The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1890-03-06
POLITICAL ASSASSINATION.
A Bloody Bourbon Attempt to Cover VI
Etection Enr0eriea.


A Bloody Bourbon Attempt to Cover Up
Election Forgeries.
Tho official report made by United
States Marshal Mizell as to the circum-
stances attending the recent death Of
Deputy Marshal Saunders neal Quincy,
Fla, shows conclusively enough that 1T
was the result Of a coolly and carefully
prepared scheme of murder. Tho mar
shal's report in brief states that he went
to Quincy, as previously arranged with
Saunders, to take a colored prisoner to
Pensacola who had been arrested for
violation Of the postal laws. Saunders
met Mizcll as agreed, and though he
had been cautioned to be careful, accept
ed an invitation to ride with one Will
lam NJ. McFarlin and Mitchell. lie was
not seen again alive, but n few hours
after Mitchell drove into Quincy with
Saunders dead body in his buggy, but
could not or would not make any state
ment as to the manner of his death.
The marshal could not remain to make
IN investigation as he had received
limitations from friends that the MUIR
derers were on his track also and it
would not be safe for him to remain
there. That Saunders was decoyed
away into some lonely spot and muir
dered there can be no doubt, and that
the crime was a political one is just as
clearA
1t ia but a few days ago that the at
torney nor the Northern district of Flor
ida repoStcd to the Acknowledgement
that gross frauds in the last election
had hnnn lia1npcrpI and that tho npi-
dence was strengthened by the confess
sion of n of the parties implicated.
1t proved that no less than II, 900 Re-
publican votes had been thrown out or
kept of the registration lists, a number
sufficient to have elected one and proba-
bly, both the Representatives to Con-
gress from that State. Tho report fur
Their charged that it was impossible for
the officers of the circuit court to en-
force any processes which had to do with
the election, as the deputies were
abused, the prisoners rescued and the
witnesses terrori2ed. This report was
made prior to the killing of Saunders.
1t is evident that the marshal and his
deputies were making another effort to
enforce these processes, for in addition
to the removal of the negro prisoner,
they had gone to Quincy to serve sub
penas on jurors and witnesses for the
uext term of court at Tallahassee, it be-
ing understood that the court would
make an effort to investigate and pun-
ish the frauds by which two Represents
tives were elected and Mr.. Cleveland
carried the State in 1855. The result
has been told. Saunders was dccoycd
into ambush and murdered and Mi2ell
had to leave Quincy in a surreptitious
manner TO save his own life. Thus the
Florida Democrats won another ''yic-
tory"
The question which is now presented
for consideration by the Administra.
tion is one of extraordinary Importance.
1t does not concern the protection oil
negro voters in their political rights,
nor does it primarily concern the in.
v~estigation of frauds at the polls. The
issue involved Is the authority of the
United States and the power of the
Government to enforce its own legal
processes. The alleged frauds should
he examined at all hazards. The cow.
ardly murderers of Saunders should be
arrested n punished. But above and
beyond all this, it is the duty of the Ad
ministration to stand by it's court ant
it's court officers and secure the enforce
ment of legal papers placed in theil
hands for service If it has to send 9
regiment down there to do it. The of
Tense OF the Florida Democrats is tanta
mount to treason. There is not ever
any issue Of State rights involved. i
is simply open, defiant obstruction t,
the authority of National law and the
terrorization of q National court by the
assassination Of it's officers. If the Law
has any power it is time to make it folt
If Florida can override a Federal cour
with impunity, what is to hinder Missis
sippi or any other cotton State, wher,
frauds are perpetrated at National cleo
tions, from doing the same? The GOV
eminent acknowledges itself powerles'
10 protect negroes in the rights it ha
given them, but if it is also powerles.
TO protect its own agents in al
emergency which is not a State concern
then indeed is it weak. Chicago Trib
me-.