The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-11-17
Why Lincoln County is Not Democratic

W. httNS % "hitS HioJoi'eS Ae'Ssi" b
from five to seven hundred. There
are several reasons for it,
We have had here, and still have
in degree, one of the most res
pectable class of white Republi-
cans in the State. They have al
ways opposed the Democracy, and
when their party failed to make a
Nomination they have encouraged
Independents to run against the
convention nominees, and, except
ing the year 1877, we believe in ev-
cry instance have succeeded in eject
ing them. In every case the In.
dependents were men who had for
merly belonged to the Democratic
party. They either chose to run
because Of some fancied wrong done
them in Conventions, or wished to
go before the people solely on their
merits, independent of party. Those
Independents and their friends were
Aloud in denouncing the convention
8ystem, and created Q decided feel
99Sns @s"inst at. Their success has
emboldened others to run indepen-
dent, and since 1877 we have not
had complete, nominated Demo
cratic county ticket in the field, and
since then there has been no truly
combined Democratic organization
in the county. Some men have
been trying to manage the party
and others have opposed them. So
it is to this day. We have two dis
tinct factions here and neither is
willing to yield the leadership to the
other, and there is no prospect of
their ever uniting. Some of the
members of one of these factions
have supported independent candi-
dates; while the other claims to have
always stood by the Democratic
nominees. With such state Of af-
fairs we can have no unanimity of
action, and cannot hope for Demo,
cratic success in Lincoln county I'M
til the people see the Importance Of
nominating their candidates, either
by convention or primary election,
and then resolving to support them.
In 1879 county convention held
in Brookhaven agreed to have pri-
mary election to nominate candi-
dates, and instructed the Executive
Committee to fix the day for the
election. The committee refused to
name & day, thus defeating the wish
of the people as expressed in a del
egate convention. That disguised
many, who said they would not vote
or support party so handicapped.
Usually one half our white popu-
lation never votes. Two or three
hundred of our whites arc Republi-
cans and always oppose the Demo-
cratic candidates. These are some
of the reasons why the county is
not reliably Democratic. There are
others, and very potent too, which
we may refer to at some other time.
They all did not apply in 1875 and
1876, when the Democrats carried
the county by large majorities. Then
the seed of independentism had not
taken root.
There are other reasons why the
Lowry ticket was not successful here
on the Sth inst. We briefly emu
merate them:
The white vote was light. The
county candidates traded off the
State ticket to make votes for them
selves, it is freely asserted. There
being so many candidates for the
Legislature, it was impossible to
unite the whites, the seeds of con
tention having been previously
sOwn against convention nominees.
One of the candidates, we are relia-
bly, informed, said during the can-
vass, that if Gen. Lowry was elect
ed, q new man would be appointed
in place Of Judge Chrisman. We
are assured that that expression lost
Lowry many votes. 1t should not
have done so, as nobody knows
whether Chrisman will be retained
or not. 1t is very probable that lie
will be re-appointcd. The district
certainly has no better man for the
place. There are many "Union"
men in the county, who spread big
tales Of Lowry shooting deserters
during the war. They influenced
some votes against the ticket. Part
Of this county was taken from Co
piah, and some Of the people of that
section eithervoted for King through
friendship or that they were under
allisa tinns It. him foI loana Of mon
Fey or free legal advice. The negro
vote was polled full strength and it
all went to King, as did many Green
hackers.
But Lincoln county can and will
be reclaimed for the Democracy.
The errors of the past will not be
repeated.
Will Continue Prosecuting.