Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-02

a NEW PHASE oFTHE MYsTERY-THE DEM
ooRATs VIRTUALLY CONFESS THEIR GUILT
ny ACCUSING AN INNOCENT MAN.

A NEW PHASE oFTHE MYSTERY THE DEM
ooRATs VIRTUALLY CONFESS THEIR GUILT
ny ACCUSING AN INNOCENT MAN.
The more there is learned of the out
rageous shooting at Coushatta of Senator
Twitchell aud Geo. A. King, the more cow
ardly 1t appears. In the same proportion
docs blame attach to the residents OF the
locality, who, not excusing the enormily Of
the crime, excuse II as being committed by
a Republican upon a Republican, aud
therefore not TO be laid tothe charge of the
people of Coushatta, or TO any shotgun
bearing Democrat. Such haste to defend
betrays such knowledge or suspicion of
guilt as TO make it now certain that the
Democratic party Of Coushalta are respons-
ible for the murder of King and the wound
ing of Twitchell, aud are anxious TO lay
the odium at the doors of the Republicans.
For this purpose they have published a
charge, which they credit TO Senator Twitch-
ell, that the late supervisor of De Soto par
ish, Thomas Bean, did the shooting. This
monstrous falsehood has been contradicted
by Mr.. Twitchell himself, as well as the as
certained fact that Mr.. Bean was in New
Orleans tho very day and hour of the shoot
ing at Coushatla, 500 miles away. Senator
Twitchell is reported TO be entirely lgnOr-
ant of his assailant. Either this is true, or
he fears to speak, surrounded as he is by
blood thirsty and cowardly enemies. Even
his surgeon has been threatened. The De-
mocra,y are dissatisfied with the skill that
has saved at least one arm, and perhaps a
life, which the White League Democracy OF
Coushalta wished 10 have destroyed.
Through his successful services between
them and their victim he has incurred their
wrath, and he now stands in danger of his
life. Until this sudden outburst, this at
tempt TO screen the guilty by accusing
the innocent, we had nothing but the we'll
known bad character of the Coushalta de-
mocracy in proof that the murder of King
and the attempted assassination of Twitch-
ell were dictated by political hatred and
| policy but we regard the subsequent de-
| velopmenls as very strong evidence oil
what before we could only surmse. II we
look at the apathy Of the people when the
murder was committed, so interested in
| the alleged arrival OF mail at Il little couu-
Try post Olllce lnal lnSy ndu no luteIesl "
spare for a crime which is ehough to shock
the sensibiites of the world, the indiner-
ence which permitted the disguised muir.
derer TO ride casually through village in
which nearly every white man was armed,
the tardy pursuit 10y the sheriff, and his re-
turn after a slow ride Of three miles, on
the ground that il the stranger were over
taken some one ofthoir party stood a chance
to get killed, and finally the confused at
tempt of the Democratic papers TO partly
deny and partly palliate the crime, lead us
TO the conviction that the while people
| of Coushatta knew all about tho tragedy
and had full fore-knowledge of it when
they repaired 10 the po.t-ofllce. Now what
shall be said of state of society that toll
crates such outrages, or OF political party
that justities them2 Is there never to bo
any federation in the South, nor any safety
or protection there for a Northern man cx-
cept he Is Democrat? And yet these out
RACES and this intolerance are the very es-
sence of the Democratic party, which in
this centennial year Of The republic is
scheming and hoping 10 obtain control o
the government. II.