New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-28
SHOTGUN POLICY IN INDIANA.

An indianapolis correspondent of The Lou
isriHe CouI7er-JourRdl sends out the alarm
that Indiana is being colonlzed by Southern
negroes to such an extent as to endanger the
Democratic supremacy in the State, and
charges that it is the work of the Republican
State Committee. The writer suggests, and
The Oourier-Jownal approves the suggestion
in italics. that " the proper way to meet the
"mean political device of the enemy is FOR
"the Democrats in Indiana to organise
"promptly and thoroughly for most formidable
and aggressire campaign" What this means
will be readily understood by all who have
read accounts Of the methods in vogue in
Mississippi, Louisiana and other Southern
States where the Democrats have car
fled on formidable and aggressive cam
"paigns." Talking" says the Editor will
"notaccomplish anything. Action, organization.
"massing of strength, are needed, and 1ndi-
cana Democrats are equal To the task, we are
"sure.n And that, too, is the principle on
which the aggressive campaigns further South
have been conducted. Talking was not de-
pepded upon at all to influence the negroes,
nor was 1t permitted; it was the action. or
"ganization and massing of strength of the
White Leagues, buldOzers and night-riders
that did the business, and this, we presume,
is the task the Indiana Democrats are said To
be equal to. The same tactics proposed
for the latitude of Indiana that have been so
successful III the bulldozing States.
Now it is quite likely that there is not the
slightest ground for this correspondents
alarm, and it is certainly most improbable
that the rush of cololed people into Indiana,
oh las
political significance than is contained in the
fact that they are unqucstiOnably fleeing from
political persecution in the States where they
are deprived OF their rights. That they are
dong this under directions from any political
committee is simply absurd But suppose they
are going into Indiana In considerable num-
bers haven't they a right to- Do our Demo-
cratic friends in Indiana propose to organize
n shotgun quarantine against these poor per-
secuted people, and absolutely prohibit their
entering the State Are the Democrats of
Indiana aware that anything has happened
since the time when they forbade by law free
negroes from coming into the State, and per-
mltted all the powers of the law and Its Off
GERS To be exhausted i'll the catching and send
ing back of runaway "niggers"i "Nlggers "
have Just rs good a right to go into Indiana
now as white men. They may stay there
and become citizens. AS citizens they may
vote. The Constitution of the United States
has taken care OF that--nO thanks to Indiana
Democrats-and even though they should 20
into Indiana in sufficient numbers TO endanger
the supremacy of The Democratic party, there
would be no legal remedy except to sit down
under it. The Democrats, not only OF Indiana
but of other States, seem dull as to this busi-
ness. They cannot comprehend that the
blacks actually have the right to vote. They
can hardly understand, indeed. that the poor
creatures have any rights whatever. In Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana, they won't allow them
either to vote or hold political meetings, nor
will they permit them to leave the country.
And now it seems If, after they make their
escape from the shotguns of the bulldozers
further South, they attempt to find homes III
a Northern Democratic State they are to he
met still with the shotgun of the aggressive
campaign. Are they, then, TO be exterminated
L. that what the Democrats Of Indiana and