National Republican., 1886-07-07
PASSED UNDER A NEW REGIME.
Prospects of More Orderly and Law
Abiding Times in DanvIIIe.

thnlbneu ny tne successive TaNlsnmenIS Ol
negro-murdering mobs, Bourbon election
defrauders, and night-prowllng "nlgger-
Shooters" has at last passed under new
regime, and may well celebrate the glorious
anniversary Of American independence with
popular rejoicings over it's own relief from
the thralldom OF theHmob by which II has
so long been controlled and dlsgraced. The
new city officers elected IN May assumed
the reins OF government on the ist instant,
and there Is already plainly perceptlble a
feeling Of relief at the welcome change Of
rulers. On the other hand, there q also
evident an appearance OF "gonenessn
among the lately self important ''leadersn
OF the disorderly and lawless "mon Of the
mob" who seem to feel that, like othello,
their "occupation's gomez IL ia even
hlnted that some Of these "leaders Of the
gang" aro already preparing to pull up
stakes and seek frosh pastures green" to
which the law-abidiug people Of this city
would offer no objection, but willingly ac-
cept as "a happy rlddance."
DIR. X. V. Barksdale, the new mayor, Is a
gentleman Of fine intelligence, experienced
In life and public affairs, possesses firm
nerve, and is resolute I'm purpose. Under
his administration it is generally hoped and
believed that the mob spirit which has so
long dominated and dlsgraced this city will
be efrectually squelched and kept under.
Let IL not be inferred, however, that this
new mayor was elected as Republican, or
even as "reformer." Such thing as
that could not be done in Dauvllle. No
body can be elected to Office In this city
unless he is recognized as "member in
good standing" OF the Virginia Democracy
There was contest for the office OF mayor
among several OF the Bourbon. Democratic
aspirants, which finally narrowed itself
down to two Of them, and a primary cleo
ton was held to decide between these two.
In this primary election, in which none but
Bourbons voted, the present mayors COM
petitor was supported by the "mob
gang" while he received the votes Of
the more conservative and law-abidlng
Bourbons--those who In the times Of "actlve
hostilitles" were overawed by the mob
spirit The present mayor received ma
jority OF the votes cast aud was declared
the nominee Of the Democratic party. At
the municipal election which soon .ensued
he was elected, without opposition, OF
course, because the Republicans were de-
tered from putting up any candidate Of
their own lest IL might "provoken another
massacre Of colored voters like that which
was perpetrated here In 1888. The hopes
and expectations that Mayor Barksdale's
administration will restore the reign OF law
and order In this community are based upon
| the fact that he defeated his mob-gang COM
stated. II these hopes and expectations
shall be happily realized II will be Of in-
estimable benefit to Danville.
The forbearance Of the Republicans to
put up candidate OF their own faith was
| wise and well considered, as the sequel
fully showed. There is not doubt that
II they had done so, the effect would have
been to infuriate the mob, and larger
number OF unaImed, inoffending, and de-
fenseless colored voters would have been
ruthlessly shot down than were slain by
this same mob, In order "to carry the cleo
| tion," In 1888, Even as IL was, the mob
spirit broke out into violence aud blood
shed against the colored people on election
day. The colored voters stayed away from
the polls and refrained from voting at all
but nevertheless q gang Of young white
men went out about midday and hunted up
some colored men for the purpose Of shoot
ing them, in order, perhaps, to keep the
lesson of political terrorism fresh in the
minds OF the colored voters. This mob OF
young white men hunted up and found one
colored man in retired part of the
city,, where they assaulted him, aud
as he. ran away to escape fired
him into the shop Of another colored
man, a shoemaker, who was peaceably a
work, and there fired into the shop, wound
ing the colored shoemaker very badly IL
the arm and trying to kill him. Not a hai
OF the heads Of any OF the gang Of young
white men was injured or endangered dur
ing the whole affair. Subsequently th,
colored shoemaker and the other coloret
man were arrested and taken before th,
mayors court. The young white men who
made the assault were examined as wit
| nesses, and on their testimony the colore(
men were locked up In jail and the younl
white men who made the assault aud wert
made witnesses went scot free. These arC
cold facts.
the field that day this 'incident" would
have been turned into bloody massacre Of
many colored voters.
The pretext-for OF course they had tc
have some sort OF pretext-was that til,
latter were armed and had "made threats
against some OF the white mob gang. Tn,
facts were that short time previously tn
white men against whom the "threats'
were alleged to have been have mad
went, at the dead hour Of midnight, to tn
house Of very respectable colored maj
who had two very comely stepdaughters
quadroons, living In his house with thei
mother, his wife, and attempted to enter tn
house. The colored man came to the door
and the white men shot him down, serious
ly wounding him. A farcical inquiry wa
made about this brutal outrage before tn
petrated 1t were turned loose without
word OF censure. But what of the.ver
respectable colored man who was thus law
lessly shot down upon his owl
threshold while endeavoring to shielt
his family from the brutal assaults o
these night-prowling "nigger-shooters an,
to protect the virtue Of his stepdaughters
He fingered upon bed Of pain for severa
weeks until he recovered from his wounds
| n gOnn aa ha Ua ahla IN 0at put In H.
was "warned" by letter that II he did no
leave here he would be shot again and tn
next time he would be killed. Being thu
warned he forthwith fled for his life, aud 4
now a refugee away from his home, hi
family, and friends, seeking an abiding
place in New England town where he cal
at least live In peace and be unmolested By
the Dight-prowling leaders of the mol
gang here. These are cold facts, too.
After this "incident," II is alleged,
placard was found posted In very publ
place In this city, In which certain younj
white men, who were designated by nam
and charged with being engaged in thes
Outrages upon colored people, were chal
lenged to meet an equal number of yount
colored men at public place in the sui
urbs OF the city and slight II out.n TIL
''challenge" was not accepted, but th
placard was pressed into service, as aboy
stated, as prete1t for the lawless hunting
up and shooting Of colored voters on eleC
ton day.
But Danville has now passed uader
new regime, and let US hope that this mob
trodden city may never again be dlsgracet
by such "incidentsr as those which hav
been so common here during the last tw,
years since the mob-leaders have had con
troll OF the city government. II this hop
shall be happily realized, this present an
niversary OF American liberty will long b
remembered as having ushered brighter
better. and happier era for this beautiful
city. OBSERVER.
II n man can't be both good and rich, h
ought at least 10 be wise; let every man prepar
for the day of adversely by laying In stock {
DR., Bull s Cough Syrup sure cure for cough
and colds.