Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-24
HE MISSISSIPPI PLAN.
CopPerhsads Compel General Chalmers to
Withdraw from the Campaign.

Copperheads Compel General Chalmers to
Withdraw from the Campaign.
A proceeding was witnessed at West
Point, Miss. on October S which
should excite the feeling of shame and
indignation in the bosom of every pa
triot in all this land. General James
R. Chalmers. whose father was United
States Senator from Mississippi, whose
brother was Chief Justice of the State,
who was himself distinguished SOL
der, and equally distinguished as
lawyer and politician, came here as
the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor. He had no appointment here.
but his friends desired him to speak.
and he consented to do so. As soon as
this became known the Democratic
town club called a meeting and occu-
pied the courthouse for that night.
General Chalmers, by the request of
his friends, remained, and it was an
nounced that he would speak at three
o'clock, upon which the sheriff of the
county declared that he should not
! speak in the courthouse. An effort
was then made to procure the opera
house, but this was under the
control of the circuit court clerk.
and he refused to rent it. Ap-
plicatiOn was then made to the mayor
for the use of a covered stand in the
street, where speaking is frequently
conducted, and this was also refused
Efforts were then made to procure
two vacant groves in the town, and
the use of these was refused. A va
cant lot exposed to the broiling sun
was finally procured; but this was too
uncomfortable to secure an audience,
and as it was near Q residence and the
family did Tot desire speaking there
the effort to speak was abandoned.
1t is due to some of the better class
of citizens of West Point to say that
/ am informed that majority of the
Democratic committee was opposed
to the action of the sheriff, and urged
him to give the use of the court
house to the Republicans.
This neighborhood has in the past
few years received quite a number of
highly respectable settlers from the
North, who have been urging others
to come; but they are Republicans
and have been accustomed to free
speech and free thought in all matters,
and they were appalled, at such an ex-
hibition of Democratic chivalry.
Such proceeding may well cause
/ ina op1 foir
to halt, stand still in thought and ask
| himself whether we live under free
constitutional government or under
an institution of the dark ages. The
General bore it all good naturedly. He
said that in old times Democrats al
ways demanded a division of time with
opposition speakers, and that in their
proceeding the Democrats of West
Point reminded him of a terrapin,
which at the appearance of an ad-
versary swallows its head, draws in
its tail and hides itself in its shell, and
that he should hereafter call them
''Terrapin Democrats. :" - James d.
Lynch, in Chicago Inter Ocean.
Captain A. L. Wimberly, collector
of internal revenue at New Orleans,
subsequently received a letter from
General James r. Chalmers. 1t con-
firmed his reported withdrawal from
the contest. together with Judge
Frazee, who was Republican candidate
for Attorney-GeneraL The letter is as
follows:
SARDIS, Miss, Oct. O, 1SS9.-Dsdr Utmbsrly:
AT West Point the door of the courthouse
was locked against US and we could not have
any hall in the town, and, as I am too feeble
to speak in The open air, did not speak. At
the same place 1 received a strong appeal
from the leading negroes at Columbus and
also from some Democratic personal friends
advising me not to make any appointment
there. went to Okalona, and the use of the
courthouse was again refused, but Burkett
rented me his hall. But the night before
was to speak the military company went
parading and yelling over the streets and the
next morning early Captain Tom Burchard
told greenbacker and now Democracy and
Judge Frazee came and urged me not to
speak o. the killing of negroes would COM
mence and they would charge il to me. DR..
Judah and Captain Burkett begged me not to
speak. asked them TO put the statements in
writing, which they did, and then announced
that If my Republican friends did not wish
me to speak l would resign my nomination
and go home. did so, and Frazee did also.
Yours truly, JAMES R. CHALMERS.