The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-20
asOoLLscr1pxs or 4 oasssr-.Aosra.


AsCOLLsCr1pSs az oARPEr-sA0sEs.
fsisssssa Asasss~~ss~s ~ ysss4ea-INs
pessrA n tie seesesssys Snss.
LIVE OAK, Fla. April ia record Of So
called political outrages and murders was
kept IN the office OF the Secretary OF State 1t
numbered nearly hundred names and was a
startling commentary on Southern civilization
II this record was true. II stamped the people
Of Florida M despicatle SGT Of midnight as
sassins This book contained the reports Of
unnumbered assaults. whppinxs in tho lonely
hours Of night. and murders most foul and un-
natural. could not believe II even In those
exciting days. and having nnalyse Il and
hoard both sides Of the story. tho testimony Of
impartial and truthful witnesses. know that
that record was dsmnable lie. De mortuis.
&C.. 10 very good motto and full OF pathetic
sentiment but shall hood II little II can but
clear the fair name Of the State Of my adoption.
Lot US see how this book was made M. stat
ing FIRST a. an undeniabie truth that the nc.
eroes Of that time were almost incapable Of
telling tho truth. and. not knowing the meaning
Of perjury. had no hesitation In INDUCING In II.
They would swear to anything they were bid
den. and for the sake Of party leaders would lie
away the character Of men whose regulations
had been built up by long years Of honorable
conduct. For political purposes the negroes
oath or even his bare assertion always pre-
vailed. 30 lost are men to honor when seized
with the lust OF power.
You should not judge the negro too harshly.
It Is really those whose skins were white but
whose hearts were blacker who deserve tho
deepest condemnation. for ever before the
black man they hold the fear Of q return to
bondage. Under that fear no was willing to
ala
story. He never realized that By so doing he
incurred the dislike and enmity OF the only
ones who could render him any Substantial
service. and who In the future. after the carpet
bag saturnalia had run its course. would be
called upon to supply Sambo with bread and
meat.
Sam Jones' tired Of working In tho cotton
0eld. and anxious to visit the city and have
good time. would walk hundred miles to Tai
lahaseee. lounging. MS II were. tho weary dis
tance. sleeping. eating. and gossiping In tho
negro cabins that lined the way. an always
welcome guest to tho corn pone and hog meat.
'pu6Iicans." Footspre re, an and weary, lie wonli
enter the ONCE Of the Secretary Of State and
what made You leave home. SAM"
Deys xw!nster tIil me q stays dsr,
Ing letters would be written:
Ct n: political pfnapls' Threatened With death il he
Any other trouble IN -FOUR county. Sam ?,
piesse OF rail De Choosday afore Ief; I'm. Dan
hm Iyiu %t anf Dc 90 re'' po' 'oun
Down would 90. these terrible tales In the
Secretary rshearse his story TO the Governor.
strike that worthy for dollar. and probably
collect as much more from, ,sympathlzers with
M TINT r., hny n
good time ut the capital city Of Florida, merely
At the expense 81 what Re called bis consoienee.
:.y: nd Il. s name %p sh 2;
sss45ea q roll % Z,
and there were lots Of them--if their playful di;
% hs H naw t Soef r 81 s
Avle. nntrnthful. polttical colorlng was given to
sysy fssT that SnE paSs the rude
that the csrpet.bag leaders knew this record
H. e ,hs q Q; r Of ths i North FOR there, Inc
brighter than the sacred banner Of the Cross. a'
II IL q wonder to. me that so few really were
killed; No people in the history Of the world
tainted and insuted at sSery turn. DRAGGED
held up to the world as SC eowaiis and Sssass; ms ms
but under ali they quietly awaited the time that
at las, set z. all things even. kaowing that
30 violent aud incendiary ut times wero the
spcochcs of some Of the carpet; baggers that
troops was obliged TO Interfere to save the city
from the sack and pilage advocated openly by
these rascally dcsecrators OF once glorious
name. In Columbia county ono Of tho most
prominent Of the carpet haggers was ordered
ont ont Of Lake City by the General commanding
a war Of races At Tallahassee another an
ex- Mnseach,isetts soldier and ey- preacher. who
believed that the negro was in every WAY snpe-
rior to the white man. was making on one oc
casion such a terribly inflammatory speech TO
q vast horde Of excited negroes that he was
at Lafs
y declared a TIA. IN the event q war 81 races
the Same question. replied that lie did not be-
that II It did he should remember that no was
a. a. s4 %.s ns II *. sSSss 81 %
the South during this period had been preached
would have baen strung up to the nearest tree;
But the mailed hand Of the Goyernment still
the fact to cruei and morcess oSprssson
information obtained from sources not open to
could properly DO called political murders
One Of these was that Of q Democratic negro
killed In Suwanee county BY two of his own
race. because. iisregarding all warning and
despising all cOntumely and personal danger
he persisted In voting and acting with the Dem.
ocratic party.
In detailing these so-called political assass,-
nations. / shall only speak Of the white men
Killed who were leaders Of tho party 10 these
sections. To tho party at the North. these
cases seemed to appeal with peculiar signin-
canoe. One OF the first was the killing OF John
W. Yearly. an ex-membsr Of the Legislature
whose name WAS enrolled among the Republi-
can saints and martyrs, Yearly was Of the
more prosperous o. the class Of cracker farm n
years old. with coarse. blaek hair and beard
Southern man, somewhat ndepe n.ient in poll.
tics. but generally acting with the RepubIlcans.
ing along tho road with one OF his negro hands.
1t T. believed that his killng, was the result Of
psrtins Of hog stealing. Az he was the only
witness. it was. Of course. desirable to get him
out OF the way. The murder was cowardly in
the extreme, but politics had nothing what
ever to do with 1t. Yearly had not made him
f>fT, hut 1oIH