Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-04
THE DANVILLE INVESTIG ALTON
Gen. Wickham a Witness To-day.
HIS VIEW OF VIRGINIA POLITICS AND THE RACE
QUESTIoN-OTHER TESTIMONY.

the Danville Va-l riot yesterday afternoon B. F.
Walker, white, an ex-federal soldier and republi
can. helper In a livery stable, said that "he had
heard colored men planning divide up the stores
in Danville. Being asked by Senator Vance how II
was that being republican he voted the democratic
ticket he said: swell. I'll tell you. didn't
slider there was any issue in Virginia at the last
election. except the coored against the white man.
and Pm for the white man every time
Senator Lapham smiling gcontentedlyl.-Eyactly.
One OF the witnesses said that Squire Talfaferro
advised cOlored women to leave their husbands if
they voted with the democrats The squire had
great influence around there. because he did no
work. wore good clothes. could read: and went
Taiaferro," he continued. 'had stood up well until
the firing began. and then he didn't stand up al an
TESTIMONY TO-DAY.
Mr.. Frank G. Ruffin. second auditor OF Virginia,
one OF the noted "Big Four" OF the last coalition
legislature, testified before the subcommittee to
day that democratic procession In RchrIodd. I'm
which colored men participated, was stoned: did
not see negroes throw stones, but was satisfied
they did II. He thought when the readlustment
laws We're passed all was attained he wanted. and
he returned TO the democratic party.
GEN. wICKHAN EXAMINED.
Gen. VIM. c. Wlckham, OF Virginia, was next
called. He testified that he is member of the
state senate. and lives In Hanover county. He said
his position In the canvass was peculiar one. He
had been since 1s65 a republican. He was re-
queSed by democratic convention TO enter the cam
vass on state issues alone He did so for good state
government, which he did not think existed under
the then ruling party. There was good
nt,on nesl OF ra sSeement fhst o on both Gs M
he believed that he was entitled to the col
ored vote. because he had always protected tho
not get even a respectable colored vote. The tgh
against him was made squarely on the colored line
THE MOST INCENDIARY SPEECHES
were made to the negroes. They were organized
and held frequent meetings. They We're told by coal
tion leaders that If he and the democrats succeeded
no mt hac into ell nd flpf a6u
cational rights taken from them. He did not draw
the color line. He protested against 1t. and made
speeches which he was surprised that the white
people listened to. partially because they We're so
strongly in favor OF the fullest rights OF the me-
groes. He made speeches charging chat the blacks
were ostracised for supporting him: that wives OF
colored men threatened to throw their husbands
clothes out OF doors II they voted Tor him. one
COlored preacher told witness that he wanted to
vote for him and wanted him elected. but he could
not do So for If he did he would lose his position
pastor. Witness heard Mr.. Fowler. a coalitionist,
make most tncendiary speech. speech that ought
never TO have been made in mixed audience.
Fowler told the blacks that If the democrats sue
ceeded laws would be passed invading their rights,
while in truth. said witness. all the laws would
have to bear upon both Races alike. Fowler was
coalition speaker OF the Virginia legislature VII
ness had never heard OF single instance In Ham
over county where whites had sought to intimidate
colored voters He believed
THE LAST ELECTION THE FAIREsr EVER HELD IN
VIRGINIA.
No colored voters In his county were deferred
from voting by the Danyille riot. He saw nothing
improper at the polls The colored people were at
Ashland precinct at O'Clock in the morning TO take
possession OF the polls When witness reached the
polls. before SUNRISE he found 1S9 colored men In
line at the polls His friends apprehended that the
scheme was to poll the cOlored vote and get up
row, or in some way prevent the whites from yOt
ing. This did not occur, however All the lsa
! cOlOred votes We're polled and then the whites
voted Al that precinct witness got 14O majority.
Witness saw no coalition appeals In papers 10
negroes TO avenge the Danville riot at the polls.
When he heard of the riot he feared II would drive
had no effect whatever. Witness impression was
that the feeling OF the whites towards the blacks
! is kindly and friendly. On his own plantation all
| his hands were born and raised there, and between
1 himself and them the best relations existed He
believed that TO be the case with all the whes the
personal relation OF whites to blacks4s kindly.
On cross-examination witness said tue mass OF
the white people in Virginia are opposed to the re-
publican party. but that did not show they were
that the blacks should unite with the republican
party: that Was the party in the state that con-
| tended for
THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF THE BLACKS.
He believed that all the former slave owners treated
! the blacks kindly. He knew they did In his imme-
diate neighborhOod His district has small major
tty OF white voters He supposed he was requested
to be candidate on the ground that he could COM
/, garded as the strongest man. Witness was the
only republican candidate supported by democrats,
and he was free TO say the democrats did not
have the same confidence In other re-
pubcans. The feeling among the colored
people is that their rights are not safe
with the democrats. but he said that was brought
about 10y false teaching. The negroes believed TIE
republicans were more liberal II il could be dem
onstrated to the negroes that their rights were
safe with the democrats they would probably d.
vide, but he added "it would be the most difficult
thing In God Almighty's earth to satisfy the ne
gr0eS OF that With parcel OF men interested In
voting them sOlidly and teaching them all the time
that IL is dangerous TO vote the democratic ticket
Witness did not think that after the debt question
was settled the white read1usters went back To the
color line. Witness thought III would be
THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD FOR THE BLACKS TO
DIVIDE POLITICALLY.
Witness did not know it TO be fact that It was
the common habit OF young men in Virginia to
insult the blacks by calling them "niggers' ~
''sluSh.n etc.
Mt. sherman-"We have had good deal OF
it here"
Witness could not say it was the habit OF the
ignomny. "Ihe negro.' he said, "has more con-
tempt for the poor white man than the latter has
the negroes generally to vote for him to the fact
that patronage was distributed among them
to keep them from ss 50 Sdagr doing The term
ignorance OF the correct word. and in reproach
The blacks themselves use the word. Gen. Wick
ham said that the cOlorin drawn by the coali-
rionists Their policy was TO weld the colored vote
together and deceive the poor creatures. Witness
believed It to be the desire OF the whites to divide
the day when can carry the republican flag TO the
front in Virginia by the aid of the whites, but
ster up there now" Witness believed that If the
negroes would divide upon policy, ard not remain
together because OF race 1t would result In dividing
the whites He said no prosperity can come to a
state in which the people are divided by race. He
asserted that on the stump In his canvass, and II
met with the universal applause OF the white peO-
pie. Witness knew Of other prominent republicans
| who agree with him on this point He did not
think any man OF fair sense could think otherwise
There good deal OF feeling on the part OF the
whites against the blacks soon after the war; when
the cOored people were led by aliens and taught tO
diStruSt the whites.
To Mt. Sherman witness said 1t would be unfor-
tunate for the whites to divide under circumstances
where the blacks were led by bad and designing
men. He believed that had the proper policy been
pursued the republican party could have by now
Shaped the policy OF the southern states. He
the cOalitiOniSts would be unfortunate.
STILL REPUBLICAN.
During Mt Sherman's cross examination OF the
witness, he remarked, ''You were a republican uI
to the last canvass"
"Until yet: am now," asserted Gen. WicIham
very positively.
| HIS NOSE had BEEN PULLED.
Cornelius WarrOck, q colored democrat OF Lynch
burg, testified that the colored people abused mem
His nose had been pulled by both cOlored linen AND
women because he voted the democratic ticket
| That had been done more than once. He had bee,I
threatened, and about election times he was afrait
to 60 outside the corporate limits OF the city he
cause OF threats against him by negroes His llft
had been Threatened. His former associates do mD
! visit him. "They don't respect me now, no m0re'I