Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-02-08
Political Crimes


tublicans in the Southwest. and the at
tempted assassination 90 Friday last of
Hon. Frank W Pope. who was the Re
lblic candidate for governor Of Flor
ia in 1884, has causcd feeling Of just
iplcnation aud horror throughout the
slln,ry. The crimes are regarded b.
i.tny thoughtful men as a natural result
~ the Democratic policy in several OF
the Southern States towards Re
pnblieans. ID has been as
serted over and over again that it is the
policy Of the leaders Of the Democratic
parry in several of those States. to osira-
cise. maIreat, detraul, and murler If
necessary. r. publicans 10 carry out their
political designs, and the assassination
Of Col Clayton, and the attempt to kill
Mr. Pope. substantiate these sta'ements.
And when an attempt is made by men
ike Senator Chandler, by detailing the
cold horrible facts for the purpose Of put
ting a check, il possible, to such ouirages
pcrpetrated for political opinions alone.
every Democratic newspaper in the
South, great and small, backed by So
called statesmen. cry out "bloody shirt"
and "South hater," thereby attempting
to create the impression in other sections
that such statements are false, aud al
the same time encouraging the policy
which has made the mississippi PLAN
disgrace to our civilization. 1t is also
the policy of the newspapers in many Of
those States to assal with all the yiRlic-
ti'encss possible all Republicans as
negro lovers, in favor Of social negro
equality, and by the most devilish argu-
lnents strive, by arousing bitter preju-
dices, to draw the color line The result
is that the ignorant and lawless are con-
vinced that the men who have the cnur-
age and manhood to advocate Republi-
can principles and vo.e with that party
are God forsaken creatures untitled to
live on earth, and such crimes as the
killing CT Col Clayton naturally fol-
low Many OF the Southern papers are
loud in their denunciation of the assassi-
nation Of Gel, Clayton and are declaring
that he was killed because he was pos
sessed Of evidence that would have sent
some man to the penn entiary, or that it
was he act Of some frenzied partiaan TIE
killing of Print Matthew'S, Judge CHS
holm, and every ether political assassna-
ton among the thousands which have |
diseraced the South. were the acts of |
frenzied partizsns. So was every cleo
tisn crime which attended or preceded
those bloody deeds. In this case, the
@@saee'hhe'Dh !" 40 tuc uitCt ecuucHcc "a I
the stealing Of ballot box when about
500 Republican majority was destroyed !
IAataass " its turn, was the natural |
sequence OF the long course Of crime by !
which the Democratic party has sup
pressed the will Of the people of the
South. Gradually public sentiment has
been so degraded that the men who see
q chance for such crimes do not hesitate
to perpetrate them. The box would not
have been stolen, Col. Clayton would
not have been shot, had there been no
party willing and ready to shield the
perpetrators Of crime in its behalf. That
the policy Of the Southern States towards
Republicans is unnecessary. cruel, and
brutal, goes without saying, Their JUS
titication is. that it is done for the pur-
pose Of preventing negro domination
But more liberal and just policy to
that race and u greater willingness to
accord them all political and legal rights
would be more in accord with the spirit
Of christian civilization, aud would even
tually rebound 80 the best interests of
both races, and the whole South. We
have proof Of this by the oolored peo-
pie of this State, more law-abiding
people as a whole does not exist, and they
arc humble, patient, and industrious -
A just aud honest accord of all political
rights by the Southern people would
cause them to divide politically on the
issues of the day aud better state of
affairs Sould exist on account of the d.
vision, A remedy, by which crimes
against the elective franchise which so
frequently leads to political murders
must be found immunity from punish
ment for crime committed in one section
Of the country certainly leads to the COM
initial Of like crimes in other sections. -
We have had in Maryland, as direct
result of such awlessness. in the South
crimes perpetrated by which many men
were deprived If their political rights
Threats of violence by ruffians, or frauis
perpetfsted by registration or election
officers are, unfortunately, growing each
year in this State, more frequent
The rights of American CT izeGs.
let their position. color, or
nationality. oe whnt it may,
must be protected. Every true Ameri-
can must eventually take the side of
right, and denounce and vote against
election frauds and their rssoaIiy origi