The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-19
A MUGWUMP AWAKE.

William Curtis, is moved to take cognizance
Of the Carrollton slaughter. During and be-
fore the last presidential election he evinced
lofty indifference to such matters as the
preservation of human life in the several
States of the Union, and joined in the cry
"bloody shirt" whenever this question was
touched upon. Plainly there was no SYM
patty in the breast of Mr.. Curtis for tho
oppressed black man Of the South. All ac-
counts Of his mistreatrnent were regarded only
as SO many campaign stories, and were at once
dismissed from the mind as soon as heard.
But in the last issue of the Weekly Mr. Curtis
seems to have given little rein to his con-
science and he says in AN editorial:
"The Carrollton massacre, if unredressed
and apparently unobserved by Che commu-
nifty, will confirm the conviction that the COM
rades Of those who are openly slaughtered amid
an Indifferent community will certainly not
be suffered to vote against its will. y
1t no remedy for such wrongs exists in Mis-
sissippi, remedy will be found out of Mis-
sissippi."
Those who know the attitude of Harper's
Weekly will rub their eyes and read and re-
read this declaration to convince themselves
that they are not reading some awful paper
like the indianapolis Journal. The idea that
the murder Of the colored man may serve to
keep him from exercising the rights of citi-
zenship is SO like the claims made by this pa
per that the reader might be excused in be-
lieving that the sentiment quoted was one Of
its terrible s'bloody-sh editorials. So far
from this is the truth that it is really the ut
terance of the great and good Mr.. Curtis at a
time when no election is pending, and there
can be no demand for the "bloody shirt" We
submit that no radical Republican ever went
further in the heat Of election times than does
this mild-tempered gentleman at this time.
eff no remedy for such wrongs exists in
Mississippi, remedy will be found out of
Mississippi" When exactly the same sentiment
was expressed by Republicans when they saw
how free suffrage was made farce in several
Of the Southern States, Mr.. Curtis and his
fellow mugwumps rrofessed the profoundest
pity for all who could hold such incorporate
and unpatriotic sentiments. There is many
an honest man who views these periodical
slaughters with feelings of alarm for the safe
ty of the institutions Of the country. But
when they suggested the only possible peaceable
solution Of this vexing problem lay in the
ballot box of the North, where elections were
free, these very same gentlemen were un-
stinted in their condemnation of the idea
One cannot help entertaining the suspicion
that these men were not thoroughly honest in
their attitude during the campaign of 1884,
but allowed their pique to get the best of their
better natures. If this may be accepted as an
earnest that they have again come into posses
sion Of their better judgment, and that they
have again felt moved to protest against such
outrages, they are to be congratulated. 1t is
not too late for them to do good service to
their country. It is hoped that In another
election they will not commit the folly Of vot-
ing to spite the party and thus to invite and
encourage the very things they now condemn.
It is something new to see the Harpers
Weekly standing up for fair elections in the
South.