The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-09
The Southern Outrages.

Tbs Danvlle and Copiah County In
VeStigSting Committees, appointed by
the United States Senate, continue from
day to day to draw out more and more
of the sickenipg details OF white mems
brutaiities towards the freedmen of Vir-
ginia and Mississippi. The statements,
SO far received, make upa record dam
ming to American civilization. 1t is true.
there is a shade of difference between
the revelations in the two different To-
calities. Concerning the Danville out
break it Is possible to say that it was
unprecedented, the result of an acci-
dental collision at q time when passions
were inhamed by heated political
campaign. So it is claimed, at least, by
those who can not, deny the, terrible
truths of the evidence, but still look
around for excuses for the perpetrators.
Those who have studied tho evidence so
far elected carefully, will perhaps have
come to another conclusion. They will
without prejudice, looking merely at
the facts, say that the Danville riot
was undoubtedly devised and carried
through after thorough deliberation.
The witnesses who took part in it
aggressively, talk about their fears
for their own lives and the safety of
their families, but tins Is talk that
might have been expected. The evil
dence of the Superinteni lent Of the Dan
vile cemetery, white man, bears the
marks of truth. and It shows that the
massacre was med tated and that the
negroes were unarmed and not expect
ing it. Shots were fired into their backs
when they were running away. One
hundred and fifty shots were fired in all
and "not shot was returned" Nor
did he see single armed colored man.
There can not have teen. conse Iuently,
very much fear on the part of these
white gentlemen. either for themselves
or their families. till there is some
room for doubt and they, like other
criminals, may have the benefit of it.
But no such apology can be made con-
corning the outrages in Copiah County,
Mississippi. No attempt has ever been
made by the Democrats of Mississippi
20 deny the truth Of the stories. In fact
the resolutions OF the Copiah County
Democrats, Immediately after the cleo
tion, instead OF expressing regret at the
cold-blooded murder Of ex-Sheritf
Matthews. threatened the family and
relatives of the murdered man with
vengeance, unless they kept out OF poll
ties and remained quietly at home.
The testimony before the inves-
tigating committee proves that
the stories told after the election
gave faint idea only of the actual
situation. II has indeed been a long
time since brutal outrages were perpe-
trated with. such fiendsh deliberation
by the Democrats Of Mississippi on un-
offending and defenseless men, merely
TO keep themuawa from the polls. The
testimony as given by the independent
white men aud by colored Republicans
can not be ridiculed or lied out OF exist
ence. Murder, house-burning and whip
ping were the methods deliberately
adopted by the Democrats to keep their
political opponent away from the polls
and no offender has ever been pun
ished. D1 lrNg 'fra|t -f..
The worst feature about all this is the
fact that the white Bourbon of the
South has not, or seems not to have the
faintest sensibility Of the cruel wrongs
which he and his associates are commit
ting. r Ut .I., ,IH'r ....'.#
They look upon these murderous
practices as matters which arise quite
naturally. They are SO full OF hatred
against Republicanism that TO them all
means and weapons, and all measures
are alike welcome. II their use will still
their thirst for revenge. The following
extract will show the general character
OF the testimony given before the Com
mittee:
Only one Democratic witness appeared to
adyantaEe. That was: Oliver. agent TO the
mllls at Wosson. All he could say was that
ths people OF Copiah were real nice folks and
as for himself he had never discharged them
for voting the Republican ticket swell. we
are not down here investigating how you treat
but tho witness insisted on adding that bo be.
lieved that tho Democrats are the best people
In the South, and the worst In the North:
wesf ypSsd sr and 9ysr
functionary, was put on TO prove that Mat
thews defaulted when he was Sheriff. The
exact figures, he said were Si.2G. He was
forced 70 admit that the county owed Mat
thewg 1880 and whom the Court ordered that
paid, Matthews settod bis Indebtedness He
was then asked what he thought Of the mob
rul0. f-Ous yes, Know OF tne mon ana It's
proceedings; II was made up OF some OF the
most worthy citizens The Democrats of Co
piah are the most patient and conservative
Democrats have ever seen In Mississippi, or
anywhere else" Shave you ever seen any
othersr' queried Mr.. Hoar. and the witness
said he had seen them In California and Mas
eaohusetts ''Do you consider the murderer
Wheeler patient and oonservatlyeT" Per.
haps not patient, but worthy man." he an
swered. II voted TO make him City Marshal
after he killed Matthew'S"
lt Is this fact that ''worthy men" kill
innocent people and are then elected TO
Office by men who certainly think them
selves respectable that the Republican
press calls attention 10. when it speaks
Of the troubles In the South. Our Dem
ocratic opponents, when these facts are
mentioned. are ready TO state that MUIR
ders and outrages arc reported In the
North every day. But where, in the
North or West, are such methods re-
sorted to for political purposesP There
is no need for argument The facts
themselves are sufficient. -Buriinqton
Hdt0keye.