The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-02-21

When Senators Sherman and Ma
hone made their speeches IN support
Of the resolution authorizing an inves-
tigatiOn Of the COpiah outrage and
the Danville massacre the Democrat
ic Senators were as dumb rs oysters,
but every one Of them voted against
the resolution. The speeches made
BY the Senators named were said
to be tame, especially the one made
by the statesman from Ohio. He was
accused Of weakening his arralgn-
ment by interlarding Il with 50 many
Ire That was In point Of fact an ele-
ment Of strength. Mr.. Sherman
knew at that time nothing about the
subject except from hearsay The
time for him TO be positive In his as
sertiOns will be when be has compile
ted his investigations and has the da-
"a for definite statement. Il was all
well enough for the Democrats 10 say
nothing at that stage Of the proceed
ings. But judging from the develop
ments thus far made at New Orleans
In the COpiah case It will be impOssi-
BILE TO brush the matter finally aside
with the feather Of silence. A record
Is being made up which will set forth
the exact fact, sustained by ample
testimony.
Il is estimated that about twelve
thousand persons have been killed,
some black, some white, at the South
since the war. for political reasons.
For the most part these butehefies
were murder, IN the strietest sense Of
the term. The criminals nave gone
unpublished, at no one has been
hanged. II Justice had been done one
member Of the United States Senate,
"HambuFgm Butler, Of South CARROLL
ma. would have been condemned As a
criminal, but instead he owes his seat
In the Senate to the massacre in
which he took so conspicuous \ part.
The general impression has been that
time would serve as the cure for this
terrible evil. The Northern people
were anxious 10 believe so. But 90
far from this being the case the Dem
Ocrats Of the South have grown bOldeF
and more intolerant, until now there
Is hardly a nook or corner OF the
whole South where Republication
can lift its head with safety. The Co
piah outrage, even Is the case now
stands proven, justifiies this declara-
alton.
The second day Of the investigation
was taken up in considering the case
Of ]. p. Matthews, who was shot at
his home In Hazelhurst In connection
with the election last fall. He was e
native Of COpiah County, as Is his
widow, and had always borne an ex-
cellent reputation. AS Sheriff for
three terms he had given satisfaction, |
and Is said to have been the only sheF- |
iff OF COpiah since 1865 to leave the |
office with a clear record. He was q /
man Of means, generous and popular. |
Only q short time before his death he /
had friendly and business rela-
ions with the very men who shot Il
lim. He was neither q niger" nor
! carpet baggar." On the contrary,
lhd it not been for the one fact that
ne was q Republican, he would have
,een exceptionally popular. None Of
he ordinary excuses given for the
Killing Southern politicians can be
lffered In eXtenuatiOn Of his murder.
The resolutions adopted by the cIti-
ems OF COplah at the time attempted
10 eoncealment AS Cato was con
ent to urge en- the Roman Senate that
Ilah County took the ground that
here must be no Republican party
Githln its border, even though upheld
y so good q citizen as ]. P. Matthews
Kukluxism has thus been carried
D it's utmost limit. VIII the Demo
rattle party uphold It, aud thereby
ecome accessory 10 the crime after
be fact2 It cannot escape taking q
osltion one way or the other. The
sue win be presented so distin city
nat it cannot be evaded.
Il ls easy to forecast the course Of !
ie Democracy. That party has no
lea Of any new departure. But how
bout the Republican party? To de.
ounce and depreciate Southern
itrages, and there an end would
lsweF no good purpose. Talk is
reap. There is no use IN exposing Z
Iese OutHages psfpetrated ct the Z
)uth unless something practical is to {
me Of &c. Reform u necessary In '
e Repabllcan party ITSELF Chicago a
Ter Ocean. o