Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-14
Intimidation in Rhode Island.

1 IL Journal took up question we
asked MURAT HALsTEAD, and pro-
ceeded to endorse HALsTEAD's libels
upon the South in respect of " the in
timidation and disfranchisement Of
negro voters. This led the Dispatch
to put few pertinent questions to the
Journal and make general reply to
its article, in the course Of which
reply occurs the following:
"If the employees of the great manu-
featuring establishments Of Rhode
Island who have been given the choice
Of voting the Republican ticket or
starving were not thus intimidated and
prevented from exercising the right OF
freemen through fear the English
language needs reconstruction in order
that the same words be made to convey
the same idea North and South"
Of course we expected the Journal
to reply, AMI we were not disappoint-
ed. Nay, more we expected it to en-
ter a general denial, and in this we
were not disappointed either. Here.
is a specimen Of its answer:
" The assertion, which is wholly and
gratuitously false, as far as Rhode
Island manufacturers are concerned,
appears to have been provoked by an
allusion in the Journal to the intimida-
ton Of colored voters in the South.
We challenge the Richmond Dispatch
to produce any evidence whatever in
support Of the charge that the electors
of Rhode Island employed in manu-
featuring establishments are intmidatcd
into voting the Republican ticket, or,
for that part Of the matter, the Demo-
cratic ticket, for some respectable
Democrats are included among the
manufacturers Of our Commonwealth.
Here in New England the libel is in no
need Of contradiction, but its very ut
terance shows the straits to which
southern writers are driven for the
purpose Of diyerting public attention
from the virtual Acknowledgement of
the southern negroes"
The Dispatch could produce album
dant evidence TO support its charge,
but, thanks to The Providence EpeHiag
Mail, there is no necessity for taking
that trouble. In fact the Mail has
taken up the cudgels for the Dispatch
and the intimidated wOrkmen of Rhode
Island, and knocked out the Journal so
completely that 1t would be cruelty for
the Dispatch TO say anything until the
Journal has had time for repairs. The
Mail, after calling attention to the fact
that it had reproduced the Dispatch'S
article, quotes the above paragraph
from the Journals reply, and says;
"Alas the libel cannot be contra
dcted in New England 1t is too well
known that intimidation was used,
and used strongly, IN our presidential
campaigns in Rhode Island. 1t is
known that in the late campaign and
the one preceding nill-ownerS and sew
! eral manufacturers minated that if
the Democratic candidate was elected
they would have to shut down their
mills and manufactures, but that if the
Republican candidate was elected bust
ness would be booming and every one
would be happy. There was no direct
threat made that we know of that
unless the help voted for the Repub-
lican candidate they would be dis
charged but we all know that when
an employer says unless GER
tain candidate is elected ne will have
to shut down his mill, il is tantamount
to saying that unless the employee votes
a. his employer desires it may cost
him his bread and batter. II would
be Just as easy for the Dispatch to
prove the direct acts Of intimidation
and fear charged in Rhode Island as
II would be for the Journal to prove
the KukluX odtrages in the South.
II will take the Journal good deal OF
trouble TO divert the attention, not
only of southern and western States,
but also of the people Of Rhode
Island from the virtual disfranchise-
ment Of the people of Rhode Island.
Ii is not alone by fear and in
timidStion, though that has been used.
but also by direct and aggressive laws,
that very large portion of tho inhsbi-
tants Of this State are DISTINGUISHED
During the Sarfeld-IIancock campaign
a well-known snG prominent citizen of
Rhode lslacd stood upon a public plat
form in this city, and was supported on
the same platform, As speakers, by our
present United States senator and con-
gresham. In the course Of his speech
he said l WOULD RATHER SEE
THE BUSY MILLS or RHODE ISLAND
HCsHED TO SILENCE AND ITS
SMILING. CIVILIZATION TURNED
INTO A HOwLINC WILDERNESS
THAN TO SEE The DEMOCRATIC
PARTY RETURNED 80 POWER.
That was the sentiment OF 8 prominent
Republican Of this virtually disfrsn-
chised State. Was it not beautiful
sentiment, most esteemed Journal ?
Was il not worthy Of a Republican, OF
Humanitarian, and . Christian? In
the last election many Democrats were
hired by their employers to turn out
on horseback and walk in the ranks to
swell the numbers Of the Republican
parade, and so overswe the Democratic
voters. II was not necessary for these
Democrats to turn out, you may say,
and, besides, they were paid for it.
Yes, true enough, but many Of the
men worked for strong, powerful
eompsny, and refusal to SO turn out
and obey the employer orders might
no, result in dismissal, but the fear was
there that it might. A workingmas hiss
get 10 look out for his bread and butter
FIRST and hispolitical feelings Afterwards,
even in this free State CT Rhode Island.
| A prominent fourth-wsrd manufacturer
turned out in the Garfield campaign and
said he vas willing TO work 10 save the
country from ru;n, which would
fall upon it If Democratic Pre-
4 .;dapt was elerted he did hic