Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-10-26
ADyERrrsINaRAFss.


moved out of the way by the us of suf-
ticient force, and if it becomes neces-
sary to shoot them in order to remove
them, then We must be prepared to
shoot rather than be prevented from
redeeming the State from Radical
rule"
THE DEMOCRATS OBEY ORDERS.
The Democrats of South Carolina are
not asha:ned of these words, as every
true American should be. They do not
claim to be Americans, however; they
proudly boast that they are South Car
Olinians, and they are fully prepared to
follow General Gary's terrible instruc-
tious. / do not write this for political
effe,t. do not exaggerate-I tell the
simple unvarnished truth-when l say
that they are again animated by the
same spirit of disorder and rebellion
which brought ON the civil war sixteen
years ago. They are better organized
then they were then, and they are bet
ter armed. All their campaign clubs
bear rifles, Instead of banners Ur
torches, and they are every one of them
commanded aud drilled by officers
bearing military titles, and respected
and obeyed as military leaders. have
no doubt that these statements will
seem almost like fables to many North
ern readers, and yet they are true,
every one of them. They are all capa-
BILE of the most exact proof. Perhaps
no better evidence of their accuracy
need be advanced than the following
paragraph, cut from an account of
Democratic meeting at Darlington
which appeared in the Columbia Regis
ter, Wade Hampton's organ in the up
per part of the State.
"During the speaking news reached
the meeting of slight disturbance in
the village. In few moments the
mounted clubs-Six hundred strong
and fully armed-were in line, cool,
steady and quiet, Colenel Law COM
manding. The difficulty was soon set
tied, when the business of the meeting
was recumed. All was quiet in thirty
minutes. The ladies behaved splendid
| ly, there being no panic or confusion.
The difficulty originated in the shoot
ing of negro by white man in self
defense. The negro was shot in the
arm, but the wound is not serious.
The w6ite man gave BAIL"
So far as this account relates to the
GOODNESS and good order of the armed,
drilled, and mounted rifle clubs it is en-
tirely accurate. The statement in re-
gard to the cause of the disturbance,
however, is not correct. An impartial
eve witness gives me the following ac-'
count of the affair: A white man,
member of Democratic campaign
club, was riding through the streets Of
Darlington shouting for Tilden and
Hampton. A negro, crossing the
street, was met by this man, who,
without any provOcatiOn, slashed him
across the face with his heavy riding
whip, at the same time crying. 'Get
out of the way, you - - RADICAL
nigger % The black man, wild with
pain. was thOughtless enough to assert
his manhoOd-mad enough to exercise
the right of an American citizen. He
had stick in his hand, and he was
about to return the blow he had receiv-
ed, when q pistol bullet passed through
his arm, and it fell, broken and nerve
less, by his side. Then the white man
put his pistol in his pocket, gave bail,
and returned to the street to shout for
Tilden and Hampton. Again, to re-
peat the admirably cool and collected
language of the Democratic Register,
"All was quiet in thirty minutes. The
ladies behaved splendidly, there being
no panic or confusion"
GENERAL PLAN OF THE HAMPTON
CANVASS.
II is by strictly Obeying General
Gary's order, it is by such acts of viO-
lence as the above, that the Democrats
hope to overcome the Republican ma
jority, and carry South Carolina for
Tilden and Hampton. The general
plan of their campaign is very simple,
yet il promises to be most effective. In
all parts of the State they have organiz-
ed campaign clubs that operate under
the direction of one general head.
Every cross-rode, every hamlet, has its
company or squad, commanded by q
Captain or some subordinate officer.
These clubs are organized for the pur-
pose of intimidating negro voters and
keeping them away from the polls.
They have no other object. They exist
for no other purpose. How well they
do the duty which has been assigned
to them may be inferred from the fact
that the black men of the counties of
Banwell and Aiken are leaving their
homes in hundreds and seeking safety
in the woods and swsmps, or in flight
to Columbia and other parts of the
State. A number of them have sought
the protection of the handful of United
States troops stationed at Aiken, and
Others have pledged themselves to vote
for Tilden and Hampton, and are al
lowed to live in peace. Old men and
young men, married and single, even
the boys, have engaged in what Is call
ed "the great work of redeeming the
country" They ride through the
country at all hours of the night and
day, often beating negroes and threat
ening to kill them if they did not
pledge themselves to vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. In some cases they have
taken unfortunate men from their
cabins in the dead of night, and in
sight of their terrified wives and
screaming children, have kicked them
until they were inseE5ible and almost
dead. In short, all the terrors OF the
Ku-Klux Klan have been revived IN
South Carolina. The only difference Is
that the Klan operated in secret. The
The Tilden campaign clubs do their
work openly and boast Of it.
| 1t is evidently the intention OF the
Democratic leaders to keep up these
tactics until election day, and it Is hop
ed that by that time the negroes VIII
be so frightened that they will not dare
90 to the polls. 70 make assurance
tdoubly sure, however, the Hampton
land Tilden men will ride to the polling
places early on the morning Of election
day, and get all their votes in as soon
after twelve o'clock as possible. Then
they intend to go into the roads Lead
4 ing to the polls, and, by fair means or
foul, TO keep the negroes away nom
the ballot boxes until after sundows.
This is the general plan of the Demo-
cratic campaign. In future letters L
will give details, together with the