Asheville daily citizen., 1894-10-25
WHEN HORSES WE'RE SAFE.

Let our people remember that Nirg,lius
Lusk, the Pcarson-Rcpubli-
can candidate for the Legislature in this
is the same youth who SWore
before a radical committee at Washing |
ton, while Solicitor of this district, "the
only way to make them North Carolina
people loyal was to haug about hve
hundred of them
Let ussce who made him Solicitor
We can best show this by relating an
incident which occurred Just about the
time Virgilius was doing his swearing
against his neighbors. Sharpers and
designing men of a worse stripe were
energetic in organizing the Union
League" in his county, and not only ap-
pealng to men to Join, but threatening
them that uuless they did join the in
famous and disloyal organization the
lederal authorities would contiscate
all their property, if not arrest and
imp.ison them. Rv this means some
good men were induced to Join it,
but it was largely composed OF a
yery sorry, if no worse, lot. A
"leasuc" was organized on Big Ivy.
Among others urged to join was our
late IL lend Big Jim Whittemore. Alter
much persuasion and threats OF !oSs OF
property he consented to in, and was
told to attend at certain church a
short distance from his home on GER
tain night. He did so. When rear the
church he was met by three men In
dss usc. After certain Inquiries as to
his purpose and desire, they escorted
him to the church door. He said he saw
the woods were full of horses He
was blirdtolded, led into the church,
told to get down on his all tours, and
was led around the roo III tw ce, the
crowd croanirg the meanwhile, and was
, finally brought up in front OF the pre-
sidn. genius of the fraud. Upon stand
ing I'D, he was addressed by the said
genius-a carpet. .bagger I, ON the Lord
} only knows whcre-and after answering
4: certain quC stivnS satisfactorily, a blood
+ curdling oath was administered to him
K after which the handkerchief was re
y moved from his eyes and he was con
Quoted to seat, amid the clapping ant
y grasp,ng of hands of TIE dark.lanterl
!. crew. After being seated a few moments
I the presiding scoundrcl jumped up ant
n inquired with evident earnestness:
"Brethreu, have we a guard out to
r night ~
g NO" was the reply, why shoul'
;. there BIZ ~
Il because ii We have no guard out III
Internal rebels will either kill or stea
our horses, or cut up and destroy GU
saddles
e Here was Big Jim's" opportunity G
Ii a life time. ami he was equal to the ol
casion. He had carefully, it not fearful,
scanned the crowd he had been invelgle
-, to join, and had "spottec his men :
y Lusk's mer-every one OF them. Th
:, following then occurred:
i, Big Jim''-Mr. Cheerman, can ask
II question:
tt MIR, Cheerman my brother
u y you are one OF us now, entitled to a
A. luC UINNSSSs VI tHis \ Sioi ious 'itSi'
" Big lim'-"Mr. Cheerman, | want t
% ask are oil the members-evcry one {
~ thcm-ot this glorious order in til
u, hoase:"
'e MIR. Chcerman Yes, my bro:hc
- am happy to say, every member
=, present tonight.
Big Iiln''-"Wcll. sir, what wish
OF say is, if every member OF this Cnio
o. League is i'll this house, III be d-d
II your horses aint SAFE
- Big lin was forthwith not wanted ar
'e longer.
ne And this is the crowd that made Luz
it. solicitor.
~ 1t was while such solicitor he swo
> in Washington "the only way to ma
W them North Carolina fellows loyal is
d, hang about five hundred of them,
terring to his respectable neighbors W.
would either not join, or ii inveiged
did as Bg Jim Whittemorc did, got o
mighty quick.
., Aud Pearson endorses Lusk-Lnsk
Ia his candidate. Pearson therefore I
~ dorses the infamous league, and t
rt equally infamous sentiment Lusk swC
p" to that the respectable people OF Il
~ section ought to be hung before tn
~ would become loyal"