National Republican., 1883-11-19

the time when tho views IL expresses will be
imbedded in the constitution, legislations,
and Jurisprudence of the United States.
Democratic Buckshot In n White Voters
| Face.
Only one side of the latest Mississippi "outracoo
has been heard, and that is evidently embellished
and exaggerated for good deal more than 1t is
worth. That a certain colored republican came
| TO his death in Copiah county on election day Is
not denied. Tho true circumstances ofhi taking
on are yet TO be related Washington Post.
"Tho latest Mississippi outrage" is not near
rs discouraging to tho friends Of law and
order as such excuses for ii as the above The
savagory Of southern bourbonism is alarming
enough, but the defense of it by northern
democrats and their alliance with it arc still
greater menace to the peace Of society. Why
does the Post say that "a certain colorcd man
came to his death in Copiah couuty2" Is
it because il would rather have its party
hold responsible for tho killing of q
black man than white one2 Does it
not know that tho murdered Matthews was
tchite man, who was sheriff of the county for
six years, and the chairman of tho regular
republican congressional committee of the
seventh district? If not, we now so inform
it. AS to the true circumstances of his taking
of, read tho following from the Vicksburg
MISSY Post of the tenth instant. The Post is
a democratic paper:
IN free ballot aud fair count" does not seem
to be the motto OF the Copiah county democracy.
| In the attempt TO cast his vote at Hazlehurst
Prent Matthews received charge Of twenty-tour
buckshot in the face, killing him instantly. 1t is
said the Copiah county democrats were afraid
Matthews might get up riot. But the facts are
that he went to the polls single handed and alone,
and in the attempt to exercise his privilege OF
American citizenship was shot down like dog
This is the worst murder that has occurred in
Mississippi since the Chisholm killing. 1t will In
jure the good name and material prosperity of the
state. Besides it will furnish capital to the re.
publicans in the coming presidential contest.
They can well ask, "Where is your free ballot in
Mississippi, when the contents of double-barrel
shotgun are poured into a man who dares to at
tempt to exercise his right to vote?" Every bullet
that was shot into Matthews will be worth thou.
sands of votes to the republicans, because it will
be said, and cannot be dented, he was KILLED ON Ac
COUNT OF HIS POLITICS BY INToLERANT DEMOCRATS
Will tho Washington Post copy the above
and let us know whether its Vicksburg
namesake is a democratic paper? 1t seems to
stand by the Mississippi democratic (?) cam
paign of 1674'75, in which the shotgun policy
was first introduced as a substitute for ma
jority rule. In its issue of the day preceding
that from which we have quoted it said:
In 1S7i-'75 there were unavoidable deeds of yio.
lence, arising from the revolution that was rem
dered necessary to preserve the best interests OF
our state from utter destruction. Since that time
we do not believe there has been killing on
account of political troubles that was not wholly
unnecessary, and that could not have been
avoided,
The state county, and municipal governments
are now controlled by the white people, the repre-
sentatives of the wealth and intelligence-and
they should be of the humanity-of the state. In
the recent local political contests throughout the
state good officers could have been selected and
good government secured without the killing of 0
single human being.
Matthews went armed to the polls, because
being dauntless leader of his party friends
he had been waited upon the day before by a
band of armed men, headed by the chairman
of tho democratic committee, and notified Il
leave the county and not to come near th,
polls on election day. Says the Vicksburl
Post "He exercised the right of citizen il
going to the polls and the carrying of pis
tol was warranted by the notification he hat
received"
But the other side has been heard from. Th
Vicksburg Herald, another democratic paper
less squeamish than its neighbor, goes tn
whole hog. 1t is glad Matthews was murdered
and wonders the job was SO long delayed.
says:
f The shedding of human blood is always to b
deplored, but tho killing OF Prent Matthews, @
Copah county, the other day, is not an event cal
culated to excite any regret outside of his imme
, diate family circle. reckless incendiary an
frebrand, he has kept Copiah county in
muss for dozen years or more, For several year
sheriff of the county, by the votes of the ignoran
negroes he banded together, he lorded II over tn
decent people Of his county with unparalleled In
solonce and in utter disregard of decency and tn
, rights of other people. The killing of Matthew
at any time In the past dozen years would hay
occasioned no surprise and no regret. 1t is posi-
BILE that the fate which has at last overaken II
are inclined to unbridled license.
Yes. 1t will undoubtedly serve as a war;
ing to men to beware how they differ wit
the Mississippi bourbons, or allow themselvG
to hope for the peaceful arbitration of tn
ballot box between opposing candidates fc
office. We beg the editor of the Washingto
Post to tell his readers whether Matthews
disobedience to tho order of the murderou
mob of the day before, that he stay away frol
the polls on election day, justified IL
!, democratic party, by its agent, WheelC
:, (since indorsed), in discharging twenty-fou
buckshot into his face, killing him instantly
Was it funny2 Is the telling of
. merely Haunting the bloody shirt"
starting "the outrage mill?' Is it approve
by the democracy2 Would 1t have been a
:, right if Matthews had only been "color'
man." as tho Post supposedF Now that '
have informed that gentle journal of its mi
take, is it prepared to join the Vicksbu
>, Herald in growing over the murder2 Or wi
it agreo with the Vicksburg Post that ="
this distance it looks as if the killing Of M'
Helrs had been determined on as part Of the p'
gra,nme of carving the election IN C0pah county