Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-10-28
A Travelling Mans Experience in
the SOutiI-..Crime of being IL Re-
publican.

CLEVELAND, O., Oct. IS, 1880.
Messrs. Editors. Democrat and Chronicle,
Rochester, N Y:
GENTS: My attention has been attract
ed by an extensive article and editorial
in the issue of the Union and Adverti-
ser of October 10th. Aware of the un-
fairness of Democratic sheets in pub
fishing a TRADE against political oppo-
nents and then refusing them the means
of defense through their columns, 1 pre-
fer to ignore that channel entirely, and
ask through your columns an opportu-
nifty to explain my position and the ex-
act truth in the case.
was sent South in the interest of
MessrS. H. II. Warner & Co., selling and
advertising their Safe Kidney and Liver
Cure and other remedies. To say that
my impressions of the South and South
ern people were glowing, and that an
|ticipated similar treatment to that had
always received at the North would he
but to exactly express my feelings be-
fore | started. l had been at the South
but a short time, however, when l found
the spirit exactly the reverse of what |
had expected. Let any man, Mr.. Edi-
tor, go from the North to any part of
the South and express Southern senti-
ments and talk freely and he will be re-
ceived with open arms; but should he
be a Republican at heart, and in the
strength of his manhood honestly ex-
press his convictions. not only will so
o,N, 4
frown upon him, but he may consider
himself fortunate if he escapes without
outrage. Such was my misfortune. In
stead of adopting time serving policy,
l expressed my honest views, and it
nearly cost me my life. 1t is true that
| wrote the article to Northern paper
containing an account of Southern in
justice and inhumanity, and it is also
tue that was beSet and mObbed for
being the author of that letter. Ny es
cape was fortunate one, and due Who'll
ly to my desperation.
The statement made by the editor of
the Florence Times, of South Carolina,
that denied the authorship of the let
ter upon my bended knees, is malicious
and wholly invented lie, and on par
with the Southern spirit to which have
before referred.
In the article published in the Union
it is asserted that did not receive rough
treatment, and that the Southern peo-
pie uniformly treated travelling men
with respect. 1 should like to know
who is best fitted to know about this
a man who is on the ground and whose
body to-day bears the scars which he
there received, or men who are more
than 1000 miles away. and who have
never travelled through the South?
l am aware of the bitter PARTISAN
ship and animosity which exists just at
the present time, and that even the
slightest things are magnified for politi-
cal purposes; but, as an honest man, aud
one who feels his wrongs, L solemnly
aver that while IN the employ of Mr.. H
II. Warner, travelling through the South,
at two separate and distinct times, re-
ceived brutal and uncalled-for outraaes
the only provocation being that was a
Northern man and expressed Northern
sentiment. Southern papers and parti-
san sheets at the North may denounce
and villify me as they choose, but such
is the truth, and by this l am willing to
abide. W. B. BELL.