Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-18

reflections upon his fitness for the great place
he holds or the still greater place to which he as
pres. lie either was consulted by his friends in
regard to its adoption. or he was not. If he was
not. 1T can scarcely be claimed that bis Demo-
opinions OF any great consequence in tho man
agement OF public affairs. and this disposes of all
the general public. On the other hand. il he was
consulted and his advice taken, his opinions Q
either adopted or rejected by the authors of the
that case. even worse as a public man
than on the first hypothesis. But if his opinions
were taken, as my informant says they were.
then he rs. by inference and in fact. personally
responsible for the whole atrocity. Stlnding in
any one OF the categories his usefulness as a
presidential candidate would seem to be greatly
injured. But that is no concern OF ours. and 1
let i pass. When he becomes the Democratic
candldate for tho presidency his fitness for the
great Office will lie more directly in the field of
out his consent the ordinance was passed.
mar defining the boundaries of the wards
can only adequately expose its Injustice,
ans, ana tic evil purposes in which it originated.
That the wards were not constructed under it
convenience of voters will. upon examination,
become manifest at glance. 1t ignores both
these considerations.
uNFA1RNEss OF THE APPoRTIoNMENT.
The unfairness of the apportionment under the
Ward has !. s66 voters. while the Filth Ward has
$40. and the Sixth 2i2. difference between the
The question very naturally s@Sr o. oo tseif
why should this inequality IN reprcsen tation
nave been devised? An examination CT
the majorities in these wards, shows that il was
done for the purpose of disfranchisng in effect
more tnan SIX hundred Republicans. Again:
McGinty sits in the Council under it. having re-
ceiyer US Democratic votes. while Reed. from
the Tbird Ward. was elected by. LAS votes
Ginty. Why this discrim nation unless it was
done to rob Republicans of their rights, and give
three Republicans? Two of the wards-he
Eleventh and Twelfth-cast less than half the
number of votes cast by the Thir;ccnt tn Ward: and
inequality IN kind. but differing in degree, pre-
walls. 1t is SO plain that he that runneth may
Which ,nrnrs sre can aad TO the
selves. One section of the city exercises twice
the power in the Council exercised by other and
men Of al parties alike ami in II cts equal wrons
cpon all. But even where this dis elimination be.
tween tween sections INJURIES all there !s every
only. The. first of these discriminations
ties and induced many Of them to assist Republi-
cans IN rebuking botn the general and particular
the election shows that simple and patent rascal.
lty does not yet predominant in the public mind,
however triumphant il may be in the councils of
the Democratic leaders Of the country. Let US
take heart there is yet lett sufficient virtue in the
masses of the people TO regenerate the republican
institutions OF our country in this. the Centennial
One would have thought. fellow-citzens. that
after the adoption OF this infamous apportion-
ment and the outburst of popular Indignation
who accomplished it would have stood abashed.
and IN silence awaited the popular condemnation
Mt the polls. At least that they would notify in
fammatory appeals to their mob associates have
lncited them to rot and bloodshed on toe day OF
the election. But i was not so; democratic
politicians do not become abashed so easily
They. do not blush for ohenses so trifiing
as that of robbing the citizens of a great
government. They had passed the ordinance ruin for
that express purpose. and in order that they
might not lose the fruit Of their villainy. it be-
means in their power TO give effect to their
wicked purposes. Meetings were accordingly
selves Democrats. whose object was to de sIe
democracy itself. by denying the people of the
city an equal right in its government Some of
and il is said that 3r. Ryan and anatber
little fellow who wears glasses. went so far as to
tiers of their party with deadly weapons. and
urged them to use them freely under circ u stan
ees and upon contingencies which in no way jus
tlOumrnt was known to these orators TO have
Infamed the public mind. and IN ade a resort 10
violence easy and immine emit. such speeches ought
to be REGARDED and rebuked grave crimes
against the peace OF society and the lives of its
members. Nor: as the result dem nstrated. were
the efforts of these gentlemen barren of these
baleiul fruits.
THE RIOT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY.
The second day of May brought the pcople of
the city together Mt the polls. Tho election came
and passed with Gu, te as much Of peace and order
as generally attend our elections. There may
have been few slight collisions in the early part
OF the day. but it is believed that serious in
jury resulted TO any one from them. Late in the |
afternoon. il is said. the col0rcd voters of one
ward were informed that men of their race were
being maltreated by their political opponents in
another. do not know nor care who cOmmun- !
Gated the information. Ii PRODUCED the con-
SEQUENCES which. under the circumstances. were
whom the communication was made became ex-
cited and passed in body TO the place where the |
supposed injustice and violence were being done |
ing their march go TO show that they were not |
armed for. and did not intend to inaugurate
riot for arriving at the place of the suppos ed
they turned away aud started back towards the
place whence they had come. Had they been
could have resulted. They were pursued. however
by police force that already knew that its DAYS
were numbered. and mob of heated and angry
Democrats. the auditors no doubt of the speeches
nf the gentlemen to whom 1 have already re-
Ierred. and armed. therefore. for the fatal work
10 watch they had been urged. The colored men. I
seeing themselves thus pursued and about TO be
issailed. may have looked about them for such
weapons as they could find. TO be used in their
began the fray. either by striking man in charge
Di the Wo5dburn -Sarven Wheel Mandatory. or
The truth is the bloody FRAY was inaugurated by
the police and their associates. / have il from
the mouth of policeman himself. by the name ,
)f O'Neal. that he saw unoiending colored
N an. no party TO the mob at all. stricken down
by some members of the force. and that they
would have killed him but that he interfcred.
Ind. at the imminent risk of his own person. 4
rescued him from their hands when he was al
-eady more than half dead. have made dill
rent inquiry at the Office of the mayor
md find no proof that any coiored I
nan has been charged. up to this time.
with any assault aud battery upon any white Z,
nan. whether member OF the force or of the
mob. No policeman has been disabled by !.
wounds received in the fray. whether from |
,ludgeous or bullets: in tact. not a single mem :
Der OF the force ~ known to have received any in
ury from any eolOred man. Nor as yet, so far as \
can find. has any man complained OF receivin. !
my violence at he hands of any black man. q
fhe whole story. therefore; that the negroes be
AN the riot. Willingly participated a.
n il after il had been begun by others. stands. q
10 lar as / can find utterly unsupported =
" evidence. The pretense that negroes stood
uietly in the streets pouring deadly shots into
he assembled crowd becomes something worse 6
han ridiculous. when not n single member of Y
hat crowd exhibits a gunshot wound. Ii be- p
ONES malicious. and plainly springs from the !.
anne origin from which came the shots that l.
rounded and killed several of that unfortunate
olor- he riot and the both are Of Kukipv