National Republican., 1883-12-12
The Matthews Murder.

before tho nation the statement of the widow
of the unfortunate man who was murdered at
Hazlehurst, Miss, simply because ho dared to
be q republican. What picture it presents
for the consideration of o civilized people.
The simple narrative Of this poor woman,
forced to seek home among strangers lest
her children, too, should share the terrible
fate of her slaughtered husband should call
forth the bitter indignation of every man in
this broad land who has spark of
manly feeling in his bosom. The
stories of tho enormous crimes porpetrated
against the nihilists by autocratic Russia
are being held up to excite the horror of the
world, but how much worse arc they than
this crime that goes unpunished-nay, re-
warded-in free, enlightened American Can
the law-abidng citizen of tho north, be he
democrat or republican, think of this man,
prosecuted for years and finally shot down
like dog by one who a moment before had
been engaged in friendly, neighborly con-
versation with him, simply because of his
political opinions, without q thrill of horror
Can these men comprehend tho savagery
that could lay the bleeding corpse of a hus-
band before his anguish-stricken wife and
children and coolly threaten them with the
Same fate if they dared to resent the horrid
crime?
The shooting of Matthews has already been
described and discussed in the press. 1t has
been given its place in the long and terrible
record of boodguiltiness heaped up against
the south, that must one day culminate in
somo terrible punishment. Communities
and individuals alike, sooner or later, pay
for outraging the divine laws; and though
at present political intolerance may condone
the shedding of innocent blood, and reward
its red handed authors, retribution will surely
come.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN does not per-
sist in directing the attention of the people
to this and kindred horrors through hostility
to the south. On the contrary, it is grief
to be forced to do so. There are unques-
tionably thousands of good people in the
south who detest and abhor crime
and criminals. In Mississippi itself there
have been manly expressions of indig-
nation and protest against this Copiah
uals have denounced it in unmistakable terms
But, unfortunately, they are in the
minority, and represent the very
freedom of sentiment for which Matthews
was murdered. THE NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN persists in agitating this subject be-
cause it threatens the very foundation of our
system of personal liberty, and until a man
is as free to be republican in Mississippi as he
isto be q democrat in Maine, it is very GER
tain to be kept up. V%s 1l'|
Murders for gain, lust, personal revenge,
from anger, or drunkenness, is as liable to
and does occur in the north as in the south.
but they are the acts of individuals and meet
with the adherence and condemnation of
the communities in which they occur. Such
crime as the assassination of Matthews
could not be possible in the north. Mr..
Matthews was of the best stock in
his county, native Mississippian, a
man of wealth, and regarded even by
the men who brought about his
death as one of their best citizens except for
his republicanism. But because his convic-
tions would not permit him to be bourbon
democrat, and because he was a brave man
IL, II.
and dared to vote in accordance with hi:
belief, We see the extraordinary spec
tacle of the leading men of the democ
racy Of his county, the sheriff, the chairman
of the democratic committee, and other mer
of presumably the highest standing, deliber
ately and coolly conspiring to entrap him Il
his death by making him deputy sheriff un'
, der circumstances sure to bring it about; that
failing through his shrewdness, we see hin
deliberately shot to death by q man of tn
same class after he had voted, no
, after heated argument or in passion, bu
after friendly conversation and in cole
blood, without even a warning to defent
himself. Then we SEQ the still more ex
traordinary spectacle of a whole communit.
D indorsing tho CHASTITY crime, of governo
f apparently indorsing it also, of o congress
o man apparently melting it, and, to cap tn
: climax, this murderous monster moves here
0 among his neghbors and is made mar
o shal Of the town where he COMMITTEES
r his heinous crime. This is typi
: cal southern crime, without parable
in the north, and impossible of perpetratior
there. If it could be possible for any gov
5 ernor of northern state to act as Mrs, Mat
+ thews represents Gov Lowry to have don
8 the voters of his state, without respect t
Q party, would Indignantly consign him t
q oblivion and contempt. Furthermore, W
q assert that there is not county in q north
v ern state where such crime would be in
o dorsed or condoned by the community, o
where all the agencies of the law would nc
be invoked for its punishment.
y In the north, where political tolerance
N the common habit of the people; where demo
% Gratis and republicans are friends and neigh
d bors and never dream Of carrying thei
IT differences into their social and business rell
|, tions crime Of this character is not comprt