The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-07-12
CHARLESTON REDEEMED,
How Election Machinery Works in
Honest Mems Hands.
The Interesting Story of Sheriff Bo1oen's Sur
render of the Republican pdrty-Great
Rejoicing Over a Democratic Victory

Rejoicing OUer Democrduo VfctOy
CHARLESTON, S. c., June 2S,-Probably
the queeTest election that ever occurred in
the United States was the recent one in
this county. From it several salutary
lessons may be learned. The Democratic
ticket for seventeen members OF the Le'
gislature was elected without opposition
on Tuesday. They are to serve for the
unexpired term of the present House.
The Mackey delegation, which was said
to have been elected by 5000 majority
at the general elections in November last
were refused admission to their seats up
on the ground that, owingto intimidation
by the negroes, there was no election in
Charleston county. This charge of init
midation was based upon the Cainhoy
massacre, the rowes at Wha!y's Church
and Red Top Church, the King street and
the Board street riots, and the general
prescription used by the negroes toward
the Colored Democrats.
The Democratic Convention was on the
10th, The Republicans notwithstand'
ing their pretended majority six months
ago, kept quiet until the 10th, when sud
denly their primaries were held. Scarcely
one hundred genuine votes were polled,
and they resulted in the selection Of set
of politicians completely under the con-
troll of the Republican Sheriff Bowen,
Their Convention met on the day before
that ofthe Democratic Convention. She
riff Bowen then advocated the nomina'
tion of ten Democrats and seven Repub'
licans, and the Convention assented. A
ticket of some of the best men of Charles
ton was thus put into the field.
The next day FIVE of the ten Democrats
thus nominated published cards declin-
ing the candidacy, and refusing to serve
if elected on that ticket. Public opinion
had risen against any compromise with
the Republicans. The Democrats were
confident of success in a square contest
The election machinery was in the hands
of honorable men instead ofin the control
of the rogues and ballot box suffers who
rolled up the large Republican majorities
on former occasions,
At the Democratic Convention that day
a full ticket of seventeen was put in the
field, including three out of the five who
had declined the Republican nomination
and two colored Democrats. The other
Democrats on the Bowen ticket followed
the example of the first five, and the rem
nant which was left comprised six neg
roes and one white Republican. No one
could ascertain Bowen's intentions, and
accordingly the Democrats prepared fol
the worst They knew that if Bowen
filled up his vacancies with the names o.
his horses and dogs, and sent them to his
constituents, the full strength of the Re-
publican vote could be brought out on
election day. They knew these savages
were armed, and encouraged from their
success in November, as well as irritated
at the general success ofthe whites since
that time. Accordingly, every precaution
was taken. The fifteen rifle clubs were
drilled, the two batteries of artillery pre-
pared for action, and the Chief Constable
of the State, an old West Point officer
had charge.
At 6 o'clock on election morning the
Democrats rallied to the polls. But nc
enemy WIS on the ground, and not even
Republican ticket was to be seen dur
ing the day The Democrats polled their
full Hampton vote of last fall. Many
negroes voted the Democratic ticket
Even the Republican managers of elec-
ton Joined in the general harmony, alleg-
ing that they desired to be accredited as
members of the DemocratiCpart so as to
participate in the next primary elections
of that party. Many ofthe older white
citizens did not vote at all, their presence
at the polls being unnecessary.
1t was a complete surrender OF the Re.
publican party to the Democracy, and
the reason which actuated such strange
procedure have been the subject ofinves
tigation ever since. Bowen and the lead
ing Republicans held an all night caucus
before election day, and determined tC
abandon the cause. A ticket had been
prepared consisting of sixteen colored
men and one white Republican, but the
whole batch was burned by order of the
caucus. This course is known here af
"the 'possum policy" The Republican
party is to play dead until the next ge
neral election, and in the mean time tc
unload of its own accord, the rasCa Is who
have heretofore managed it for their OWE
special benefit. They are going to watch
the tides of political strife, and at the mex
general election make such combinations
with better class of white men as will
enable them to make more respectable
appearance in the political arena. Thit
is the version given by several colorec
men who were in the caucus and is pro
badly the correct one. The scheme i
plausible, but its practical operation il
doubtful. 1t might do for intelligent
voters, but with the negroes the 'possun
policy" is death in reality. There will bt
no more negro parties. The whites viii
never again allow them to be the CONTROL
ing element in any party.
The inside reason which operated upor
the white leaders of the party are very
different from those given by the coloreC
men Just mentioned. Sheriff Bowen hold
his lucrative Office for four years, by vir
tue of the last general election, which ha'
been declared to be mo election" by thu
Legislature. His tenure is therefor'
doubtful, and he is at the mercy of thu
Democracy, who may oust him at any
moment. To conciliate them, and there
by retain his position, is the object. Their
is great rejoicing at the prospect which
this straight-out victory has opened up il
this city.