New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-02
POLITICAL MURDERS.

A LETTER FROM SECRETARY CHANDLER
70 me Edft0r OF the Trtbune.
SIR: Ii is claimed by THE TRIBUNE that the IS
sue in the elections of 1882 at the North Is that oil
machine Rule and Reform" and that the Re
publican party, to destroy the one and accomplish
the other, ought TO split itself into two pieces
and give the Democratic party control OF
the two principal States of the North.
But what is The IRIBUNE's plan for the south
What does it propose do to secure free vote ana
an honest count in Lancaster County, South caro-
iinaf The Vth Congressional District has a popu-
lation Of 81. i6S coored persons to 54.14O white.
Its colored voters are at least 1869 to ll,sOo
white voters Lancaster County has population
of 8 90s colored to ,935 whites; and It's colored
voters are at least l, 700 against l,6OO whites.
Let the Republicans OF the North look TO see what
the Republican vote of Lancaster County VIII be on
tie 9Th of November If it Is not entirely sup
pressed IL will not be for lack OF pOlu-
cal murders On October - 1852, L. b. {. Cash,
Independent candidate for Congress, addressed
meeting at Lancaster Court House. A fight re-
shifted. aud in broad daylight William Crockett
Thomas Cunningham Nathan Cureton aud Mack
Medley, colored Republicans, wers shot dead. Inc
Coroners jury found that Mack Mo0ley came
to his death by guD-shot wounds nhicted
by some person or persons unknown
claim that the biooJtnrsty negroes began the
affray. This Is shown by the fact that no white
mau is proved or claimed c have been injured; and
vet The Lancaster Reriec of October says The
whites deulore tue necessity which caused so much
blood 10 be shed but believe that the prompt re-
sistanoe on the part of the white men was the
ONLY thing that prevented a general massacre
A significant fact is that the murdered Crockett
was a witness to the lyuching Il August of
Daniel Blakney, a colored boy falsely charged
with crime Since the murders Of October y
the whites of Lancaster County have organ
lied military companies. The same Eer'eW
Gays: "A military company was organized last
Friday night Tor the purpose or Keeping me peace
The name of tins company Is tie Lancaster Gfeys."
Are these illegal military companies ovgaa-
lied 10 prevent tho murder OF more ne
groes at Lancaster Court House, OF TO
murder more'~ II necessary, to make the
county Denocratici The various companies drill
In the country districts III the day- time ana in
Lemons iial at tie Court House al night with
State arms sent them by Governor hagOod; and
moderate Democrats state that the disturbance
OF the 9Th was organized when 1t was
found that Colonel Cash was 10 address the colored
people, and that The object Of the mill airy demOn-
STATIONS is to break down the e0iOred majority III
All these are facts which cannot
be successfully disputed F ARE 'hey OF 81
not Are Northern Republican Congressional
Districts 10 be turned over TO Democrats 10 pro
mote Reform" while Southern districts are 70 oe
carried 10y Democratic tai counting lDtlmd3tlon
and murder and the National House Ot Rep
resentatives again placed III Southern
Denocratio controls Cannot some OF
the pronunciation of Northern Republicans
be turned upon southern murdercrsf At all eve4ts
will not HE TRIBUNE notify the country 10 watch
and SEE tie rea purpose Of the unpunlshed assssl-
nation at Lancaster Court House, South Carolina,
Oh October "a, 1882, of the maryred William
Crockett Thomas Cunningham. Nathan CuretGn
and Mack ..obiey Their blood cries from the
uTtuf tn No fnarU
BaskiEgt1n oct. 81, 1oS2. W. L. CHANDLER.
(IHE TKBUSE has been in this field before the Sec
retary He need not further back i'll his file than
to TTm TRIBUNE of yesterday for an illustration
We hope. however. that the Secretary's statement
Of facts the South is less open to the suspicion OF
partisan one-Sidsdness than bis statement of The
TRlBUNE's position at the North.-Ed.l