Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-14
Wtssfs sippI.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-IO-day your
correspondent meJ the Hon. j. Smith,
of Meridian, Miss. He was recently
appointed Consul at Asuncior, Para
quay, ana is here for his credentials
and Instructions preparatory to leaving
for his post of duty. He is q native
Mississippian, and served through the
WI in the rebel army like all the rest
of the good Southerners. He is one OF
few who were thoroughly reconstruct
ed. He went through the mill and
came out republican. Ever since 1865
he has been steadfast in his support of
that party through evil and good re-
port. He says that for the past few
years it ha5 been nights hard Shedding
IN Mississippi, but he believes there are
better times coming. He said.
Il think I know the people and the
politics Of my state pretty well. For
some time there has been a gradual
change of feelings against the Demo
cratic party. 1t may be slow, but it is
sure, and more apparent now than ever
before. There are many who are dis
satisfied with the iron clad rule Of the
Bourbons They are
TIRED OF THE SHOTGUN
and it's necessary methods for securing
w
piah are a rrproach upon the people Of
that State, and I do not believe such
things will be as common in future,
The trouble is that the Democrats have
absolute control of all the election ma
chinery, and they have found that the
counting out business is just as effec-
tive as the shotgun, without the I'M
pleasant features of the latter. 1t doesn't
give the Republicans tlse opportunity
Of waving the bloody shirt. SO far as
bringing about any desired result Is
conce ned, there isn't the slightest
rouble about that They have got the
manipulation of election returns down
to a complete scfance. SO long as they
have full control of the State govern
meat and the courts they have no fear
Of prosecution for violating the law"
Are not the Republicans represented
on the election eoards?"
"N0minally they are, practically they
are not. The law is all right enough.
1t provides that the minority party shall
be so represented, but
THE DEMOCRATS EvADE IT
by making all such appointments them
| selves. Ten or twelve years ago when
| the republicans controlled tRe state we
alwae~, permitted the democrats to Sc
ect their members of tae election boards
| in the various precincts, and the per-
| sons so chosen We're appointed. But
since the democrats came into power
| they have persisteutly refused to allow
the republicans that privilege. They
almost always appoint ignorant repub-
| licans, black or white, who can neither
| read nor write. Or men without char
acter or back bone. With such minor
| ity members it is very easy for them, as
you can readily see, to carry out their
schemes. If they would allow us to Sc
| lect our men as we allowed them the
returns would surprise the country.
| When I say that there is a clear repub-
! lican majority of 10000 in Mississippi, I
am only say ing what every intelligent
man in the state, democratic or repub-
| lican, well knows to be a fact. In 1872
we carried the state by 10000. 1t is
! true some OF the dem ocrats did not vote
for Greeley, but there are just as many
republicans in the state to-day IS there
! ever were. Indeed, there are more, be-
cause there is no shange in the colorcd
people, and we are constantly having
concessions from the whites"
CONDITION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE.
at is not true, then, that any consid-
cradle number Of the colored people
are inclined to vote with tie demo
crats?'