The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-10-09

not like the Democratic party or the Republi-
can party; the Greenbackers, the Nationals did
not suit him. He tried to organize party of
bis own. For simply exercising an undoubted
right, ne was shot down in cold blood, in the
light OF the MONDAY sun. What has become of
the murderer of Dixon? Is he behind tie bars
of jail, awaiting trial for his crime? No, he is
to-day walking the streets of Yazoo under q
paltry bond for his appearance at some future
time for trial. Is Mr.. Barksdale looked upon
with horror and pointed out as the man whose
hands are red with the blood of fellow being?
DO the people OF Yazoo shrink from him as one
guilty OF great crime under the ban of God?
Not at ALL Mr.. Barksdale is hero worthy of
honor, model for the young to follow, chiv-
alrous gentleman, worthy of all respect, deserv-
ing of great consideration. To plain, simple,
law-abiding, God fearing, iberty-loving men
and women of the North, Mr.. Barksdale ap-
pears simply murderer What refine
ment OF sentiment, what subtlety of logic,
what Interpretation of divine or human law
makes him anything else to the people
among whom he lives passes the comprehen-
sion OF those who love law and believe in the
Justice OF the great command that ages ago
Numbered from amid the flame and smoke of
Sinai, "Thou shalt not kill" How many Dem
ocratic papers in the North have you seen that
have condemned the killing of Dixon? Very
few indeed. The people Of Yazoo justify Dix
past, shot down men for opposing the Demo-
cratic party. True, he was guilty of this great
crime. Equally true it is that the very people
who now glory in his death crowned him with
honor for doing in 1875 just what they allege as
a justification for his death in 1879 If in 1875
the law of Mississippi had been enforced as it
ought to have been, Mr. Dixon would not have
lived to fall by the hand of Mr.. Barksdale In
1879. He would have been tried, condemned
and hung for the crimes of which he was guilty
When Henry M. Dixon shot down Republicans
he was committing crime and ought to have
suffered the penalty due it. That he was guilty
OF murder in 1875 is no excuse for his death at
the hands of political opponent in 1879. He
was wrong IN 1915, and Mr. Barksdale is wrong
in 1879, and ought to suffer for his crime; but
mark my words, my fellow citizens, no hair of
his head will be touched for this great crime,
Sometimes hear my Democratic friends tell
me that public sentiment in the South does not
Justify murder and violence in politics. If pub
lie opinion does not approve Of such actions
why does it not punish the men guilty of po-
litical crimes? A public sent ment that is BOW
erless to hold in check the lawless elements of
the community is of no value If public senti-
ment did not justify murder in politics in Mis-
slssippi, murder would soon vanish as an ele-
menJ IN politics. Public sentiment. when thor
oughly aroused, is resstess: it sweeps through
community or nation with the force and
power of the storm; before its consuming fire
the wrong withers and its authors perish When
it is understood in the sections of the South of
which have spoken that murder means death,
that the gibbetis the sure doom of him who slays
his fellow man; when honest men sit upon the
juries and fearless judges are upon the bench,
then, and not till then, will the wrongs of which
we complair cease There have been hun
dreds of murders committed in the South since
reconstruction for purely political reasons.
Tell me, if you can, my Democratic friends,
where single man has been hung in all the
South for taking the life of q political oppo-
nent. Cease preaching to me that public senti-
ment does not justify political violence and
murder until it is punished Rouse public
sentiment in the South as it ought to be reused
and law will be indicated, order established,
peace reign. AS long as the murderers of
Chisolm and his heroic daughter are unhung,
as long as the assassin Of Dixon goes unpun-
ished, so long will the North laugh in derision
when told "public sentiment" in the South is
averse to the murder of political opponents
Bear with me little while discuss the state Of
affairs brought about in the sections of the
South have mentioned by the aid of murder
and violence. Let me talk to you about the
black man in the South.
DOES THE NEGRO OF HIS OWN FREE WILL VOTE
THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET IN THE SOUTH?
The assertion is broadly made by the Demo-
cratic party, North and South alike, that the
negro willingly votes the Democratic ballot IN
the South. Is this true? Do the facts of the
years since reconstruction bear out this state
ment? think not. here affirm that, of the
million black men upon our soil entitled to vote,
not half hundred thousand will, if left abso-
lutely free to exercise their choice cast Demo-
cratic ballot. Is this mere assertion? Follow
me but little, and think / can show you I
affirm nothing in saying what I do that is not
based upon facts as hard as granite. Men,
whether white or black, never from choice
place over themselves as rulers those they are
certain will, if clothed with power, use it for
their humiliation and oppression. In no
Southern State, in no part of any Southern
State, have the negroes in any large numbers
voted of their own free will the Democratic
ticket. Where States have gone so so!idly DEM
ocratic in the South, it has been either because
the black man has not been allowed to vote at
all, or because he has been driven to the polls
and compelled at the muzzles of shotguns and
revolvers to vote against his honest convictions
and his, as he believed best interests. Let us
look at some of the States in the South where it
is claimed the negro has voted the Democratic
ticket
ALBANIA cast 76, 600 Republican votes in 1868,
80, GOO in 1872 $4,000 in 1876, and $500 in 1878.
Absolute protection to the negro in 1868 and
1872; peace and quiet at the polls; result, full
vote upon his part, and all the votes cast Re-
publican. Partial protection to the negro in
1876, and fair vote 1S7S-Democratic con-
troll of the State, no protection to the black
man; result, but $500 Republican votes cast.
Less than 1000 of the 90, 900 votes to which the
Republicans were entitled found their way to
the ballot-box. Do you believe this was an
honest election?
MISSISSIPPI
Eighty two thousand Republican votes cast
in 1872; that year protection to the negro. In
1876 but 81, 600 Republican votes cast; that year
riot and tumult before and during elections.
In 1S78 the Democracy in full control Of the
State, shot-guns in the ascendant, free speech
crushed out, political opponents murdered or
driven from the State; result, 2,056 Republican
votes cast; $4,000 Republican votes cast IN the
quiet autumn days of 1872; 1900 Republican
votes cast in 1878 (only $4,000 less than six
years before). In the first case law and order
ruled; in the second law had it's fall and order
vanished before the fierce sweep Of men who
hated the one and abhorred the other.
LOUISIANA
1S72-7,2CO0 Republican votes cast. Peace
and order, men voting without fear. 1876
$4,000 Republican votes cast Peace and pro-
lection to the voters, save in few localities.
1S7S-2S, OCO Republican votes cast Democrats
in full control of the State; "bulldozing"s the
pastinle of the party: murder for political rea-
aors an common "a tn scaroa axcita comment.