Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-04-19
...oUTHEaN oUrRAGEs.'

ordered by the nePuDAcah ""Jo4'J
the Federal Senate, has been from the
first a farce and a scandal, and the testl'
mony of the past week has emphasized
its absurdity and ~wickedness. The truth
of the whole matter was plainly laid
down at the start. a mob OF brutal
negroes were driven to violence by sub
sidized Readjuster stump speakers, and
white men, who happened to be Demo
Gratis. defended themselves. Senate
Sherman, with an eye to his personal
interests, and hoping to make fresh cam
paign capital for his party, moved for the
inquiry, which, of course, was loudly
called for by his Republican colleagues.
What has been proved?
In answer to this question we will
quote a portion Of the testimony given
before the committee Of inquiry IN WASH
ington by Gen. W. G. Wickham. Gen.
Wickham is one of the most substantial
business men of the State, and a Re-
nublican. He voted for Garfield is 1881,
even when Malone supported Hancock.
He resented Mahone's insolent and cor
rupt dictatorship, and chose to JOIN the
Democrats on State issues rather than
sacrifice his manhood and honor. Last
Fall he ran for State Senator in a dis
trict which had previously been one OF
Mahone's reliable political possessions,
was endorsed by the Democrats, and tri-
umphantly elected. Following is an ex.
tract from his evidence:
He said his position in the v was
a peculiar one; since 1865 he had been a
Republican, and was so still; he was re-
ouested by the Democratic Convention
to himself as a candidate, re-
parding the issue as one Of State politics
and not at all of national politics; the
issue upon which he entered the canvass
was upon good State and local govern,
ment. which he didn't think they had
under the then organization; his district
was considered the pivotal n OF the
State. and the contest was an excited
one from the beginning; his position as a
Republican caused him to suppose that
he had a right to expect the support OF
the great mass of the colored vote; he
found it ives doubtful whether he could
get even a respectable proportion of the
colored vote; the fight was made upon
the color line by the c~oalitlonists;
the negroes were organized in clubs, and
at their weekly and nightly meetings
most incendiary speeches were made to
them; they were told that IT the Demo
Gratis were successful they would be put
back into slavery; Notwithstanding these
efforts witness received a colored vote
which exceeded his majority; colored
men were threatened with election from
their churches, and their wives threat
ened to throw their clothes out OF doors
and prevent them from coming into theil
houses if they voted for witness. Since
the negroes acquired the right OF suffrage
there has been no unjust discrimination
against them by the laws OF Virginia
witness thought there had been no un.
lawful combination against the colored
people, nor had they been threatened
with discharge, SO far as he knew, fol
not voting as their employers wished.
Now those, it must be remembered
are not the words of what is contemptu
ously termed "a Bourbon Democrat.
Gen. Wickham must be conceded to be
trustworthy witness v by the rankes
Republican hater of the South. III
tells the story Of the Virginia campaign
in the way that must carry conviction
The clique Of frothy villains who die
Mahone's bidding simply played on tn
base passions Of the negroes in the hop
of makingup in numbers what they lacked
in principle. White men were taunte'
by the blacks, and white women insulted
The result was a fight, and blood wa
shed.
And this State of Virginia, alread.
outraged in Mahone's supremacy, mus
submit to the further humiliation OF al
investigation into the acts of a few o
her citizens who stood up for their right
against the brute encroachments of tn
colored tools Of the Readjuster chief
Even while the howls and curses OF
Cincinnati mob are ringing in the air, ant
fresh-spilt blood is soaking into the stree
of the metropolis of Senator Sherman
Northern State, we witness the edifyinl
spectacle of one political party trying t.
fasten on another political party respon
sibility for the loss Of human life il
a small Virginia town. We cannot be
gin to characterize this proceeding.
If the Republican Senator from Ohit
had been as careful of his honor as is the
average Virginia Bourbon" he woulG
not be wossh so much money to-day
His course in reference to the "Southerr
outrages" has been senseless and con-
temptible. 1t merely proves him to be
what we have Of late years considered
him-the best living type Of modern Re-
publicanism. Cold, crafty and cunning,
he personiies the intellect Of his party
as well as the total want Of honesty in
the sschiefs' who rule it.