The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-11-29
Shotgun Suffrage
How TiIden and Reform
Carried 0uachita.
The s.WiU Oftlsc Majority Law
fully Expressed" by
Firearms
.pla,n raleoraae Political, Gavin war

The Republicans Of 0uchita have
lust laid before the Governor tie fol-
lowing statement Of the condition Of
affairs in that parish for 9 few weeks
before and up 10 the election. No In
telligent man a read it and believe
that there was any fairness io the
election in the parish outside OF the
town Of Monroe.
New ORLEANS, Nov. IA.
10 his EreeHency ". 7. Kellogg,
Cor. Of The State Of Louisiana p;
Your ExcELLENcY-We beg leave
to submit to you a report of the IN
paralleled outrsges and intimida-
ton perpe:rated by the Democratic
party through their agents, known as
bulldozers, against the rights and
privileges of the Republican party in
the parish of 0nachita.
After the State c%anvassers had
passed through the parish of Ouachita
it soon became evident that the lead
ers of the Republican parry would be
forced to take some measures to con
troll the arbitrary efforts put forth by
the Democracy to prevent Reputli'
cans from sdhering TO their priGci-
pies !; every colored man who was
comfortable was forced to join a Dem
ocratic club through various kinds OF
intimidation ; BY threats Of violence,
or by being forced to leave their
homes and crops for which they had
labored during the year, by refusal
bv the planters TO advance to them
the ne~cessaries o. life upon their sta
pie or labor, and in many cases by
being badly beaten. The people be.
came perfectly demoralized ; not be.
ing allowed to hold a Republican
meeting, they had to bow in humble
submission to this tyrannizing despot
ism. The Republican parish canvass
which, under the circumstances, wa
~eminently necessary, notwithstand
ing the peril and danger to its lead.
ers, was entered upon with vigor.
On Friday, the 9th Of October
the first meeting was held at the
Dinkgrave plantation by Messrs
Hamlet, Brewster and G0rham. \
large gathering Of colored people was
present, so proud were they to rally
around the standard Of their party.
The widest enthusiast existed, and
the meeting was a grand success. Oh
Saturday The 2Sth of the same month,
a meeting was held at the Wisner
school house, 10 the town of Monroe.
which was filled to its utmost capaci.
tv. The canyassers were joined by
Mr.. II. G. Astwood, who vas select.
ed as 6rst speaker, followed by Messrs
Hamlet, Gorham, Hardy, Dinkgrave,
and Brewster. The colored people
were rejoicing and their hearts glad
dened, but a dark cloud of discour-
agement fell like a pail. caused by the
daring and threats Of the lawlesa
element of the Democracy. From
hence il became evident that any at
tempt at holding a Republican meet.
ing without protection would result
iD bloodshed, 10 avert which The
commanding officer Of United State.
troops at Monroe would either attend
in person or send an officer 10 snct
meetings as were distant from TIN
town of Monroe, aud unprotected
The wisdom Of the commanding
officer in this particular was fully
demonstrated by the threatening end
warlike attitude OF the bulldozers
who made it a point 10 attend every
meeting, marching in military style.
under commanders, with all the sp
parent stvle of an aggressive mill
tary body. The colored people who
had been forced TO join Democrl lii
Clubs, finding they wege being pro
tected, at once refused further to at
tend the Democratic meetings, saving
10 localities where no protection was
held out to them. The most strenu
Gus efforts were now resorted to by
the Democracy, determined to carry
the parish at all hazards Their
bulldozing party now showed renew
ed activity under the auspices o.
some of the leading citizens of thi;
parish, who did rot scruple to join
with the most disrepuiable and pro.
figate. These men were well organ
lied into rife clubs, determined /
necessary to carry the election al
whatever cost Of Republican lives
Our next meeting was held at Cuba
October 81, under the protection O
United States troops. The c%oloreC
people Notwithstanding the threat,
that mad been made, left the cotton
fields and assembled in large mum.
bers on the ground, where not less
than 500 persons had gathered Messrs
Hardy, Astwood, Gorbam, Hamlet
Dinkgrave and Brewster addressed
the meeting. Mr.. Hardy was called a
damned liar, and but for the presence
Of Lieutenant McCauley violence tC
speakers would probably have re.
suited.
The meeting was enthusiastic with
continued cheers for Hayes and
Wheeler, Packard and Antoine and
the Republican party. The coIored
voters unanimously protested openly
before their tyrannizers that they
had Joined the Dem cratic party 10
save their lives aud pa-seded re5olu-
tion repudiating the Dem1cr attic par.
ty, and declaring that if protected il
their lives, they would vo'e the Re.
publican ticket, which was tbeir
choice.
The meeting adjourned to meet al
Grady school-house, op Thursday,
the second day Of November.
Before we reached the place OF
meeting crowds of men and women
along the road cheered Us, aud stated
that they would be glad TO attend
the meeting, they had Repnblicauism
at heart, but for their lives they dared
not come, as they had been threaten
ed il they attempted to go. The so.
called bulldozers, about se%renty-fge
in number, rode on in front of Us, yell
ling and defying the people to attend
our meeting. They, the day before,
had held a large barbecue. where
whisky was administered ~profusely,
and the colored people in this section
were compelled TO pledge themselves