San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-15
TEXAS kU KlUX.


A circular bearing date OF November
10, 1886, signed S. A. Hackworth, Bren-
ham, Texas, has just reached this office.
1t is accompanied by q letter, also signed
S. A. Hackworth. requesting the LIGHT,
as recognized republican paper, which
is not afraid to express true republican
sentiments, to give publicity to the cir
cular in full. This we cannot do, rs our
space forbiGs SO lengthy an insertion,
and for this we are sincerely sorry, as
the circular bears on its face evidences
Of It's truthfulness and appears to be
candid statement of tue difficulties grow
ing out Of the late election in Washing
ton county. The author Of the circular
isu prominent land agent OF Brennan,
and the circular Is setting forth of the
frauds, intimidations and threats perpe-
tratcd by prominent citizens OF Wash
ingIon county, of the democratic persu-
aston, to prevent the republican candi-
dates from taking the seats to which
they were Justly entitled by due election
on the 2nd inst. The circular afiirms
that there is no English speaking paper
In BRENNAN that will give the facts, of
which the following are a brief synop-
sis:
Mr. Hackworth is a prominent re-
publican OF Washington county; takes
an active part in the political canvass of
his section; has made himself obnoxious
to the democracy by so do
ing; and at the opening OF the
present campaign was warned to
take no part in the canvass,
as he would be killed If he attempted it.
This he refused to do. He has attended
all the republican meetings.; there were
no inCendiary speeches made; no social
equality speeches; the republican dis
trict Judge, Mcfarland, has in his court
room been very careful to prevent all
appearance of such social equality, and
there was no ground whatever for the
charge. The republican meetings were
very generally attended by the county
attorney and Judge Kirk, Of the opposi-
tion party, peoples, who demanded and
obtained hearing there, backed by
white and colored supporters, armed.
The odds were all against the republican
candidates. Colored men were run upon
the peoples ticket to divide the colOred
vote, and yet the republican cand dates
were elected. The democratic vote was
cut down 200 votes from 1884 to 1856 in
Burton; In Long Point the majority OF
100 democratic was wiped out; in Green
vine the democratic majority of l02 was
also wiped out; Independence returned
40 democratic majority in 1856 against
100 In 1884; and BRENNAN reduced the
democratic majority from 1853 to 100.
Fully 1000 white Taxpayers voted the
republican ticket and the republican
candidates were elected. 10 prevent
these officers-elect from taking their
seats, 475 ballots were thrown out at
Independence and Chapel Hill because
the ballots were printed on diamond
shaped slips ofpaper; and this not being
sufficient to overcome the republican
majority the ballot boxes at Flewellen
and Grotall we're seized by
masked men and the destruction of 600
republican ballots followed. This out
rage led to conflict in which one man
was shot and two wounded. The men
we're in the act of selling the ballot box
when shot, but 1t is charged that the
action of the cOlored men who defended
the boxes was unjustifiable and eight of
them are in Jail awaiting trial for muir
der. The allegations that the attack
upon the ballot boxes was instigated by
republicans, Mr.. Hackworth prOnounces
utterly false. Two years ago a similar
outrage was perpetrated at Chapel
Hill and one cOlOred man shot while
counting ballots as judge Of election.
The will Of the people was defeated and
the Peoples candidates took the seats to
which republicans were elected. On
tho 9TH Of this month armed men
paraded the streets of Brenbam; meet
ing was held by them; resolutions were
passed expelling Mr.. Hackworth and
four other citizens at the muZZle of shot
guns If they had not departed in "A
hours. The threat of death has been
held ever the heads Of the candidates
elect, and Hackworth also, II the cleo
circular is issued to give the people the
facts and decide whether citizens in
Washington county are TO be protected
in their rights. Mr.. Hackworth was
born in Washington county, his father
was an old Texas veteran and he does
not propose to be driven out of the
county by the shot gun brigade because
he asserts his rights as citizen 1t is
now twenty-one years since the war
closed, and II Is pretty near time that
American citizens without regard to
race or previous conditions of serritude
should he protected in the exercise of
their rights as citizens Ii Texas under
democratic administration, cannot do
this then the power must pass into the
hands of those who will. If the state will
not protect its citizens the Nation must.
THIS densely, darkly, dirty dun kind of
weather is not pleasant kind OF an
atmospheric dose in sunny Texas, but
compared with the foot, foot and half,
or two feet Of snow In the northern
states can be accepted very gracefully
as an alternative.
Important to the Sick