The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-08-15
A Mississippi Mob.

A RIississlppi Mob.
We don't get such news in the press
dispatches, but it appears that even the
presence of the yellow fever has no effect
to prevent lawlessness in the South, and
render the people Of that section more
tolerant and peaceable. A citizen of this
State has handed US small slip, headed
"Herald-Extra," and printed at Yazoo,
Miss, July 18th. This extra contains a
card, signed by H. NJ. Dixon, to the fol-
lowing effects.
"For tho sake of peace and harmony of
the county, and the affection l bear for
my family and friends, I agree to with
draw from the political canvass or race
issue in the future, provided, I will be
protected in my rights as any other citi-
zen; and my friend, r. A. Flanagan is
to be unmolested in his rights, &c.
II. NJ. DIXON.
Yazoo City, July 18th, 1879.
This card is prefaced by the editorial
statement that "the best men in the
county to the number of several humid.
red," assembled in the town that day,
"and considering as they did that the
longer continuance Of the Independent
party in Yazoo was detrimental in the
highest degree to the interests of the
county," had appointed committee Ito
wait upon Capt. Dixon, the head of the
Independent movement in this county,
and request him to retire from this can.
vass." The HeralGs extra adds:
"This, he at first refused to do, giving
reasons for the ground of his refusal
which were notdeemed satisfactory to the
great assembly of earnest, determined
men. He finally, however, consented to
quit the canvass now and forever, as the
following card will show. So the political
canvass in this county may be considered
as at an end. The Democratic flag now
waves over this glorious old county, un.
contaminated and unchallenged and
long may it wave."
From letter in which this ''extra" was
enclosed, written by a thoroughly re-
liable gentleman who was in Yazoo at
the time, we learn that "the best men Of
the county," referred to by the Herald.
comprised about seven hundred people,
all armed with repeating rifles and revolt
vers, who rode into town determined to
put stop, finally and forever, to the in
dependent ticket business, and to mnrder
Dixon, Flanagan and other Independent
leaders, if any refused to withdraw from
and abandon the Independent movement.
In other words, these chivalrous, law
abiding, liberty-loving "best men of the
county" didn't propose to have any
other ticket in the field except the Dem
ocrstic ticket.
The letter shown US confirms the state
ment of the Herald that Dixon refused
at first to withdraw, whereupon cry was
raised: Kill him! kill him! Cooler
men interfered, and another committee
was appointed. Dixon then agreed to
refer the matter to committee of his
friends, and this committee decided that,
to prevent bloodshed and save his own
life and the lives of his friends, he should
withdraw. But while these consultations
were progressing, the mob was bowling,
Chang him kill him !" aud several times
moved towards Dixon's house. A lawyer
named Hudson addressed the crowd:
urging them to be quiet. A DR.. Burch
followed, demanding that Dixon with
draw. and put his withdrawal in writing.
The mob made another break for Dixon's
house, when prominent citizen named
Holt-a Democrat-confronted them
with two revolvers, threatening to shoot
the first man who advanced further until
after the consultations between Dixon
and the committee were concluded.
When Dixon's card was read, it was re-
ceived with Economical howls Of joy, and
the angry mob, after INDUCING in q
general rejoicing, finally dispersed. As
the Herald says, "the political canvass
was ended" and the Democratic flag
waves unchallenged."
At one time during the consultations,
Dixon proposed that he be permitted to
remove his family from his house to a
place of safety, saying that he would
then eight it out" with the crowd. But
this proposition was refused. A Missis-
sippi Democratic mob seems to delight in
making war on women and children. The
Chisholm massacre is an illustration of
this fact. Dixon appears to have been
finally bulldozed more by considerations
for the safety of his wife and children
than by fear of the inevitable consequen.
ces to himself.
It should be remembered that Dixon
is not Republican. He was Confed-
crate soldier during the war, and, until
recently, an active Democrat. He was,
we believe, chairman of the Democratic
executive committee Of Yazoo for several
years, and a prominent actor in the "shot-
gun campaign" of 1875. He it was who
furnished the duplicate keysto the ballot