The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-08-07
The Bloody Shirt.


monwealth on foundations which
have sustained an empire. The men
of the revolution had their sins, in
measure quite as abundant as any of
their successors. But we think of
them only as the men who maintained
the independence Of their country,
1t is said that Mr.. Jefferson was an
ambitious party leader, but Le comes
down in history with the Declaration
of Independence in one hand and the
title deed of Louisiana in the other,
We are people of fifty-seven mill
ions. We occupy domain about as
large as all Europe 1t is natural that
there should be many questions about
which even a majority do not think
alike, but we stand with that party
with whom we are agreed as to the
great essential matters upon which
the welfare Of our country depends.
The first question, compared to which
every other is petty and trif1ing, is
that of the supremacy of the Consti-
tuition itself. | know not what Others
may think, but [ cannot stand in
Massachusetts, in honoi when | know
that in great States the right of suf-
frage is practically denied to my coun-
trymen. | do not think my own right
to vote for President is of much value
if the man Of my choice is to be de-
feated by such processes as prevail at
the South. There are three States
Missippi, Louisiana and South Caro-
lina-to say nothing Of others, in
which, beyond all question, the electo-
ralvote recorded at the coming cleo
ton will have no relation whatever to
the will of the people. Unless the
brave and gallant white men who are
acting with Malone can win justice
from the fears of the Democrats, we
must add to these States Virginia.
These three States cast twenty-six
electoral votes; with Virginia they
cast forty. Now. giving to Governor
Cleveland all the States that his most
enthusiastic supporters can hope for,
he will fall far short Of an election,
unless the votes of these States, wrest-
ed from their Republican majorities by
crime and fraud, 6e counted in his ia
vor. The young reformer who votes
for Governor Cleveland can not help
to elect him. He can only help to
make possible the successful accom-
plishment of the crime by which a
minority shall usurp the government
Of the country. The process is very
simple and familiar. It is known as
the Mississippi plan. Violence and
murder are made use of until the mi
nority get the election offices into
their hands, and thenceforth the as
tendency is maintained by the easier
way of tissue ballots and fraudulent
counting. These things will scarcely
be denied by Southern Democrat in
private. The leading Democratic pa
pers in each of these States | have
named, the Charleston News in South
Carolina, the New Orleans Picayune
in Louisiana, the Richmond State in
Virginia, the Vicksburg Post in Mis-
sissippi, have in substance admitted
these facts, and all but the last have
vindicated them as a necessity. You
tell me Governor Cleveland is not re-
sponsible for these things You know
very well that he is seeking to obtain
the Presidency at the price Of these
things. If he were to declare, in a
manner, that showed he was in earn
est, that he would, if President, use
the powers vested in him for their
or if he should declare.
as an honest man should do, that he
would not take an Office gained by
such means, he could not get Dem
ocratic vote south Of Mason and Dix
on's line. My friends, | know where
Of I speak. I was charged a few
ago with the duty Of investi-
eating the election methods in the
State Of Mississippi. 1t was not a
question of negro supremacy. Some
six hundred or seven hundred white
men had got tired Of the Democracy
and had joined the Republicans to
form an independent party in Copiah
County, Mississippi. A band Of one
hundred and fifty men, all composed
as was admitted Of the best citizens,
armed with rifles and shotguns, mount
ed, rode about that country for fort
night before election. They visited
the dwellings of large numbers Of Re
publicans in the night time. Some
they murdered in their homes. 9th
ers were fogged and otherwise abused.
From many they extorted pledges that
they would vote the Democratic tick
1T. They broke up Republican meet
ings. They made night hideous with
cannon. This went on till the Re-
publican voters in large numbers fled
TO the woods, and the Democratic mi
nority had an easy victory in the cleo
ton. The commander Of this band
was one Wheeler, and his lieutenant
one Bailey. The day before the con-
vention the armed company waited
lpon Print Matthews, the leading Re
publican Of the county. Matthews
was the principal citizen of the coun-
y, wealthy merchant, with two sons
n college and two grown daughters
n his house. He was generous, brave,
| liberal benefactor of schools and
;hurches. No man ever asked him
,or a favor and was refused. The
Democratic witnesses testified that
everybody liked him if it were not for
lis politics. They drew up in the
Odu HedF Ills SdGe dHu Seub HlH d ue-
nand in writing that he should ab-
tain from voting the next day. He
the messenger: ut seems
o me this is very strange thing in a
epublican government. | have tried |
o be useful to society every way that |
could. [ have never done any of |
,ou any harm. I admit it is in your
power to murder me, but / am going
0 vote tomorrow unless you do kill |
ne Matthews went to the polls
nd cast the first vote in the morning.
Us he placed it in the box Wheeler,
Who was the Democratic challenger,
hot him dead with the charge of one
,arrel in the heart and another just
,elow the throat. The sound of the
,un was heard by Matthews wife and