National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-28
How the Democrats Sought 10 Raise the Race
Issue in Virginia.
Evidence Conclusive That the Attack
Was Premeditated,
No One Has Been Arrested Indicted, Tried, or Pun
finished for Grimes Committed on Nov g.
The Majority Report OF the Senate Invest-
igating Committee.

upon laid before tho senate.
II embodies an exhaustive analysis of tho
testimony of nearly 200 witnesses, the OBJ
servations and conclusions Of the committee
thereon being distributed throughout tho
document.
1t appears from the evidence, tho report
says that during tho control of the affairs of
the state by the democratic or fundrr' party
q constitutional amendment had beer ioptcd
In 1876 imposing the payment of calgtation
tax of 81 as q prerequisite to the right to
the right to vote, and II law had boon enacted
establishing the whipping post as punish
ment for minor oHonses, persons subject by
law to such punishment for certain otienso5
being DISTINGUISHED. The readjustor party
having gained ascondancy, amended the con-
stitution, abolished the capitation tax and
the whipping post and for the first time in
the history of the state since tho amendment
Of 1876 was adopted suffrage at the election
an November, 1888 was to be free from such
restrictions. Accordingly the democratic
party early in tho canvass of last year re-
newed the efforts which had before been made
TO some extent TO intensity aud excite the
race issue in the contest.
This was deemed necessary from tho fact
that white voters in the state had left their
former political associations i'll such numbers
as enabled them, with the aid of colored
votes, TO secure Il majority in the state and
elect officers of their choice. Without such
division of the white vote success in the state
by the coaltionists would have been impossi-
bio, as by the census of 1880 the colored
voting population in Virginia was only l2s,-
BOZ, while that of the whites was 2O6,O1S.
While there was no motive therefore on
the part Of the coalition party to excite the
race issue, which would inevitably have tho
effect to ALLEVIATE the support Of the white
voters, there was every inducement on the
part of the democrats to raise and intensity
that issue with view Of recovering the votes
Of those among the white people who had
been supporting the coalition party
The committee here quotes extracts from
democratic papers and circulars illustrating
the efforts which it assumes were made to
raise and intensity the race issue.
In Danville the report continues. The
colored voters outnumbered the whites, and
early in the canvass the democrats sought to
raise and intensity the race issue in that To-
cality. Democratic clubs were formed and
resolutions were passed in two or three wards
withdrawing support and patronage in bush
ness from coalitonists, both white and col
ored. A proposition was made that demo-
cratic real estate owners should refuse to rent
their property to colored people or coalition
lists.
The Danville circular is hero quoted and
its origin and purpose described.
Tho evidence the report says, is entirely
satisfactory. That, with the exception of the
statistics given in the opening paragraph of
the circular. 1t is false presen tation of the
state of things at Danville. Yet so vital was
it deemed to the interests of tho democratic
party that the statements be sustained, that
when its correctness was challenged afiida-
Wits from its signers to its correctness were
secured and published.
The evidence concusively shows, say the
committee, that tho Danvillc circular, al
though prepared for circulation elsewhere,
was known in Danville soon after its publi-
cation and that it with the allidavits were
circulated in large numbers in the southwest
counties of the state prior TO the election,
assurances having been received that If the
statements in the circular could DO authenti-
Gated it would carry certain counties.
The committee relates the experience of Col.
Simms and the events of tho massacre.
Respecting the latter, it finds no evidence
that the negroes fired shot until after the
whites fired the general volley, aud that very
few had weapons of any kind. Tho negroes
were of all ages and both sexes, gathered
unquestionably from curiosity.
The whites, on the contrary, wero generally
armed. The fire bell was rung but not for u
FIRE. On the contrary, 1t was secret signal
for the white military company. Tho whites
came rapidly from all directions and arms
were distributed TO those who had none from
the shops and stores.
The committee finds conclusive evidence
that tho violence was premedtated, and
makes copious extracts from tho evidence of
several witnesses in proof.
Under tho subheadiug, allow the demo-
Gratis made use of the occurrence ut Dan
ville," tho report says that in almost every
part of the state exaggerated reports Of tho
massacre were circulated by kilograms and
printed circulars Circulars and extracts
from the testimony of many witnesses are
given, showing tho sympathy which was
aroused by the supposed danger of the white
people of Dauvile.
In view of this created sentiment, what,
the committee asks, was the conduct OF
affairs in the city of Danville after tho mas
sacre and Mt the time the kilograms and
reports were sent out? The ringlcadors of the
rioters were placed on guard. Every white
democrat was armed. The negroes fed in
readjuster mayor was defed. and tho white
company was ordered out. The mayor
thought there were 500 armed democrats
patrolling the town md its vicinity on the
day following the ri, %. He did not SEQ a
colored man armed, and expressed the belief
that if one had appeared on the street he
would havG been rlddlcd with bullets.
The report concludes: The object Of the
democrats in these efforts to raise the race
issue to alarm the blacks and to excite the
whites was twofold-
/. To intimdate the colored voters in
localities where they were strong as in Dau-
vile.
2. But chiefly to produce such frenzy of
feeling in the state as would induce tho white
electors TO join with their own race aud
escape the contumcly and reproaCh 10 which
they would otherwise be subjected for frator-
nizing politically with "niggers."
The efforts which were made to gloss over
this terrible outrage by the committee of
forty needs only moments notice. IL was
done upon OK partc utldavits takon before II
magistrate. They were wholly extra Judicial,
and no ono incurred responsibility for his
statements, Tho real facts were not called
out. 1t was " partisan effort to screen the
perpetrators Of the wrong from punishment
The report Of tho grand jury is equally open
to critieism.s Three, at least, of its members
were on the committee of forty The pub
lished report of the committee was before
them and was used by them. There We're
only seven members and the foreman was
one of the committee of forty.
The tralsgressiOns OF the law at COpiah are
clothed ut least with tho merit OF u frank
avOwal on the part of those who were con-
\ cerned of the purposes they had in view Not
so in reference to Danville. Tho guilty au-
thors and instigators of the violence rcsortel
10 there, and the murder of four unOiionding
colOred men and tho wounding of many
others, seek to cover up and conceal their de-
lbeIato purposes and to have il appear they
acted only In self defense. The evidence Is
entirely satisfactory; indeed, il is overwhelm-
ing that IL was the contamination of a DELHI
ate purpose for which they had fully
nreDared Hence the effort 10 mapniCv and