The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-08-13


has eaten dog, and the scoundreliy
scheme of carrying elections by vio-
lence has returned to plague it's in
yentors. Yazoo County in that
State was, when honest elections
were held, strongly Republican BY
fraud and mob violence, the Re
publican leaders were either driven
from the county or murdered, and
the Democrats became masters of tho
situation. Home rule" to use q
Democratic phrase. was established,
and the fraud used TO secure this
state Of affairs was openly exulted
10 and defended under the plea OF
~redeeming the State from negro
rule.
Foremost in the Democratic pro-
yramme of violence was q Capt.
Dixon, an ex-confederste officer, and
so greatly pleased were the Demo-
Gratis Of the county with bis can-
paign against the Radicals in 1875,
that they presented him with a mas
sive silver pitcher bearing an in
scription testifying to his brilliant
services in the redemption of the
county..from Radical rule" Having
thus secured control, it happened as
is always the case, that there wasn't
Offices enough to go around among
the patriots that had redeemed the
county, and failing a further recognl-
ton of his services, Capt. Dixon an
nounced himself as an independent
candidate for Sheriff of Yazoo county,
subject only to the voice of the peo-
pie at the ballot box. Later, other
candidates appeared, and an inde-
pendent ticket was found which en-
listed the support of about one'third
of the Democrats of the county, ..and
nearly all the Republicans. A few
weeks since the Democratic conven.
ton met, nominated a full ticket, and
resolved that the independent party
must be suppressed.
Military companies, composed Of
simon-pure Democrats, were organ
lied and commenced riding about the
places of registration for the purpose
of intimidating and overaweing vot-
ers. Dixon and bis friends declined be-
ing b~ulldozed, and registered in face
of the threats, while many others were
scared and driven away. As it
stood, Dixon had a majority of the
registered vote and would have been
elected, so other measures bad to be
~resorted to. Accordingly about five
hundred armed men assembled under
command of Stubblefeld, the Demo
cratic candidate for Sheriff and pro-
ceeded to tako measures with Dixon.
They found .aim with two friends
and made the Usual demand that he
leave the county within twenty-four
hours-neyer to retain, or take
the consequences. This he declined
to do, but when tie mob was about
burning his house and sssassinating
him, be signed the following card,
TO THE ruBLIc.
For the sake of the peace and harmony Of tbs
county. and the affection L bear for nay iamijy and
friends, / agree to withdraw from the political
canvass or race issue in the future; provided. j
will be protected in my rights as any other citizen.
and my friend X. A Flanagan, Is TO be rnmolest-
ed in his rights, etc. IL. NJ. DIXON.
lazoo City, July rs, 1879.
The bulldozers therefore dispersed,
the Yazoo City Herald issued an ex-
ira indorsing the action of the mob,
peace reigns in the Democratic party
and the political canvass is at an
end.
Dixon's friends, however, refused
to submit quietly and appealed to
the Democratic Governor of the
State to call for U. S. troops to keep
the peace Or to preserve it and pro-
tect a free ballot by use of the State
militia, but he declined to do either,
and said be would write the Sheriff
to try and prevent further trouble.
SO the Mississippi plan, invented
to crush out white and colored Re-
publicans, has returned to plague its
inventors. Itis well enough that
Dixon, one OF its originators, has had
o taste Of bis own brewing, and but
little sympathy will be extended to
him. His humiliation and defeat
proves the danger of encouraging
fraud and violence as q political
force, and it shows in an unmistak-
able way how the South is made
solidn for the confederate Democracy.
The oft propounded query, will
dog eat dog?" has at last been satis-
factorily answered.