The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-07
THE Dixon TRAGEDY.
It's Historical Parallel With the Murder Of:
Gen. Clanton- Then and Now.
[St. Louis ReunhIiean.l


Among the many eminentiy proud INTEL
lects OF the Southern States, at any time
since their political events assumed the inn
portance OF becoming historical, there was
none more exalted, none more beautifully
transparent, none more vigorous and subtle
in analysis, than Gen. Clantons, OF Mont
gomery, Ala. A man OF century WAS Clam
ton. With a profound legal knowledge he pos
sessed mind wonderfully astute. Ambitious
to degree, his pride of character was ever q
stimulant to his energies. In a word, he was
the very EN- bodiment OF all that was grand,
glorious and good In man. The finger OF
destiny pointed to him as one who was to
take a leading part in the great political
drama then being enacted In the States Of the
South His towering mind would carry
him above and beyond the ordinary
and extraordinary stumbling blocks
which the Radical party were continually
throwing In the path OF all good and true
men. It was for him, and such men as he
was, to sweep out the Augean stable, and
liberate the people OF the South from Radical
domination and nnfsrule by which they we're
beset-men OF nerve and admirable ability
OF high moral courage and indomitable Wills
who were moving each day OF their lives
amid the exiting scenes OF the times. But
CIanton was not permitted to reach the sum-
NIT of his capabilities. He was shot to death
in the streets OF Knoxville Tenn, In the pride
and vigor Of his manhood. There were no
concomftant circumstances connected with
this murder that could possibly point to 1t as
personal feud. Nelson did his bloody work
In fifteen minutes after his introduction to
CIanton, whom ne knew to be prominent
Democrat, an indefatfgable worker for his
party, and q fearless advocate OF Its princi.
piles; while Nelson was intensely Radical az
partisan, hating the very name OF Southern
Democracy. Gen. Clanton would In twenty
four hours hold up to the disgust OF all true
men the frauds perpetrated by the Radical
party In connection with the Mobile
and Chattanooga Railroad. So they
slew him., and his murderer became
the land then that this deed OF blood would
culminate in the downfall OF the Radical
party; no one intimated then that the Wtiz Of
the bullet that went to Clanton5 brave heart
would be the death-knell OF liberty and con-
stitutiOnal government. But freedom shrieked
when Dixon fell. In the one case q RadieaI
murdered a leading Democrat without the
| shallow Of a cause, for they had not known
| each other a sufficient length OF time To trump
| no quarrel; in the other Democrat kills q
| Radical after a holly contested campaign ct
| local nature had been going on Tor montnss
| limitations and recriminationS were unqueS-
| tionably heard every day, which too often
| terminate In personal Insult. from one side
| or the other-and then-wel. We all know
what then. 1t Is always bad enough; the
end is never desirable, and often reprenensf-
( BILE and lanentabie In the last degree. Be-
sides, we are told by men of indisputable In
affair of Dixon and Barksdale was OF a per-
sonaI nature, that the Democratic parry II
| NOT and cannot be made responsible ZOE IT,
Look upon this picture and then upon IhaL.
| and say which Of these two murders Is tne
/ most shocking Why, sir, Dxon's death was
| hnf the sembIanee of a murder compared with
/ the atrocious crime that ended Clanton's LIE.
/ ",Tis strange what difference there be
| TWixt tweedledum and tWseiledee.
/ TOW P. AsHE.