The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-09-12

If August Both were white men and
both Democrats, and from the bitter
hatred shown by extreme Radicals
against a 'solid SOUTH one would
readily conclude that whether Barks-
dale killed Dixon, or Dixon killed Barks-
dale. or whether each killed the other,
either or both results would have been
satisfactory to Republican editors. for
the reason that there would then have
been one. and possibly t,Co, fewer votes .
pOlled IN that state for the Democratic
party. Let us for a moment look at the .
facts. Dixon had served in the rebel
army in Nirginia-was a man Of un-
doubted courage-and after the war
settled in Yazoo City. Ills life was not .
a quiet or peaceable one, but, on the
contrary, he was frequently engaged in
personal broils and political affrays, in
one Of which he Killed Il white man
named Harrison. and in anOthera negro.
In 1873 he became the recognized leader
of the bull-dozers i'll YaZoO, and by his
peculiar methods redeemed the county
from Radical rule. for which he was
presented by his fellow citizens with a
massive solid silver pitcher, on which
WAS inscribed, ITO the brayest of the
brave, Captain Henry NJ. Dixon" In
june last Dixon announced himself as
an independent candidate for Sheriff Of
Iazoo county. in which the colored
population largely exceeds the white.
For some reason, unknown To US, his
candidacy was specially Objectionable TO
Il large majority of the Democrats, and
in the latter part of July number of
them waited OH him and demanded
( that he should either withdraw or leave
the county. After a great deal of ne
gotiating. Dixon consented to retire from
the canvass Here was the great mis-
take OF his opponents, and Lis cOmpul-
sOry withdrawal was an outrage for
which there is 10 excuse. No matter
what sort Of Il man he was, whether he
was violent man and fun of prejudice
OF whatever he was, he lad a clear, un-
doubted right to be a candidate for
Sheriff and any interference with his
exercise of that right was wholly un-
juSJiiiable in community where equal
rights prevail and are respected. y few
weeks ago Dixon Withdrew his declina-
tion and again announced himself as a
candidate james y. BarkSdale, pop
ular young man, was the regular Demo-
cratic candidate for Chancery Clerk of
the county, and i'll their public speeches
he and Dixon indulged in a vast amount
OF personal abuse Of each other. Barks-
dalc's friends assert that Dixon threat
ened 10 assassinatc him. and that he
WAS in the habit of using the yilest Ian
guage respecting some of Barksdale's
female relatives. How all this was we
know not. but the difficulties between
the two men grew worse and worse un-
til. on the 18Th of August. Dixon, who
was ON one side of Main street in NaZoO.
was hailed by Barksdale from the oppo-
site side, Barksdale having a shotgun
and Dixon being armed with pistol
Two or more shots were fired by each
and Dixon received four buckshot in
the back from the effects of which he
soon after died
Now what do these facts prove Why.
simply that BarksdaIe is murderer.
unless there were circumstances in the
case, or acts on the part OF Dixon. of
which there is yet no evidence, which
would either Justify the killing or re-
duce it below murder in the first degree.
There was something more than poll
tics at the bottom of the quarrel, because
the friends of Dixon Immediately put
another candidate III the field who has
since been making an active canvass
, without any interference by the Demo
Gratis.
What a perfect godsend it would have
been to the Republican press if Dixon
had been Il negro and a candidate for
Sheriff ? And although noright-minded
man pIetcnds to justify BarksdaIe,
Radical editors insist that all the white
people of Mississippi ought to be held
responsible for his crime. Does any
saEe man imputc any guilty parlici-
patton on the part of the people of Cali
foruia i'm the recent cowardly attempt
by De Young To assassmate kalloeh in
san FranciscO-a case which bears a
close resemblance to the azoo tragedy I?
With equal justice the Congregational
Church might be held responsible for
Beecher's adultery, OF all the members
of the Legislature Of this State for the
corrupt practices Of PetroT and Rum
Larger Wilful and deliberate murder
Is an everyday occurrence in some PARTS
of the country, but no one not a fool, or
a knaye, will impute the guilt of the Of
Tenders to entire communities. From
whatever motives he acted. the crime of
BIrksdale was his own, and the people
of Mississippi ale as guiltless of any
part or lot in its preparation as the
people Of Pennsylvania. If. however,
Republican newspapers viii attempt to
fire the Northern heart by waving the
bloody shirt over it, the common sense
of the people everywhere viii estimate
their recklesSneSS as il deserves and
viii put an intelligent construction on
the motives as well as on the response
bility for Barksdale's crime.
ALTHOUGH the election in California
occurred a week ago to-day lWodnes-
.F.-.. is .r.r,. r...-,- +I... 49,. -.