The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-08
CAPT. PUT. DARDEN.
A STATEMENT OF Hrs POLITICAL RECORD
BY OFFICIALS AND OTHER CITIZENS OF
HIS COUNTY.
HE SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF.

FAYETTE, MISS, June 80, 1885.
Editor of the State Ledger:
In reply to charge made by cores
pondent that Capt. Put. Darden had, since
lS77-'7S, opposed the Democratic party,
the Chronicle, Darden's organ, has pub
lished and circulated over the State a
positive" denial. This denial is put in
the form of defense of Capt. Darden
against an implied baseless and uureason-
able attack" thus making it our unpleas-
ant duty to publish the following record :
Up to and including 1876, Capt Darden
was an active member of the Democratic
party of this County and State. and did all
of his duty in the memorable campaign
of the year mentioned. Shortly after this
date he absented himself from our party
meetings and councils and occupies to-
wards this same attitude at the present
time.
Since 1877 or 1873 he has lived in open
sympathy with the boilers and Independ-
ents of this county, and in all his CONVEX
sations on the subject has upheld their
measures and supported their tickets. This
he has done openly and with no effort to
disguise his sympathies and predictions.
He has also, for the same period, opposed
and INSTRUCTED all regular Democratic tick
feeling as was suggestive of INTENSE BIT
TERNEss. He has opposed our nomina-
ting conventions and denounced them as
corrupt political machines, contrivances
to cheat the people, and charged that they
were manipulated by designing "bosses,n
unprincipled managers and wire-pulling
Stricksters." And this opposition to NOM
mating conventions has been made and
urged in the face of the well known fact
that negroes in this county outnumbered
the whites in the ratio of three to one He
has tainted Democrats with the charge of
of being held to their ranks by intimida-
ton OF their leaders, bosses and charged
that they were yielding slayish obedience
to the party LASH
He has thus opposed all our vital party
measures and all our regularly nominated
tickets, and at the close of election has
greeted our hard earned victories with the
grave charge of having been procured by
fraud and robbery of ballots" Nor has
this constant and ceaseless opposition ex-
tended alone to the Democracy of this
county. He has used it also against State
and district tickets and organizations.
And while thus opposing, denouncing and
obstructing US, he has ever proclaimed
and insisted that he was Democrat"
IL
Darden's definition of true Democracy,
but if it consists in abandoning the regular
Democratic organization and utilization
with boilers, Independents, sspeople's" can
dldates, ETC., for period of six or seven
years, without interruption, then truly he
is good and loyal Democrat. This he
has done and the proof of it is overwhelm-
ing in this county. And If this is doubted
by any individual of whatever shade of
politics, let him come and investigate for
himself This (Jefferson) county, is ira
versd BY two railroads and is hence easily
accessible.
The Democracy of this county is a part
Of the Democratic organisation Of this
State and work in perfect harmony with,
and under the advice of the State Demo-
cratic Executive Committee, which should
be ample proof of the orthodoxy and
purity OF the party represented by US.
How Capt. Darden has voted during
these six or seven years, none but himself
can tell. But if he must be judged-as he
should be-by his expressions of opposi
ton and sympathy, By his affiliations and
associations, then, for that long and event
ful period, he has voted for no regular
State, district or county Democratic nomi-
nee or ticket, with the probable exception
CT Hon. E. Barksdale for his 6rst term in
Congress.
The foregoing record is NOT given with
any feelings Of pleasure on our part, but is
furnished - measure of protection to the
Democracy Of he State against the unrea-
sonable claims Of newspapers, like the
Chronicle, which have been reckless in
their assertions and over-zealous in their
support Of Capt. Darden.
l. w. CARRADuE, Sheriff.
C. C. CorFEx, Circuit Clerk.
JAS McCLuRE, Treasurer.
w. h SrKNcxR, Mem Dem. Ex. Com.
GEo- A. LAKE, .
+. +. McCAnD1E,
r p. Fonx4An, Mem County and Con
yrenionsl Dirt Ex. Committee.
G. +. BurLkn
N. n GUc1
g. M. McMuncHr,