Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-24
Radical Bulld0zing.
SHELBYyILLE. Ind. Apri

SHELBYFILLE, lnd., April ..
For several days past the Democrats
of this city have been of the belief that
the Republican leaders of Shelby County
were importing negroes into the city for
the purpose of carrying the election
here at all hazards. A dozen strange
negroes were seen on the streets last
Sunday, in company with Republicans
here, who were drilling them tor the
brought from Seymour at late hour on
Saturday night, and distributed here
and in Washington Township, this
county. Republicans openly said that
they intended to vote these paupers, re-
gardless of public sentiment and over
the wishes of Democrats, and threatened
to knife any one who should object to
their scheme to carry the township.
The boldness of Republican leaders to
thus carry the election by intimidation
and fraud was The greatest outrage of
modern times, and stamps that party,
for all time to come as the most corrupt
the world has ever seen.
Republicans went secretly armed to
the polls contemplating murder, if nee
essary to carry out their designs. The
Democrats, however, of old Shelby,
being as true as the needle to the pole,
determined that no negro should vote
who was not known to be a legal voter,
and in solid phalanx they stood to
guard the ballot boxes from the hellish
designs of their opponents. About elev-
en- o'clock colored boy not over eigh-
teen years of age was marched to the
polls by Government officials and Re-
publican desperadoes, and an attempt
was made to vote him, but the Demo-
Gratis challenged his vote, and then the
entire Republican forces rallied to the
negro's relief. The negro was a mere
STRIPPING, and had never been seen in
the county before, and was total
stranger to the negroes themselves.
Republicans threatened violence unless
the negro was permitted to vote, but
the Democrats were not to be bull
dozed, and gave the lawless element
led by Republicans here to plainly un-
derstand that their negro pet was one
of a gang Of imported cattle, and
should not vote. The negro finally left
the polls, and publicly said that he did
not want to vote anyhow, but had been
coaxed to attempt the act by Republi-
cans, who assured him that he would
not be prosecuted.
In the afternoon another negro made
his appearance at the polls with large
knife drawn, and threatened to kill
any Democrat who should challenge his
vote, and went about the yard threaten
ing Democrats with violence, and said
that he came from North Carolina to
vote, and he would vote. He was very
soon interviewed, and when it was as
certained that he had been imported
by the Republicans to vote, he was
driven from the grounds by infuriated
Democrats. A Republican bully by the
name of Kennedy was armed with a
large club which he had prepared him
self with in advance, and slipping up
behind Mr.. E. B. Amsden, County
Treasurer, struck him a heavy blow on
the head, which knocked that gentle
man down. Mr.. Amsden was carried
to the Sheriff. residence, where medi-
cal aid was rendered him by DR.. j. F.
Maddox, and at this writing is in a crit
ical condition. rss
The affair was disgraceful, but the
| entire blame is due to the Republicans
who attempted to vote North Carolina
negroes, who were not legal voters. A
| nice party, indeed, to talk of the purity
of elections.
There was deliberate purpose on the
part of Republicans to get up a quar-
rel, and to have Mr.. Amsden to en-
gage in it, and then to kill him before
the fight was over. Those North Caro-
| lima negroes brought into Shelby Coun-
| ty to vote the Republican ticket have
| been given to understand that they
cannot thus invade our soil and cast
illegal votes.-SpeciA to Indiana Sen