San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-24
NOT SO IGNORANT.

u6nIbOl IulS JOuIual OOhOOih t-AA
political and racial in Fort Bend and
Wharton counties. The LIGHT knew
whereof it affirmed in that article.
Knew it by hearing it directly from
the lips of citizens of Fort Bend coun-
ty, whose names are Withheld at their
own request, for fear of the conse-
quences that might follow general
knowledge of their denunciation OF
the political outrages in that county.
All that the LIGHT has affirmed and
the Chronicle denied concerning mat
tiers In that county, is capable of veri-
fication under oath, and the records
ofGalveston county today contain the
sworn statements of citizens OF Fort
Bend county setting forth the same
facts and existing conditions as the
LIGHT is charged with classifying for
having made. The Chronicle is as
much mis- taken in its conceptions of
the LIGHTS opportunities for know
ledge as in its statement of facts, and
it's general denial OF the charges made
is insufficient as against sworn state
ments and the finding of federal COM
missions of enquiry. The statement
that Charles Ferguson of Fort Bend
county had never been oppressed in
any way on account of being colored
republican, as says the Chronicle,
is absolutely false, If the facts and
the sworn statements of eyewitnesses
thereto are credited. He was driven
from his office by threats of assassin
alton and given but few hours to
leave the country he was not per-
mitted to arrange his business nor
his office papers which were seized
by his political enemies to make what
use they could of their manipulation
of them; he was not safe in Fort Bend
county and fled the state, and his
sworn statement is on file with the
affidavlts of others setting forth these
facts. The Chronicle says H. c. Fer
guson is better man and more in
fiuential republican, and he remains
unmolested. Why did H. G. Fergu-
son and other good republicans of
Fort Bend county interpose two years
since to prevent county republican
convention being held, informing the
colored repu blican voters of the cOun-
ty that it was the only way to pre-
vent wholesale massacre of colOred
republicans? Why, if coloref repub-
licans are unmolested in that coun-
try? Why were the colored men on
the plantations told to keep at work
and III no case to come into town even
if the republican leaders were shot
down in the streets? Why, if there
was no danger to colered republicans
in that county? Why was there a
general search made for arms among
the colored people but for the purpose
of finding excuse for murder: And,
ifH. C. Ferguson is so respected why
| is he offering his farms, one alone OF
which is worth S25 900, for so cents
on the dollar, rating values at what
he was offered before the word was
passed to suppress the cOlOred vote
in the black belt? That Chas Fer
guson was warned away from Rich
mond on account of the assassination
of Frost, is VIGOROUSLY untrue, and so
lightly was this charge considered by
the Galveston court that his bail on
that count was nominal.
The republican party in Fort Bend
county would be in the ascendant
were it not for the intimidation
practiced, and the determination
to keep the vote of that county from
being counted for republican candi-
date, county or congressional, is at
the bottom Of the whole matter. The
LIGHT makes no statements for poll
teal effect. It has ever believed that
the division of the cOlOred vote be-
: tween the two great parties would
, be The best thing possible for the re-
publican party south, and for the
cOIored voter as well. The LIGHT is
we'll aware that Texas is freer, tai
freer, from intimidation and politi
f cal subversiOn than any other south
a ern state; and also, that outside of 6
: very few counties i'll the black belt
4 Texas is clean from the crime of prac