New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-08
HIS POLITICS TESTED IN BLOOD.
DELEGATE WHOSE FATHER AND BROTHER
WERE KILLED FOR BLING REPUBLICANS

WERE KILLED FOX BlINb KtfO
Minneapolis, June tspeclap-One Of the hand
soonest delegates is s. 3. Matthews OF Mississippi
lie Is sx-foosr finely proportioned. has curly black
hzlr reaching TO his shoulders and wears white sieuch
hat IN the language OF his colleagues, lie Is a
prince in manner and one OF the most popular
Republicans In Mississippi. His Repubicanisn has
boon tested la such q remarkable manner us to leave
no doubt Of its genulneness. 1t was not many
months ago that his father, who insisted on going to
tho polls and voting the straight Republican ticket,
was warned by the Democrats not to do so on pain Of
instant death. Seven VI these desperadocs drew
lots to see which should be executloner In case tho
elder Matthews persisted In his purpose.
The man who was thus chosen warned Mr. Matthews
not to vote. lie paid no attention 70 the words and
started toward the polls. Republican ticket In his
hand The desperate ut seized double harrelled
shotgun and emptied both loads into Mr.. Matthew's
body. Instead OF bringing ahc man TO justice, the
Democrats elected him Mayor OF the town.
Shortly after this one Of the dead mans sons was
warned In tho same manner, but he paid no attention
10 the threat and also murdered in cold blood.
1T Is only question OF tmo when they get me too
said Mr.. Matthews to-day, but they can mako up
their minds that will stick It out TO the end and
keep on voting the Republican ticket. l. too have
been warned. What little ] have is there in
Mississippi and don't propose to be frightened away
or to go somewhere TO starve. have one
these desperadocs have sent him word tbat II le ever
returned TO Mississippi they will Kill him. Down
there a Republican Is hated like poison, and they
call them mttlesnakes. man without nerve does
not dnre to assert that he Is aught bat Democrat
These murdercrs never brought 10 Justice. They
ure not Indicted, and no inquest Is ever hold
over tho body of u murdered Republican. Lawless-
ness relgns supreme. We paid lawyer 81 600 TO
prosecute the murderer OF my brother, but the Dis
hct Attorney declared that II his business and
IN consequence nothing was done.
"No | don't fear those mnderers. but expect
that ! shall 10 By the same road my father and
brother. These make no secret Of their crimes.
They arc not frowned upon By the people. More
often than not they are appauded. TN tho street
they greet with apparent cordially. and as
polite as Ii they at a wedding or ball. But Just
as soon rs they think Is necessary to do away with
few Republican votes, they cut with their guns
and XIII In broad daylight. The people OF the North
have no idea OF the situation. When my father and
brother were murdered, The Chicago Tribune sent
a rcrortcr there to investigate the most deplorable
state OF ahairs. When the Democratic desperadoes
learned his mission they promptly seized him and put
Tim in Jail. 1t arranged that he be killed, but
we MANAGED to spirit him away In the train, and
fnus his life was saved
Naturally there few Republican voters In Mis-
s sippl But there enough to elect delegates to
,hc National Convention and votes count there. Our
delegation f. almost solid for Harrison In fact, may
say that there Is not Blaine delegate In the lot