The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-09-30
A serious difficulty occurred between the


Greenbackers and Democrats at Cofeeville,
Yalobusha county, Miss, on the 21st of
last month, of which A. T. Wimberly,
chairman of the Greenback State commit
tee, gives lengthy account in the 4alo-
busha Standard His version of the affair
is that the Democrats hired a colored man
named Spearman to proclaim himself a
Republican, hoping that he would injure
the Greenback party by resurrecring the
Republican organization. Failing in that,
he picked quarrel with the Greenback
candidate for sheriff, on the Dist, when the
Greenbackers and Democrats had assem-
bled fer joint discussion. The colored
man insulted the Greenbacker as he was
passing along the street The Greenbaek
brella, whereupon the colored man and a
half dozen Democrats drew revolvers and
shot the Greenbacker down. Some of the
men who fred the shots he considered his
personal friends; in fact, he said he did
not know that he had an enemy in the
world. Two days after, the Democrats
from that and adjoining counties came in
with their knives, guns and pistols, they
said, to keep the peace. Among their 9th
er peaceful demonstrations was to send a
committee to Mr.. Wimberly, asking him
to cease advocating the Greenback cause
or die before midnight. Mr.. Wimberly
refused their articles af peace, and another
committee was sent, demanding from him
an unconditional surrender of his political
retary of his lodge, the Forresters. Mr.
Wimberly settled his dues, that his family
might obtain his insurance money without
any trouble, and then requested that he
might be shot by committee of five, in
army style, but not by a mob. However,
his life has been spared so far, and he
thinks it will be for some time to come.
Governor Stone visited the place the day
before the Democrats flocked in to keep
the peace. Mr.. Wimberly waited upon
the Governor and informed him Of the
coming trouble. He suggested that the
military act under the order of the civil
authorities, which consisted of men OF
both parties. He believed that if it would
go out that the Governor demanded peace
there would be no trouble. The Governor
could not see that be had any power 10 act;
besidas, prominent Democrats Informed
him that there would be no trouble The
Governor put himself in the hands of the
politicians, and made no move to prevent
trouble.
Mr.. Wimberly says if they attempt bull
doing there will be trouble. He fought
in the confederate army from the first to
the last, believing it a just cause, and now
he is just as ready to die in this cause
Mississippi is his home and he intends tc
live and vote there. In conclusion he
says:
81 have heard and read of these things
said to have been committed in the South
and must confess that did not believe hall
that l heard, and the only reason that
can assign is that was a member of the
Democratic party, and like hundreds and
thousands of others who are now members
of the same party, blinded to its corruption
and incapability of controlling anything
but mob. In 1861, when VIM. L Yancy
in Memphis, made his noted secession
speech, / was standing near my father, who
looked at me and said My son, if tha
policy is carried out, and Democracy is up
held, it " i'll i,e the damnation of the South.
/, in lie language of my father, say i
Democracy gets control of this government
it will be the destruction of the liberties o
the people. God, let the heavens fall, le
the earth sink, let the sun cease to shine
but for mercy's sake, and for the sake O
the rising generation, crush the so-callec
Democracy, is my honest and earnes
prayer"
The large bulk of Southern men, tn.
same as at the North, desire only what il
for the best interests of the nation. Th,
officesseekers, the same as North, adop
vicious means of holding power, but, th'
same as here, prejudice has blinded th'
people to a true state of affairs. Such mel
as Mr.. Wimberly understand the disease
and know the remedy, and have the nerv'
to apply it. Northern interference excite
prejudice and will prolong the trouble.
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