The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-15
MR.. LAMAR At DEklLB.
He Delivers q Great Speech Before
Two Thousand People.
BE DEFINES THE FUSION MOVEMENT.
The Worn Ont song of a Free
Election and Fair Count.
A FEIGNED AND FALSE ISSUE

sCoUnd ifcTdIi.l
Col. Lamar spoke at DeKalb to>day
to an immense aud enthusiastic audi
ence. which greeted his appea ance on
the stand with enthusiasm. His speech
was logical and eloquent, and q most
searching aualys sis ofthe character. aims
and principles involved in the recent
coalition to capture the State and to
run it in the interest and for the asoen-
dency OF the Republican party of Miss
sissippi, He demonstrated with con-
vincing and overpowering logic that the
talk about a free election and a fair
count was a feigned and false issue, de-
signed to hide the real one, which was
whether the present civil administra
ton OF the State should be overthrown
aud that which existed under a similar
coalition between the carpet baggers
and blacks before 1875 should be re.es~
tablished in Mississippi. He said that
the leading sentiment of the Democrats
&c papers was for q free election and for
a fair count, and a suppression OF all
the agencies of violence at the polls.
He showed that a free ballot and a fair
count was not to be accomplished by
overtbrowlng the only government in
Mississippi which had represented law
and order and the unfolding of morals
ty since 1865. 1t was not to be secured
by putting into power governments
resting upon the negro vote, organized
and banded together.
He then showed the prosperity OF the
colored people under the government as
it now exists. Every black mau. woman
and child enjoyed their rights with arb
solute security. He quoted from sta1
tistics to show how they had advanced
in all the material elements of prosper
ty; quoted from the testimony of En-
glish travellers and Northern visitors to
show the falsity of the charges of VIC
lpnce and intimidation at elections.
His contrast between the governments
that existed before 1875 and the pres
ent governments in Mississippi, is pro
nounced the most eloquent %utterances
ever heard from him. He said very lit,
tie about the criticisms of his course in
the Senate. What he did say being re
ceived in such n ann as to convince
him that no defense was necessary. In
the beginning of his remarks Col. La
mar SAID he desired and had almost
hoped that there would be a unanimous
election of Gen. Lowry, whose broad
and progressive spirit appealed to the
hearts of all patriots; whose spotless
honor and high principles as a gentle,
man added to distinguished abilities
and services. should command the cons
fidence of all parties.
At this point he was asked by Capt
Barine if in his opinion Gen. Lowry was
a party TO any combination which had
for it's objects opposition to his return
to the Senate. To this the speaker re-
pied: Il have not the slightest idea
that Gen. Lowry is o party to any COM
bination of the kind. assuming that
such combination exists. Applause
I have no intimation, either directly or
indirectly, from that gentleman on this
matter, nor have | any source OF infor"
nation in relation to it not open to the
public. But from my knowledge of Gen.
Lowry's character, from what | believe
to be his personal feeling to me, and
from the fact that he took the earliest
occasion to d~iaconuect himself from the
attacks that had been made upon me.
I am quite sure that he does not wish
any antagonism of the kind to which
Capt. Braine refers. He may have his
preference. as all others have. If IN
the exercise of his right of private
Judgment he should think that another
worthier than myself should represent
Mississippi in the Senate, l shall have
no right to complain.
| do not know whether Lowry is FOL
Lamar for the Senate oil not, but l dc
know, ana wish it understood once for
all. that Lamar is for Gen. Lowry for
Governor The truth is Cen. Lowry
cannot, in his present position OF trust
and responsibility. wish to antagonize
anybody. He is like the Indian chief
who. captured by company of white
men and compelled to carry the cooking
utensils of his captors, worried at length
of his burden, thew it down saving:
"White man, look here; let every fellow
carry his own skillet" Amid uproarous
laughter the colonel added: Gen.
Lowry has got his own skillet to tote
just nowf aud l have no wish to burden
him with more. Applause For the
present, the question of paramount mo-
ment is whether the election OF the3ble
aud honorable gentlemen nominated by
the Democratic Convention shall cons
tinue to US unbrokenly the blessings OF
o good government here at home.