as freemen
who love freedom, and as Christians who love
God. - -8aGJ a1t