Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-15
The Southern Idea.

We have already called attention to re-
cent event in Aazoo City, Miss, but we can
not do better than to refer to it again for the
purpose Of illustrating 10 our readers the diff
ference between the political freedom upon
which American civilization is based and the
mob rule here and there developed in the
southern states. 1t seems that in lazoo
county u canvass was in progress for the
election of sheriff. The Democratic candi-
date was a man named Stubblefeld. The
Republicans did not nominate, but we'll
known citizen, Capt II. NJ. Dixon, announc-
ed himself as an independent candidate. The
canvass proceeded, and Capt. Dixon seemed
in fair way to be elected by getting a part
of the white and nearly all the coored vote.
When this became apparent, according to the
simple narrative in the Yazoo City Herald,
1.-THE best men of the county-the merchants,
the planters the farmers and those engaged in
other occupatons-gn gathered together in town
to the number OF several hundred, and,
considering, ms they did, that the longer CON
tmuance of the Independent party in Yazoo
was detrimental in the highest degree to the
interests OF the county, seeing race issue had
arisen IN consequence of 1t, committee was
appointed to wait upon Capt. II. NJ. Dixon
the head of the independent movement in
this county, and requested him to retire from
the canvass. ~ The request was accompanied
by threats OF death if he refused 10 comply
but Capt. Dixon at first refused giving rea-
sons says the Nazoo Herald, (which were
nat deemed satisfactory 10 He great dsSeH,biyCf
earnest, determiHod meH" He finally con
sentod to quit the canvass tOrerer, and the
able editor of the Aazoo Herald reioiced, say
lug so the political canvass in this county
may be considered at an end. The Demo
cratic flag now waves over this glorious old
county uncontnminatod and unchallenged
and long may it wave is it possible that
the southern people-any considerable num-
Der of thom-the best men'-the planters,
farmers, etc, are so foolish as to believe
that single northern state can be carried to
sustain that sort of political canvass The
Democrats Of the North are as much opposed
to any invasion Of human rights as are the
Republicans, They have no respect for any
political power but that established by the
VIII of the majority. Imagine a mob Of our
best people collecting together to force by
threats the withdrawal of any candidate--no
matter how humble or how ridiculous The
fact is, that We have nothing Of this sort
through all the great. growing, populous and
prosperous North. and the southern plan is ms
offensive 10 Democrats as to Republicans Il
Is for this reason that a northern Democrat,
gong South. finds that lac cannot affiliate
with southern Democrats. or the southern
dominant idea, which detics every sort Of toll
Grafton, and has only one system, repression
Aud thu South can never prosper until it for
sakes these ways, and accepts the ideas Oh
which political freedom rests. Slavery was a
system of force, and 1t developed-perhhps
made necessary-meAsures Of violence to sus-
tain It, 1t was powder magazine, to be
guarded from sparks with unceasing vigilance.
But slavery has passed away, and It's political
methods are no longer eXCusable. Every
person who joined in that mob to force Capt.
Dixon out of the canvass WAS a violator of
law and of the spirit Of the constitution.
Worse than that he was wofully ignorant of
the primary truths of free government 1t
sometimes seems as though the curse OF sla-
very would never leave the South Not only
do Ignorance and intolerance rule It's polite
but the natural results poverty and decay.
have set their seal on the region 80 highly ia
y0red by nature. 1t must grow weaker and
poorer rs the North grows stronger and rich
en- 1t can never again be u dangerous enemy
TO the Union, for 1t is u constantly decreasing
fnctOr, and is to-day not half so strong in pro
portion TO the North as 1t was in 1850. And
still growing poor and weak, it is slow to
learn the ideas upon which national prosperi-
" alone is based