The Portland daily press., 1883-11-21
Democracy in it's Stronghold,

w s~y eho controlling part OF the Nation
al Democratic party which dictates its police
and supplies its electoral votes, appears to b,
reViving the manner of conducting elections
common in that section few years ago, th,
horrible particulars of which are fully Sc
forth In the indisputable records of Con
gressional committees OF late there ha
been an apparent abandonment of the bar
barities formerly characterizing the struggle
OF the Democratic minority in the Southern
States to govern them in spite of the will Of
the majority. Perhaps this was only be-
cause they had accomplished their object
There were symptoms of revival of the old
Democratic spirit in Virginia before the late
election, and since the election there are
more of them.
The Democratic party in the South is q
savage and oppressive oligarchy which has nc
more respect for freedom of thought and &C.
ton than the Gear of Russia or the Sultan
Of Turkey. While men vote the Democratic
ticket, or make only such an opposition as
amounts 10 nothing, the party restraints Its
brutality; but when opposition becomes
dangerous, and the Democrats seem likely
to be out-voted, then they arise In their
might and whip and murder until the oppo-
sition is subdued. South Carolina, Ala
bams, Mississippi and Louisiana have only
the forms of Republican government; they
are not governed by the freely expressed will
of the msjority.
The murder of j. P. Matthews, of Hazel
hurst, Copiah County, Mississippi on cleo
ton day affords fair illustration of the
spirit of Southern Democracy. He was o
man of substance and position, not carpet
Dagger, but not Democrat. He was OPP
posed TO secession at the outset, and since
the war has been Republican. He was a
prominent organizer of an Independent
movement uniting some Democrats and Re-
publicans in an effort to carry the county
against the Democrats. Nobody does any
thing OF that kind in Mississippi except at
the peril of his life. 1t was a white mems
movement and there was not negro on the
ticket but that did not make 1t any more toll
cradle. The crime was to oppose the Dem
ocratic party.
Several colored men who supported the
ticket were foggei in Ku-KIux style, and
enc was called from his cabin and shot
dead. A notice was read from the bench
BY the Judge Of the Circuit Court warning
Amos Burnett the chairman of the indie
pendent county committee to leave the
ssnnty il he wished to save his life, and on
the day before election an armed body of
men led by E. B. Wheeler marched into
HaEelhurst and held meeting warning Mr..
Matthews to remain in his house on election
day, death being the penalty of disobedience.
What could be fairer than thatp What more
can free American citizen ask than to be
warned in time that If he votes he will be
killed? Southern Democrats recognize no
obligation to warn man that it is unsafe
TO vote against them,-they expect that ito
be known; but they sometimes in particu-
lar cases take the trouble to do it in order to
save appearances.
Matthews. however, was foolish enough
to attempt to vote. Perhaps he thought it
was his right. Perhaps he thought it was a
duty. He went to the polls early and alone
Just as If there was, or could be liberty of
opinion and the right of free suffrage in a
Southern State ruled by Democrats. Hede-
posted his ballot, and turned around to
walk away just as the officer In charge of
the ballot box announced that his vote had
been received. He had not advanced step
when he was shot dead, twenty-four buck
shot piercing his face at short range. There
was crowd of Mississippi Democrats about
the polls but nobody interfered to prevent
1t. nobody proposed to arrest the murderer.
On the contrary they at once formed in a
line, the murderer, who was the same Mr.
Wheeler that presided over the meeting
which warned Mr.. Matthew not to leave his
house on election day, and the peace officer
of the precinct, at their head, and proceeded
90 other polling places to supervise the pro-
eeedings. 1t is needless to say the Demo-
erats carried Copiah County.
The coroner was notified of the sudden
death of Mr.. Matthews. His official report
is curiosity, and we give it in full as fol-
lows.
In regard to the killing Of j. p Matthews, 1t was
suggested 10 by I. r. Ware that had better have
ainry Of inquest over the body. Before sumnoning
she jury was told that Wheeler did not deny the
act. saw him, and he told me he had done It, and
I eould make out my verdict that way.
VIM. ROBERTSON, Coroner.
Mr.. Wheeler was not ashamed Of having
killed man for not voting the Democratic
ticket. He knew that he would never be
called to account In Democratic Mississippi
for public service Of that nature and he
kindly relieved the coroner from the embar.
Sasmcnt OF seeming to consider that crime
had been committed.
The subsequent proceedings are interest
ing The next day there was a mass meet
Ing held, presided over by the chairman
man Of the Democratic committee, at which
1t was formally resolved that all persons
who should attempt to institute legal pro-
seedlings against Wheeler for killing Mat
thews should be considered 'soutside the
pale and protection of the law" 1t is said
the district attorney was present. The Dem
oerats were naturally enthusiastic oyer their
victory and 1t seems there was some danger
that they would do more killing. The Dem
oeratic paper of the vicinage narrates
that on the evening of the murder
committee Of Democrats waited on the
family and brothers OF the murdered man to
assure them that they would be protected !,
and an "armed guard was placed around his
residence to relieve the minds of his fam
ilyp'
For two days the city of Hazelhurst was
in ferment Of excitement which nobody at
tempted to control except the Democratic
leaders. There was no danger except that
Democrats might think best to kill few
more Republicans and Independents in an
ticipation Of the election next year, and the
civil authorities did not presume to move
until permitted. Then the following pro-
clamationwas issued:
HAzELHURsT, Nov. 8, 1888.
AS there has been in the past few days more or
less excitement, and es women and children have
become alarmed and business stagnant, the time
now demands order restored; and as mayor of the
town Of Hazelhurst with the assistance of the sher
if Of Copiah county and the chairman of the dem
eeratic executive committee We promise all protec-
ton under the law. And further request all peace
officers to see that law ard order is restored and
call all citizens in the town to assist in doing So