Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-10-20
SOUTHERN INTOLERANCE.

How North Carolina RspdbIiesn was Prov ented
from Becoming Postmaster. open Sympathy for
Moonshiners.
The following is OH extract from a
North Carolina letter to the New York
Times:
Jamestown is small settlement in
Guilford county, N. c. Nearly all the
people in it are Bourbons dyed in the
wool. For sometime past Mr.. J. W.
Ragsdale, democrat, has been the post
master Of the place. The position pays
about 1925 year, and some of the Re-
publican managers of the district thought
it should be given to Republican.
Mr.. Ragsdale performed his duty most
acceptably, however, and the depart
ment would not remove him. But re-
Gently he accepted nomination for the
legislature, and under the law he was
obliged to resign his federal position.
Then half the adult male population OF
the place set about securing the vacant
postmastership. It was awarded to Mr..
John W. Stack, small farmer OF the
best character, of good ability, and who
is vouched for by men of prominence and
responsibility. But MI. Stack is a Re-
publican, who has never been
afraid to declare his political senti-
ments. His bitterest enemy in Gull
ford county can bring no worse charge
against him. Yet his appointment as
postmaster Of the town in which he ha
long resided was greeted with howl Of
Democratic Indignation which cannot
easily be described. "The place had
| been held by a Democrat, it belonged to
a Democrat, and no damned radical
should ever occupy it with their con-
sent" This declaration WAS made in a
formal meeting of the Bourbons of the
neighborhood, and carry their threat into
effect, it was agreed by all the property
owners Of the property-owners Of the
town that no store or room in 1t should
be let to Stack for postoffice, and that
if he should attempt to erect Temporal
ry building for the distribution of the
mails upon any vacant lot such building
should be torn down and he prosecuted
under the state law for trespass. From
this decision Mr.. Stack has appealed in
vain. To all his applications for house.
room he has received the same answer:
"No; we don't want a radical for post
master, aud you can't get room for an
Office in this town." Its likely that the
gentle Bourbons will have their way.
The fight is not quite an even one. Mr..
! Stack is the only white Republican in the
place, and he is opposed by 500 North
Carolina Democrats.
! Still another incident Of altogether dis
similar character has recently occurred
! in the up country Of the north state. G..
/ w. Manering is law abiding citizen Of
Stokes county, in that ancient common
! wealth. Some time ago he opened q
retail liquor store, and, against the pro-
test OF a local Democratic committee
which waited upon him in regard to the
matter, had the hardihood TO take out &
license and pay tho revenue tax. He was
surrounded on all sides by illicit whisky
makers, who regarded such action on his
part as worthy of the severest punish
ment. Stokes county, which is very
hot-bed Of moonshiners, was soon made
verv uncomfortable for Manering.
whisky was sold all around him at prices
less than the tax, and at last, in despair,
he appealed to Revenue Officer Bynum
for protection. That gentleman, by his
discretion, captured and broke up six
illicit stills. From that time Oh Manner
! Ing became Il LuuEhCu uldI IC IiooA"
sinners entered into conspiracy to drive
/ him out of the county. AS is shown by
evidence now in the possession OF the
! United States attorney, they We're warm
lily seconded by Pleasant H. N1obe, a
Democratic ma istrate and justice OF the
peace. This officer, on trumped-up
! charges of breach Of the peace, issued
warrants for Manering's arrest, and had
him thrown into jail. He was bailed out.
Immediately fonr other warrants were
issued for his arrest. that number of
moonshiners having convinced Justice
Mobe that they feared personal assaults
from Manering. To escape further por-
secution the latter fed the country, and
now Mobe, who was at one time himself
in the illicit whisky trade, together with
his associates, boasts loudly Of how the
"good citizens Of old Stokes got rid OF
the cowardly hound who paid the revenue
tax and helped the excise officers"