The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-09
THE JACKSON ELEC7I0N-ITS SO
MICA NOE


Ihc popular uphenyal IN jackson Of course re
suliei in the election Of Gen. W. A. Henry for
Mayor. But, only the white vote being pocd, his
opponents vote was surprisingly large. This was
In part the result Of the exceptionally popularity
OF ex-Mnyor McGill But from its incidents We
Judge Il 70 have been chiefly the expression 81 the
iends aud factions which have afflicted Jackson In
the past year and which though latent still pos
scsscd power 10 stem the force Of tho bloody trag
edy OF Christmas Eve turned m Il was full against
Mayor McGill There Is food for thought In this
conspicuous election Of small municipality. II ~
perhaps the most rlaring and signal Illustration
ye, contributed TO the record Of the utter helpless
ness OF the negro when the color line Il drawn
and Of the suppression Of his vote We will sketch
the situation and lis development Mayor McGiil
n Republican. met the gathered storm aroused by
young Mitcholl's trngio murder. by this singular
proposition that tho negro would be shut out
from the pending election and ony white men per.
miiied To vote. This proro ition wns made " allay
a very evident Determination 10 elect Henry by
ANY means Appalled, by what they saw. the ne
grocs issued proclamation that they would In
body stay away from the polls. The following re-
oution was then adopted;
Resolved. That having received tho assurance
thai hereafter no negnO aldermen or negrp policemen
viii be n part Of the city government nnd that In
the election 10 be held on Monday next none but
Nhllo men VIII vote, tllo nnNfOcH nave voluntarily
agped Ia stay away from the polls therefore. bo Il
Resolved, The Democracy OF the city Of jackson
pledges that N for rs II can govern the election
shall DO inirly aud peacably conducted.
Under this dictum. indoned by all white men oi
both parties and all fuets. the election was held
II beam IL own comment No single event Inns ~ lru.
ly laid bnre the southern situation, ha NJ effect
ually drnggcd the negro question from "ihe silence
OF the covered iurrow. '-Groaprflk Mat Tima.
Somebody has blundercd. Somebody
in Jackson is responsible for n very bad
hlunder, for very bad business that has
already been caught up by the Republican
politicians and made the justiiying basis
OF a bloody-shirt campaign. Thus dad
begins, but worse remains behind" Poll.
tics are among the most practical Of the
ailairs OF life. When they are
regarded or treated Of from any
other standpoint, failure and disaster are
sure TO follow. Mr.. Cleveland was elected
President in 1884 by little over | 200
votes. In bloody shirt campaign sus-
tanned by such literature as we copy above
from The Grocnrile TINES, that very small
margin would not last long, especially II
the monopolists, rs they most likely will
pour out their money 10 defeat tho fair
trade Democratic party. II Is upon just
such comparatively obscure events
that large ones hinge and by which
parties are prevented from reaping the
legitimate fruits Of their labors and
their principles. An extremity In
emergency 30 grossly offensive and ~.
pugnant to the Constitution Of the United
States and Of the State should never have
been confessed. No body Of men yaluing
their own liberties should permit them
solves to go upon the record as responsible
for the subvcrsion Of the liberty Of others.
Like two-cdged sword, such an outrage
cuts both ways. The fact Of the murder
Of young Mitchell does not excuse or pal.
late IT, That WIS a crime, however dc.
plorable. To DO punished Ms other crimes
are, according to the laws Of the State, but
not by tho Acknowledgement Of hundreds
Of citizens. Good management AMI proper
direction by cool heads might easily have
obyiated this bundor. and elccting Gen.
Henry have saved the National Demo.
cratic party from the unnecessary burden
II puts upon Il. Just at this time Il Ia
very unfortunate. Every member Of Con.
gross from Mississippi and each Of the Sen.
ators will feel the effects Of Il, and every
Northern Democrat will cover under IL.
Great AZ Is the reputation he has made,
and strong M he Is before the people, Mr.
Cleveland viii feel Il, aud Il may DO that
Mississippi ilsolf. on account Of Il, will be
made the subject Of an angcr.producing
Congressional investigation that may cost
the National Democratic party success In
November.
L