National Republican., 1884-04-10
POLITICAL SLAVERY.
A Friend Of "prinF Matthew'S Tells Plain
Truths Concerning Bourbon Intolerance
The Only Hope or Southern Republicans
Is in Their Northern Brothers.
Sn1rirL Let,cr


JACKSON, TENN, April 3.--Iu these days
of tho suppression of free speech and
free thought, when man is not allowed to
90 to the polls and vote without periling his
lileifhe votes in opposition to bourbon dcmoc-
racy in the south, we this section must look
to the northern press for a fair unvarnished
detail Of the doings in our own midst. Hence
/ write to givo some of the unwritton and
hitherto unpublished facts in connection with
the cowardly and brutal assassination of J.
i. Matthews in Hazlehurst last November,
1t was my privilege to know the man. and as
citizen he stood high lie was large prop
orty holder, Of good morals, and full of public
spirit. But he had one grievous, unpardon-
able sin, one that finds certain death in Mis-
sissippi il exerciscd-ho WAS republican.
lIc was n native Missssippian, and was twice
elected sheriff of Copiah county, during the
administration of which Office no had large
dealings with democrats and often was tho
subject Of applause from them on account
of his efficiency, and especially in the
exercise of his loniency and good will
in holding up executions and staying
processes But as soon as the democratic
machinery was put In motion no was noti-
fled to step to the rear, and then his reward
for his kind and generous deeds, death, was
determined upon.
On the sixth of November, when he walked
quietly to the box to deposit his ballot he
was shot down in cold blood because he
sought to exercise the right Of an American
citizen, and when carried to his wife and
children corpse the streets were filed with
n bowling mob, sending forth their shouts of
victory in manner that so terrified his
wifo that she shrieked and prayed for pro-
lection for her own life, but no one offered
to comfort her in her moments of grief
These are facts, and yet no southern paper
has dared to publish them, but with but
two exceptions have given their silent
Endorsement to the whole matter.
But did they stop at this? No. The next
day the democrats assembled under the pre-
tense of fearing the vengeance of his family
relatives, and within stones throw of
where tho corpse lay passed resolutions in
substance indorsing the crime, vindicating
the assassin and notifying the Matthews
family that they must in the future keep
out of politics.
The object of this meeting and of these
resolutions are easily seen. Public opinion
must first be shaped in favor of the assassin
and this would very naturally control the
public press and suppress the facts in the
case. Besides the murderer must be indorsed
and to doit dccently brass bandis employed
| to announce the gathering. Every decent citi-
zen who has any regard for law, order, and good
government felt outraged by this semi-bar-
barious assemblage who refused respect for
the dead, the heart broken widow, and the
| innocent childen, but the democratic assassin
must be vindicated in his right to shoot
down republican and his relations must be
kept in silence hence the meeting is organ
ized and the resolutions adopted before the
funeral can take place. Well may republicans
now ask: "Where is your free ballot in Missis-
sippiW They say that the republicans want
to wave the "bloody shirt" in tho com.
ing canvass. So long as the democrats
cover republican shirts with blood, SO long
should they wave it,sand until the methods
of Kemper and Copiah are abandoned lei
republicans tell them of their crimes. The
republicans of the south, those who, like
Matthews, have stood true to principle have
no security, no protection in Mississippi un
less they will agree to abide the decision o
the Hazlehurst convention-stay at home
think quietly, say nothing, and stay away
from elections. The laws of Mississippi
promise protection to all classes, but the of
ficers whose duty it is to execute the law
from the chief executive down to the lowest
obtained their offices through these corrupt
shotgun methods. and it could not be ex
pected that they would administer justice
under such circumstances as the killing o.
| Matthew'S but we would naturally expect
| them to honor the assassin, as in this case
by grand ovation the next day and subse
quently electing him city marshal to keep the
peace in the town in which the murder wai
| committed.
Our only hope now in the south is in wise
and judicious selection OF n presidential ticket
for 'Si. With President Arthur at the head
with his liberal southern policy, which has
won for him many friends of all parties, and
the indomitable working qualities of Senator
| John A. Logan, believe success is assured
In saying this | voice the sentiment of many
leading southern republicans. VERITAs.