Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-11-29
How the Great Reform Party bring
about Reform

How the Great Reform Party bring
about Reform,
Of which we have forcible example in
the 9th district Of Georgia. This district
comprises 10 counties and when the State
WAS divided into districts, it was conceded
by the democrats that that district was
and always would be sure of q republican
member to Congress. And how this has
been prevented at the recent election, has
been pretty thoroughly ventilated by some
Of the leading journals. In this district
there is 100,053 blacks and 30595 whites;
in 1872 Grant received 1865 and Greeley
1895 votes; and in the late election the
democrats return democratic majoity
Now let us examine for moment the two
aspirants for Office in the district mention
ed and see whether this change could be
brought about by the popularity Of demo-
cratic nominee. Mr.. Linch, the republi-
can nominee, is . colored gentleman and
man of great ability and Is looked upon
~ such in his own State as the exponent
Of the colored mems rights, and is = great
fsvorite with his people. While his dem
ocratic opponent, Mr.. Chalmers, of Fort
Pillow massacre notoriety and was one of
Forests principle officers. All who have
read the report Of the investigating CON-
mi!tes have been appalled, at its terrible
rao;tsl That .ucI, q d.o} shorld h. ooro
mitted on American soil by Americans
claiming intelligence Of = high order;
and influential leaders If the Southern
cause. The report of the committee, and
there is no authority better than this, for
this committee was composed of both
political parties; and their report has
passed into history and become = part of
it, and will ever stand unccntradicted, =
disgrace to its pages, q disgrace to its per
petrators, and Disgrace to the party that
had the power to punish the perpetrators
of such crime against civilization, and
is enough to drive every honest man from
a party that is composed Of one half of
such inhuman despoilers The history of
this tragedy under consideration, is SIM
ply this: Four hundred Union soldiers
were shot down after thsr surrender, with
out any arms in their hands. Over 300 of
these were blacks; soldiers, citizens, wo-
men and young children suffered the same
fate. Children were made to stand up aud
face their mothers while these democrats
shot them down. Wounded men that
wers not abe 70 stand up, were held up
and shot to death; and women suffered
the like fate. The hospitals were set on
/ ire anu Sa0se VINO were moi abie 10 drag
! themselves out we're burned to death and
; those vino escaped the tiames only to
meet the saber Or the ujusket. One man
was nailed down to the hospital floor and
the tent SCI on Ere his chsrred remains
bore witness of his tragic death. While
other parties were nsilsd up to the outside
Of the buildings and the buildings fired !;
six human beings persisted il this way at
the hands of democrats, and these facts
are matters of history sad nc elec:ionser-
| ing sensations. And these men are lead
ing members of the democratic party: the
great reformers that are willing to sacfi-
Ace every black man in the South, that re-
form may be brought about God save
this country from the hands Of murderers
and asssassins, the recitsls Of which 10
enough to make us deny our own nation
ality; deny that We are Americans, and
have no interest in the Inheritance be-
queathed to us by our martyrsd aAceators.
Be it remembered :hs: Mr.. Chalmers
one Of the actors in this slaughter, was
one of Forests principal officers; and
now claims he has received majority
Of the votes Of the colored people; a
man who has been proven the murderer Of
their fathers, mothers, husbands. wives,
sons and daughters; and this over one Of
the most popular colored men in the
South, It 10 too monstrous absurd to bs
thrust into the face of an intelligent PEG.
pie. No, sir there is actual fraud upon
it, face; and upon these returns you want
to run the machine thst ten years ago you
said could not, b run; but sinceyou found
that it could Be- run without your assist
ancs, you insist on doing the work alone
Who knows bettsr how to run mashino
than Ne 0g1Aa Who made IL