The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-05
0rue Nortbsrner.
Paw Paw, MIoHIoAS. SEPT. 81 1879.

The Chicago Times OF August 80, 1879, com
ments(editorally) as follows on the killing OF
Dixon by Barksdale, at Yazoo City, Miss:
Many different reasons for the murder Of the
ex-bull-doser, Dixon, have been assigned by
the azoo barbarians One was that his an-
cestors we're very desperate men" Another,
that when acting in full fellowship with the
solid-south party, he>had extermlnated good
many negroes to prevent them from voting.
Another, that he was, relgiously speaking. an
infidel. And another that his grandmother
was an infidel Now comes Yazoo barbarian.
in letter to Mr.. Henry watterson, with still
another statement OF the motive for the killing
which is no doubt much nearer the truth than
any OF the preceding
1t appears, from the statement OF this Yazoo
defender OF political murder, that the reglstra-
ton OF voters In Yazoo county, lately com
pleted, contains the names OF 4,COO negro
voters and only 1000 white voters The writer
classes the 1000 negro voters as - the ignorant
element in opposition to the 1000 white
voters, who believe IN elections by buckshot.
add by implication, are the enlightened els-
mont. He says:
GU are aware that arguments unanswer-
able are utterly thrown away when applied TO
this ignorant element predominating. You
are also aware that any new party or thing OK |
hibted IN gaudy colors captivates the Ignorant
therefore you know that a smooth -topgued
bold, reckless man can lead them (the ignor-
anti on to deeds which good citizens abhor
The candidate for sheriff OF this county on the
independent ticket Is that sort of q man, aud
he was Leading them on. You are msinformed
when you say Dixon and his associates were
requested 10 leave the county No one but
Dixon was asked down anu out. Any indie
pendent ticket composed OF good men VIII not
be molested for it will die naturally before
November. The meeting OF the 2Sth OF July
was not mob, but rather men who preferred
one day IN arms to the probable-nay, almost
certan-a!teruatye OF return TO the rule OF
ignorance and violence.
Here - what amounts 10 an admission that
the independents, with Dixon for their leading
candidate, in far and b.. est election. would
have defeated the Yazoos With good man"
for their leader, the Independents, though out
numbering the Yazoos more than two to one.
could have had no hope OF succ ess but would o
have died naturally Chat is, as il ia natural
for god men who venture into Mississlppi f
politics to die, by the appliances OF tho bull- G
dossrs) before November" The enlightened
auo nooie party OF the Yazoos are not afraid +
OF being beaten by good men, l." however great
~ taey outnumber them. But Exon was not :.
good man He had been honored and re -
spected by the Yszoos as ole Of their most D
ehcient bul!-dosers. OF a bold, fearless and a
desperate Character, he could not be intm, o
iated by the I'm sthods Of savagery which he ia
nad practlced himself. He was not good II
nan but he evidently was regarded by those Ii
extremely good men, the political assasslns. as ..
'he very best man In Yazco county to lead the :,
lew party to success, in spite OF its opponents
hos-guns. This was contemplated BY those -
good citizens" the political assassins, with J"
lbhorrence. They therefore determined that to
)ixon should die. II he had only been "good tn
nan, easily intimidated by the swagger and NJ
iuster and threatenipgs OF his old comrades. in
ne bull-dosers,-a mild hammered sort OF nom be
without any strength or vigor of an
nsracter to inspire the confidence OF his sup ho
oiters or the fear of his opponents in his ca IT,
acIty FOR party leadership-tbey would per :
aps not have thought it necessary to murder o.
im TO prevent his election. He was not q 40
good man to defeat any other way by party az
umbering less than one third Of the lawful 20
'ters Ia lazoo county. They fore.aw that il pc
, lived be would be elected. and his election
ould be the triumph OF the new party See ha
6 no other way to maintain the supremacy of tai
% minority By free ballot and fair cleo prt
On, they deliberately murdered the candidate 4
lom they foresaw would be elected il thew let off,
m live.
This is the latest explanation of the latest %
'lltica bu'chery in Misslsfppi, given by one o0i
the butchers. Its manifest verify reflects IN
Edit upon the gentle savage for bis csndor. Jaf
Jar