Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-10-08

The Rev. DIR. A. W. Cummings, formerly
president of the South Carolina University,
has written letter giving reasons why he,
though "a lifelong worker in the cause of
Temperance, and Prohibitionlst of the most
radical school," cannot support Neal Dow
for President. He says
If the temperance vote was anything like
evenly divided between the great parties, the
Prohibition vote would be of small import
ance this year, but, unfortunately, this is not
the case More than 90 per cent of it will
come from one party, and by just so much
aid the other Small as this vote may be, in
some of the close States, like New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut and Indiana, 1t
may turn the scale in favor of Il party that
few temperance men would like to see in
control of the Government.
DIR. Cummings proceeds to describe the
conduct of the Southern Democracy as he
witnessed it while resident of South Caro-
lima
Thousands of colored men have been mur-
,lered IN cold blood because they ventured to
exercise the rights guaranteed to them by the
Constitution and the reconstruction acts of
Congress, and practically they have no re-
dress. The United States courts cannot pun
ish domestic murder, and the State courts
will not do it. Even white natives of many
of the Southern States can with safety only
vote on one side The free voluntary eXer-
else of the rights of freemen exposes them to
the greatest dangers B. +. Perry, late
provisional governor of South Carolina, in g
recent address, said: The return of the
Republican party to power i'll South Caro-
lima must be prevented, ht the consequences Dc
irhat they may" This is n call 10 the rifle
clubs and ku-klux TO repeat their iiendish
cruelties of 1871 and 1876. The shotgun
policy of Wade Hampton resulted in the
murder of more than 100 voters in Aiken
county, South Carolina in 1876. 1t pierced
the heart of that noble youth, the Rev. B- +.
Randolph, with seven bullet at midday in n
public gathering in Edgetield county. 1t
brought death To the Hon. Joseph Crews
in l.aurcns county, and TO the Hon.
Alexander Brce in Oconee county. Ii took
from their beds and murdered Andrew john
son. the Rev. Wallace Fowler and the Rev
Lewis Thompson, all quiet aw-abiding citi-
zens of Spartanburg county, at the time my
home. No one was punished for any of
these murders or for hundreds of other muir
ders in South Carolina, pcrpetrdtcd To thwart
the PURPOSES of the nitcd States Govern
ment in giving the franchise 10 the freed
men. Gov Perry also says: The poor,
miserable white man who tries 10 restore the
radical party To power in South Carolina
should be socially ostracised and not spoken
to on the streets; he should be treated rs an
enemy of his race, h0Stis hamdnl gehfrtS
The colured man should be told that If he
will vote to place rogucs and scoundrels all
Republicans in power. no honorable Demo
crat will employ him in any way Social os
tracism for the white man and No employ
ment for the colorcd should he resolved upon
and adhered To throughout the State.
Such is the intolerant spirit Of the Southern
party now seeking through Gen. Hancock,
the control of the general government With
a majority nf more than 30 900 South Caro-
lima Republicans dare not put II State ticket
in the field Gov. Perry, Wade Hampton
and other leaders intend to force all To sup
port their party or leave the State. Death
is the penalty for disohedience. Many have
left the South, who on account ct climate,
went there, ny | did. long before the war.
Others. ON "A FOOLS crranI," after the war,
thinking that peace meant the right I" 1--we
in any State without disabilities. finding
their lives in hourly danger, have left for
safer clmcs.
And in conclusion. Dr. Cummings protests
against tn use of the temperance vote of the
North, even Indirectly, for the purpose of
enabling a cruel. murdcrous oligarchy Ia oh
tain control nf the National Government.