The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-08
fight for her flaming stars, and if fall
she must, claim them as their winding
W. A. MONTGMOERY,
of E5won1o Misr


sheets.
WA. MONTGMOERY,
of Edwards, Miss.
Mr.. W. A. Montgomery, the author of
the above letter, was formerly DEM
ocratic mem Der Of Congress from Louis
lana, and the editor of the paper in
VIII ich his letter is published is one of
the assistant secretaries of the Mississippi
pi Senate, SO it is evident that the let
ter could not have been written for par
tisan purposes. This is made still more
evident by the following letter
written by Mr.. Montgomery to citizen
OF jackson, Miss, concerning the printed
letter. 1t will be seen that according
to his own Statement he was one OF, the
Democrats who was active in expelling
the carpet bag government, SO that his
protest against the treatment of the
negroes, could not have been inspired
by any desire to give them political
equality, or to organize them against
the whites
:, Edwards, Miss, June 25th, 1894.
non. ii. kernaghan, Jackson, Miss.
Dear Sir of the 10Th asking
L
Gazette IN regard to the state of affairs
around Monroe, La, received, and in
reply herewith enclose you a part of
Gazette with the article mentioned. l
nave neither seen or heard of comment
on 1t from any Louisiana sources. 1t
was my hope that her home people might
be posted in regard to the enormity of the
offense against human liberty, and in
augurate measures for deliverance; but it
seems that the press of Louisiana has no
independence its manhood has been sur
rendered to the desire for gain, 1t bends
the pregnant hinges of the knee that
thrift may follow fawning, and there is
no hope for note of warning, or advise
for better things through it: therefore
consent to give you the article, with per-
mission and 10 the hope, you will spread
it about cher borders, through all the
sources available to you; her people shall
know what her neighbors think of such
high handed outrages upon Justice and
liberty, perpetrated in the heart of her
civilization. This is no political ques-
ton effecting the organization of parties
as they now stand, it is question of
right and wrong, that should commend
Itself to every true man who would do
what be ought to do. Louisiana's own
people must be aroused from their in
difference. and her true manhood will
crush the monster, though it take tn.
the altar of liberty. You know that
led the forefront of revolt against the
expressions perpetrated in the name of
liberty by the carpetbag government in
the outh; but as earnestly as I waged
war upon that dynasty, for the freedom
of my own race from the shackles OF
negro supremacy, and ignorant, vicious
rule, if 1 know myself I would with as
much zeal defend this, docile, tractable,
but ignorant people, from expressions
that come from my own people Living
as I do in as thickly settled negro popu-
lation as is around Monroe, Louisiana,
| would point her people to our methods
of treating them fairly. by. according
them all tbs privileges we ask for our
selves under the law dealing with them
as with other American citizens, and in
short doing right and would then ask
our Louisiana neighbors to draw their
own comparison, and candOr will force
them to accord to us as much wealth, as
much security, as much caste, and far
more peace of mind and conscience than
belongs to them. unless their consciences
have been secured by long practices OF
wrong. There are leading men around
Monroe, Louisiana, responsible for the
state of affairs here in regard to this inn
position On the poor deluded laboror, one
especially who is an attorney and large
planter, who had aspirations to the
United States Senate, seemed to be the
chief adviser of the lawlessness, too..san-
timonious to directly assist in the she'd
ding of blood to keep his and other
labor straight, but standing ready to
protect the man or set of men who would
stoop even to murder in the perpetration
of their unlawful purposes. You are
at liberty to use this letter as you wish,
as / am willing to be held responsible
Tor every word of it.
Yours very truly.
WA. MONTG OMERY.