Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-08-05
From the New York Tribune.
The Mississippi Plan,

We referred the other day to little ep-
isode in Kemper county, Mississippi,
where stump-speaker advocating the
election of republican candidate tor
Clerk of the Court was silenced with a
brickbat and dirk vigorously used by an
offended democrat There are not MANY
counties in Mississippi where the most
courageous man would venture to run as
republican candidate for any office, or to
make a republican speech. If any dssat-
isfaction with the solid democratic rule
shows itself, it is almost ALWAYS under the
form of an "independent" movement.
Last year these movements were tolerated
where they did not seriously threaten dem
ocratic supremacy. but it seems that they
are not to go any farther.
the "best men of Yazoo county, who, ac-
cording to the Yazoo City Herald, gather
ed together on the 25th of July to the
number of several hundred and sent
committee of six to the dwelling of II. NJ.
Dixon, to inform him that he must quit
his canvass and leave the county, or die.
Mr. Dixon's offence was running as an
Independent candidate for Sheriff against
the regular democratic nominee.
The .best men of Yazoo county"
did not bother about Dixon's candidacy
until they found that many whites and
large majority Of the negroes were going
to vote for him. Then they thought it
time to bestir themselves. They first ac-
cused him of appropriating to his own
use, while member of the Democratic
County Committee. in 1875. a sum of mon
ey which the committee got from the dead
body of a negro member of the Legisla-
ture who was hanged by a democratic
mob. Dixon replied that this money, and
a good deal more beside. was used to pay
for stuffing ballot-boxes and purchasing
certificates of election for democrats who
were not elected. The "best men, were
naturally outraged in their finer feelings
by this revelation, and they concluded that
the time had come to put an end
to Dixon or his candidacy, or both. So
they beseiged Dixon's house. where the
candidate was found in company with his
wife and six children. He might have
met with the fate OF Judge Chisolm had
not the Mayor of the town, Joseph II.
Holt, bravely interfered for his protection.
The Sheriff of the county was with the
mob, but the Mayor, to his great credit be
it said, threatened to shoot the first man
who crossed the threshold. Then there
was parlev, aud Dixon refused to with
draw from the canvass, giving reasons
which, in the language of the local news
paper, were not deemed satisfactory to
1.-THE great assembly of earnest, determined
"men." Finally, yielding to the appeals
of his family. he consented, and signed a
card to the public in which he said For
''the sake of the peace aud harmony of the
county, and the affection bear for my
family and friends, agree to Withdraw
''from the political canvass or race issue
'in the future, provided | will be protect
''ed in my rights as any other citizen, and
"my friend r. A. Flanagan, is to be un-
"molested in his rights" An extra of the
Yazoo City Herald was promptly printed,
np fbi. p.,,..1 ,,I a:I
count of the affair." in which the brutal
mob was made to figure as a gathering OF
merchants, planters, farmers and others
having the best interests of the county al
heart. The Herald could not, however,
hold itself back from Growing over the po.
litical result of the business, which it did
in the following iubilant strain: $50 the
political canvass in this county may be
considered as at an end. The democratic
flag now waves over this glorious old
county uncontaminated and unchal.
"lenged. and long may it wave"
If this affair were merely the outgrowtl
Of local barbarism it might be passed over
as of no general interest, but it is plainly
the result of a political system established
by the Southern leaders for purposes of fal
greater importance than the election of a
county sheriff. This system has plan for
dealing with every man who tries to or.
ganize an opposition to democratic su.
premacy in any district, county or State
Personal abuse is first heaped upon him
and slanderous stories are circulated tc
destroy his good name. Every form o
social and business pressure is brought to
bear to force him to retire If he still
holds out ho is charged in the newspapers