The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-27
AN INCIDENT IN SOUTHERN POLITICS.
How Arkansas Democrats Caused
an Exodus Of Negroes.
The Story as Told by the Clerk OF
Crittenden County.
Negroes in ST. Louis Fall to Garry Out
the Programme.

MARION, Ark. Julyh 26.-The Democrats
Of Crittenden county have made the record.
Their action in wiping out negro domina-
tion," as it is called down there, deserves the
first place among the like acts which have
taken place this side of Mason and Dixon's
line since 1876. Crittenden County has
history full Of bloody deeds.
sit would take mighty big book to tell of
all the killings we've had, sir" said one of
the citizens today. But this Punishment did
not have the inspiration of any bloodshed,
and stranger still, it was carried out without
the taking Of a single life, althouth there
have been times during the last two weeks
when every breeze was expected to bring the
crack of the Winchester and when hundreds
of negroes thought they had seen sunshine
for the last time. But, perhaps, it is too ear
ly for congratulations. The Circuit Court is
presided over by Judge Riddick, white
man and Democrat. One afternoon Judge
Riddick received a request for the use Of the
room Immediately upon adjournment, and
not having the slightest idea, he says, of the
purposes for which the place was wanted, he
granted the request and adjourned the court.
The colorcd clerk was asked TO step down
stairs and write up his docket away from
the court room, as the meeting was to be
with closed doors. The white men met.
There was some talking and considerable ap-
plause. The next morning there were 150
white men in the county seat. They come
from all parts of the county, and every man
carried his Winchester rifle or his revolver.
Before twenty-four hours passed the county
had been relieved Of thirty OF the leading
negroes, including two clergymen, the coun-
ty clerk, deputy sheriff, assessor and the
editor of Marion paper.
County Clerk Ferguson had bought prop
erty in Marion, but it was in his wife's name.
She is still here. His account of his depar-
ture, as he told it after getting out Of the
county, Is as follows:
81 was at work in the court house on
Thursday morning, when in stepped eighty
white men armed with Winchesters. They
said: Ferguson, this county is too small
for you and u.s. Which of us will remain?
You'll have to leave. If you don't, we hope
you'll, go to heaven. l replied: Gentle
men, am the clerk of this county. I'm un-
der bonds and must protect my bonds
men, who are all white men. While the men
were In the office my. bondsmen held con-
sultation. They said: Dave, what are you
going to do? We are your friends, and will
stand by you | replied: Gentlemen. l
will not leave. The court is in session. The
grand and petit jurors are 1mpanelled and
everything is in readiness to hold the July
term Of court. Who is going to be response
BILE? Who Is my successor
II returned to my Office, and with seventy
five Winchesters flashing in my face, l was
ordered to copy and sign a resigna-
tion, which they had already written-a very
unpleasant task, and not the safest place in
the world to perform the duty. After l
signed the resignation was escorted to the
train by don't know how many white men,
who told me to git, and got"
Manipulated by the 6ourbons.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 26-The few colored
xbo to- - osk. 90
organize Cleveland movement among the
colored race, make an utter fzzle. The con-
vention is made up of few colored men, who
have been manipulated by the Bourbons.
The more candid negroes make no attempt
to conceal the fact that the movement is of
Democratic origin, and that the majority of
the men who have been brought out con.
spicuously as recruits from the Republican
party have yielded to mercenary temptations
solely. Among the prominent colored men
who are here is Charles III. j. Taylor Of Kan
sas City, whom President Cleveland nomi-
mated for minister to Liberia. He comes to
the convention holding proxies for delegates
from 43 colored Democratic clubs in Kansas,
all of which have been organized under his
directions, but he says that he will not use
them unless the convention is more positive
in its declarations than he expects.
II am Democrat" he said Wednesday
afternoon, "and came here, want it plain
lylunderstood, for the purpose Of preventing
dent movement. The colored man knows
nothing about independence in politics. He
must be either Republican or Democrat.
| want them to say that they are Democrats.
If they don't shall have nothing to do with
the movement
as it true that $25, 900 has been used in
working up this movement"
THAT'S all bosh. Twenty-Five thousand
dollars for 80 negroesl Why, the votes of
5000 of them could be bought for that sum-"
Today Elder j. R. McDaniels was asked to
open the meeting with prayer. He suggest
ed that the delegates first sing hymn. OBJ
lection being made, he said: IF you wont
sing, l wont pray, and left the hail. Rev.
Mr.. Mitchell, of Michigan, then prayed
giving his reasons why negro should be-
come a Democrat