The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-12-19
letter from North Carolina.


The following letter from Rev. A. ].
Hires, now of Kinston, N. c., to a friend
in Woodstown we deem of sufficient inter
est to publish, as showing the views of a
former townsman and northern man, who
has resided for several years in the South.
KINsToN, y. c., Nov. 81, 1884.
Ny DEAR FRIEND-Yours of the 18Th
was duly received last evening. Whether
intimidation was used at the recent cleo
lions in the Southern States, ! have no bet
ter means of knowing than yourself beyond
this particular locality. That it was not
used i'll any open way here and in this
vicinage am quite certain. That it has
been used at previous elections in various
localities of the South there can be no
doubt, and it is not improbable was used
III some localities at the last elections. By
intimidation ! do not mean merely the
shotgun, for the word has a wide range of
meaning, and i'll some other forms would
terrorize the average colored MAJ more
than Shotguns, &c. For instance. to be
turned out of his rented home and off land
farmed on shares. Comparatively few col
ored men own land in the South. their local
attachments are strong. and you see how
distressing it would be to them to be dis
possessed. | do not think that intimidation
of a physical kind is much used in these
days, but the other kind no doubt is to a
considerable extent. Moreover, there are
other and more potent means of making
their votes of no account. In South Caro-
lima, for illustration, they have as MANY
BOXES as there are offices to be filled and
each is labeled, the law is tina a ticket
found in tbp wrOOr how iS mot ao,p+oJ
The boxes are frequently shifted about.
not one out of twenty voters. colored. can
read, and at that rate, about, they get their
tickets where they do not count. Again. a
man having several tickets in his hand will
say to a colored voter, ''let me see your
ticket, " then puts back into his hand one
of a different kind, which the colored man
does not know and votes in good faith.
The whole thing of such an ignorant cleo
tive franchise is an arrant humbug. For
years after the wal was over this ignorant
class of voters. in the hands of scalawao
office seekers from the North, under the
Republican name and banner, ruled the
South, bankrupted the States and drove
the people to desperation. Do you wonder
the name Republican is so generally odious
in the South? And so far as | / know to-
day the Federal office holders of the South
are among the lowest and most degraded
men anywhere to be found. d~runkards.
gamblers and licentious. OF course there
are, exceptions, but this. | believe. is the
rule. SO far as State politics are concern
ed a man down here is a fool if not a Dem
ocrat, tor to be a Republican is to consent
to the rule of the most ignorant. degraded
and vicious class in the State. There is
great joy over the result of the recent cleo
tons, for it means a better class of men in
the Federal offices in all these Southern
States. | confess a feeling of regret at the
overthrow of the Republican party in ma
tional politics. In the beginning it was
the party of political and moral reform.
but it became exceedingly corrupt and
time serving. 1t may be the other party is
equally or more corrupt-the next four
years will show. But | did not expect the
Democratic party to stand for right as |
did the other. When | saw the other
trucking to the whiskey ring and insult
ing the prohibition sentiment of the coun-
try my sympathy with it grew smaller,
and | can not mourn to see it lose
grip upon the people. l believe it
might have kept that grip by fidelity
to principle, and keeping abreast with
the reform spirit of the times. | had no
vote, not having been in this State long
enough, and so far am not responsible,
otherwise, my vote would nave been given
to st. John and Daniel. The Prohibition
lists were told they could do nothing but
throw away their votes. but they did do
something. How happy the Republicans
would be to-day had they had rhe %, 600
votes cast for St. John in New York.
Four years hence the Democrats will share
their fate. The prohibition idea has got
into politics. and it is there to stay, and
there to win. Good speed the day. | am
much pleased with the MONITOR. it is do
ing splendidly. God bless it!
Sincerely your friend, A. ]. HIRES.