New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-06
A MURDER REHIHAL.

When the tissue ballot was introduced into
the South some years ago along with other
methods of election frauds, there is every rea-
son to believe that Southern gentlemen gen.
erally felt much relieved. Dragging negroes
from their cabins in the dead OF night, and
lashing them on the bare back until the blood
flowed, and shooting Republicans of any color
who had the audacity to exercise their priVi-
leges as citizens may have been amusing cpl
sodes for time TO young and frivolous mem
bers of the chivalry but even this sport ex-
citing as it was, must have palled upon them
after time, and it could never have been en-
tirely congenial to the more refined and be1er
educated class of whites. Tissue ballots, stuff
ing the boxes, false counting and other devices
were undoubtedly welcomed by the mass Of
Southern Democrats as happy innovation
This work was light clean and gentlemanly,
and there must have been a certain degree oil
mental exhilaration about it. 1t was in this
way that bulldozing went out Of fashion. 1t
was much more agreeable for the Southern
gentleman to pass his nights snug in bed than
to be riding around in the darkness, catching
malaria, and otherwise impairing his aristo-
cratic constitution while engaged in hunting
Republicans. The work of fraud occupied but
few DAYS in the year, and not only allowed
the Southern gentleman to keep regular hours
and set an excellent example to the community
as a citizen who went to bed early and stayed
there, and seldom horsewhipped or shot any
body, but it gave him an abundance OF leisure
to devise measures to encourage the coy lmmi-
grant and induce Northern capital to seek In
yestrnent in so virtuous community.
But various occurrences in Arkansas, Texas
and elsewhere indicate revival OF the system
of murder which had apparently gone OUT
The assassination of John NJ. Clayton was one
of the most cold-blooded and infamous politi-
cal murders that has ever been committed in
the South. All the attendant circumstances
show this, and make 1t clear also that the party
to which the murderer belonged sustains and
approves his action. The statement Of his two
surviving brothers shows that not the slightest
effort was made by any citizen OF Official oil the
town TO trace the murderer, that the Sheriff
refused 10 look into the matter because, In the
language of his deputy, he was engaged IN the
more important business Of collecting taxes
and that no reward has been offered by State
or county authorities, and no person has been
arrested. For nearly twenty-four hours Clay
toms body lay weltering in his blood, uncared
for and UNDECIDED The community in which
such occurrences could take place is, in plain
English, not civilized but barbarous. BY a
coincidence the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections, in its report upon the outrsges
in Texas. made upon the same day with the
issuance of the statement of ex-senator clay
ton and his brother, describes number OF
similar murders The testimony Of one wit
ness before this committee cost him his lie
ON his return to his home. Many other cir
cumstances might be cited. The recent uou-
bles in Mississippi were attacks by whites upon
blacks, so unjustifable and outrageous that
even leading Southern newspapers felt bound
to denounce them.
The Arkansas revival is Of especial inter-
est, because the so-called Independent news
papers which never refer to this phase Oh our
politics except with sheer at the expense OF
the victims and not of the murderers, were
pointing to that State few months ago rs
sample of the regeneration in party methods
that would surely follow If Southern gentle
men were only allowed TO go on cheating and
bulldozing long enough, undisturbed by out
side influences, and without being irrtated
by impairment comments in Northern news
papers. There were actually found Democrats
who objected to fraud when it affected them,
and this development of a healthy public senti-
ment threw the entire Independent press into
a state Of rapture. The murder OF Colonel
Clayton would seem to show that Southern Re-
pubIicans who are led by such demonstrations
to suppose that they also may safely assert their
rights make mistake that may cost them
their lives. But this is view which the so
called Independent press will probably prefer
TO ignore.