The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-20
CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE SOUTH.
A Sample of Heightened Christian Chivalry
Displayed Toward Northern Visitors.

"A Sample OF dlSn-lOneO CnrlSUan CniValry
Displayed Toward Northern Visitors.
S. Ii. K, in New York Tribune.
For the benefit of any Tribune readers who
may still cling to the fond fancy that this is
free country" that its Constitution is respect
ed, and that its citizens are protected in accord
ance with the declaration of that Constitution,
allow me to narrate an experience that within
the last fortnight has befalen some dear friends
Mr. Thomas j. Morrow, of the Morrow Shoe
Manufacturing Company, whose factory is at
Nyack, n. Y, and whose salesrooms are at Al
and 43 Warren street, this city, and his wife,
Nathan Tibbals,. of the publishing house
of Tibbals & Sons, Nassau street,
are wellknown Brooklyn people, Mrs.
Morrow being religious writer and speaker of
some prominence, and one of the assistant ed
itors of the Christian Advocate, and both having
been long and prominently identified with the
Hanson-Place Methodist Episcopal Church. OF
that city During the past fall and winter Mr.
Morrow suffered from protracted and severe
illness, and early in May he started, with his
wife, for long tour in the South and West.
From Nashville, where she engaged in some re-
vival work. Mrs. Morrow wrote home glowing
accounts of the dear Southern peoples hospi-
tally and kindness" Since then she has had
some reason to change her opinion of the Chris
tan graces that prevail in the South.
Journeying from Tennessee to New Orleans,
through Alabama, Mr.. and Mrs Morrow had
among their companions clergyman and his
wife who were leaving a pastorate in Illinois to
fill one in Louisiana. These people, being
colored. had not only provided themselves for
their journey with class tickets, but with
letter from the ticket agent Of the railroad en-
phaticaly stating that they were entitled to all
the privileges of irst-class ticket-holders. All
went we'll until the train arrived at Montgomery,
Ala. where new conductor chose to differ with
his official predecessors. He im mediately ordered
the clergyman and his wife into the smoking
car, refusing to pay any attention to the tickets
banking every suggestion that niggers' were
entitled to ride anywhere but where he declared
they should go. Unwilling to have his wife sub
jected to such discomfort and indignity, the
clergyman appealed to Mr. Morrow to sustain
him in his maintenance of his moral and legal
rights. Upon this, Mr.. Morrow, who is most
lovable. fair-minded and Christian man, at
tempted to expostulate with the conductor as
sorting that it was illegal to deprive people of
privileges for which they had paid and to which
they were clearly entitled, and reminded the
official that in accordance with the Constitution
of the United States all its citizens entitled
to equal rights The conductor resented this
declaration with unbounded rage, assalling Mr..
Morrow with all the opprobrious and profane Ian
guage he could command. He then left the car;
but shortly returned. accompanied by band of
ruffans. armed with knives and revolvers, who
drove the clergyman and his wife from the car,
while one of their number held bowie knife
against Mr.. Morrows breast with the threat
that he would '1cut OUT that gentleman's
"blanked heart" The agony endured meanwhile
by Mr.. Morrow's wife can neither be ade-
quately described nor imagined by people who
have never come in contact with the bold and
organized lawlessness and terrorism that prevail
at the South. Finally. however, when the con-
ductor had assured Mr. Morrow that he (NIr M
should vet be made to ''eat the dust, the rutfians
retired from the car When the train reached
Mobile, Mr. and Mrs Morrow secured room at
the Battle House. Shortly AFTER while passing
through the hotel corridor Mr.. Morrow was
suddenly attacked from behind, thrown upon the
floor, kicked and severely beaten about the head.
His assaiant was the conductor whose ire he had
aroused by quoting the federal Constitution.
When the man had completed his assault he
coolly informed Mr. Morrow that he expected to
be fined 81. 90 for what he had done, hut" he
asserted, with unblushing betrayal of Southern
| legal procedure in such cases. when pay the
fine it will be Immediately handed back to me-"
Though severely injured, Mr. Morrow persevered
| in getting his assailant arrested. The fine
amounted to $25. Whether it was ever actually
| paid is a matter of surmse AS for the outrages
upon the train, there was not even the fiction of
redress attainabe for them.
This is only one of thousand records which
should impel every Republican Judas to go out
and hang himself Upon every traitor to the in
terests of humanity, justice and constitutional
government, who last fall cast his vote to turn
| the government over to the hands of the party
of whose political principles and methods that
conductor is an exact exponent, there rests the
stain of every drop of innocent and loyal blood
shed by his lawless adopted political brother
| hood!