The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-03

that would have persuaded most ordinary men.
The cry was started that the negroes were r1s-
ing and for the white men to assemble in Yazoo
City fully armed From Benton and Satartia
and all the Democratic strongholds of the county,
armed men poured into the city. Ameetlng was
held and a committee appointed to walt upon
Dixon to exact a written pledge from him that
he would not run for sheriff. This committee
was backed up by 300 armed men who were pre-
pared to hang Dixon in case he refused to come
down. Dixon was a brave man and gave them
some plain talk but the end was that Dixon
signed paper that he would not run for sheriff,
and the mob dispersed. But Dixon had no idea
of being thus bulldozed, and the next day he
issued card that he had signed the abdlcatlon
to keep from being hanged, but that he would
continue his canvass for sheriff the same as ever
Dixon's assassination was then resolved upon, as
the Chicago Times correspondent after full
investigation reported, by the Democratic
county committee and one Barksdale, who was
the Democratic Nominee for Chancery clerk, Sc
lected to do the job of murder The removal of
Dixon was not long delayed. He was filled full
of buckshot by Barksdale as he was passing
along on the opposite side of the street and had
gotten far enough beyond Barksdale to be per
fectly safe target in the back from convenient
distance.
FREE SPEECH SUPPRESSED.
The assassination of Dixon ended the only at
| tempt which has been made here for eight years
against Democratic domination. Even free
speech is a forgotten privilege If Republican
vote is cast it is in solemn mockery of the rights
of the Republican majority.
| Occasionally "a negro is taken out in dersion
and whipped and made to vote either a Republi-
can or Democratic ticket to amuse his persecu-
tors. The Republican majority of about 5000 is
regularly counted for the Democracy whenever
| needed in congressional or legislative con-
! test. The denial of political freedom extends
| as well to white men colored when it threat
| ems Democratic ascendency. The Greenbackers
! are bulldozed, and cheated and refused the right
to canvass just as absolutely the Republicans.
| When the Hon. Mr.. Yelowly, of Madison coun-
| ty, visited YazOo, two years ago TO address the
! people, he was hooted from the rostrum and not
| permitted to go on with his speech, owing to the
turbulence of the mob, which, by preconcert,
! filed the house Mr. Yellowly's offense was that
| he was Greenback candidate for the Legisla-
ture or Congress in the district. Mr. Yellowly,
| personally, is of the representative young
men of Mississippi man of large wealth,
highest family connection. and at one time
| very popular and influential Democrat. Free
discussion is not tolerated here the part of
| anybody, and political debate is among the lost
| arts. Republicans speak of politics with bated
breath, and whisper their sentiments as if assas-
sination hung on every accent The people have
| become so Injured to deeds of blood and outrage
| that they look upon murder for opinions sake
with Indifference, if not delight. The man who
assassinated Dixon was elected Chaneery clerk
for two terms, and is now member of the
| Legislature. He was never arrested nor indict-
| ed. His crime is his leading passport for polit-
| zeal preferment While Dixon was hanging and
| numbering innocent and defenseless Republicans
| he was the hero of the hour, and the ladies of
| Yazoo wore Dixon badges in his honor. Nor was
| this sentiment the outgrowth of any wrong
the part of Republicans
| No political corruption or embezzement was
ever traced home to the skirts of Republican of
fcials. When the Republicans turned over the
affairs of the county to the Democrats, the Re
! publican county treasurer, an honest and capa-
bic black man, turned over to his successor up
! ward Of $40 600 in money and securities Every
/ dime was faithfully accounted for aud honestly
paid over. and the county was out of debt. These
| funds had not been in the hands of the Demo
| cratic treasurer twenty hours when the
treasury was robbed and the whole amount
stolen. 1t is said to be well known in YaZoo
where this money went and what parties com
mitted the robbery. The money went to Demo
cratic bulldOZerS The robbery was committed
in the interest of the Democratic party. Demo
cratic villainy had to be paid for with public
| funds
Such is plain, unvarnshed statement of the
condition of things in HaZoo county, only 1t is
but a haf-told tale-Democratc supremacy Sc
cured and maintained by blood and outrage, and
resulting in an absolute denial Of all the rights of
American citizenship.
The recent killing of the PoSeys must be taken
in connection with the state of affairs that have
| portrayed. No sane man can believe that Foote
and his fellow-colored men would have lifted
hand against those white men except in self
| defense. 1t was al the peril of their lives even
for them to defend themselves. But there is
| point when brave men will die sooner than sub
nit to accumulated outrage. There is point
! when colored men must strike back even though
| their lives pay the forfeit and this point was
reached Christmas eve. 1t is the duty of the
Northern press to investigate these occurrences
and give the world the facts When a Chicago
journal sent its own correspondent here to. in
veStigate the Dixon tragedy it conferred boon
| IN nj INT tO
the world are not worthy of moments Gre
dence They are in the interest of the murder
ers and assassins and penned by them or
| their aiderS and abettOrs. The men who commit
these deeds never hestated yet to periure them
selves to cover them up. The only way to get at
the truth is to send truthful men here to ferret
out the facts, and even these must be very
guarded OF they will be deceived as to the facts
The colored people so intimidated that they
dare not speak. Even the few white Republic
ans find it to their interest to be reticent. The
mouths of Foote and Swaze and all the other ae-
cused persons have been forever closed No
public trial can vindicate the truth with sworn
testimony. But, nevertheless, enough can be
ascertained to satisfy the whole world, except
Bourbon Democracy, whether these victims of
Democratic wrath and malice really died as mar
tyrs in self defense and defense of their rights
or whether they the murderers that the
white people of Yazoo would have us believe
w. H. Footq has always been sort of pet with
the white men Of Yazoo, and at times has not
been fully trusted by his own color. 1t is only
state of outrage too grievious to be borne that
has forced Foote in recent years into full har-
mony with his own He served in the Con-
federate army. He was very brave man, well
educated, and prided himself on having the best
Southern white blood in his veins. His tragic
fate will endear his memory to the colored peo-
pie, and he will take his place among the army
of martyrs whose graves dot the pathway of
construction.
THE RATHBONE TRAGEDY.