The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-22
AnEMonRAT1c CRINE

Recalled by JuuES JJhlHtoHs CohHA'hB
cfthc CoiorrtI vOisE
Charleston Mall Tribune: 1t is report.
ed that the friends of Judge Johnston
in Kanuwha and Fayctte counties are
buttonhoNpg colored people and repre-
serting that the Judge is really their
true friend, and will do much more for
their race than they can expect from
the Republicans. II may be well IN TINS
connection to remind the coiored voters
Of Johnston's past record regarding has
conduct towards the colored popuiatlon'
It Win be remembered that during thf
Con campaign In 1883, by which Genera!
Con was clearly and honestly electeu
governor OF the state, but was SUISSE
duertly counted out, Democrats assert,
ed that thousands'of colored voters haa
been Imported into the state on the eve
OF the election from Virginia, had cast
their vote for the Republican ticket an0
that General Gof received MS ma9oTity
by means Of this fraudulent vote Ihe
Republicans produced abundant eNi,
dence that all the colored men VINO ., mao
voted at the election were duallIleu
voters, and challenged the Democrats 70
produce evidence to the contrary. rms
they failed to do, but at once set about
to concoct q scheme by whlcn lheS
could at least create a doubt in the pup
lie mind as to the Legality OF Aibe
portion OF General Gof's vote.
Tbey found an overwhelming public
sentiment existing that the Republicans
mad been robbed OF their Just victory,
and they felt the necessity OF DONG
somesthIng to head off public cordemna-
tlon, To this end they sought out judge
Johnston who was then on the bench,
anu a schen was entered into by which
an army Of coiored voters could be in
dicted for Illegal voting. This scheme
was entered into, not for the purpose
Of bringing any great number OF these
men TO trial, as the subsequent pro-
ceedIngs showed, nor for the purpose OF
punlghing these negro voters for the al-
legged crime, but for the sole purpose OF
aIIayine the public sentiment against
their dastardly crime against the baHot-
box Grand turtles were therefore I'M
paneled, by the dictatlon Of Judge
Johnston, and he instructed them TO re-
turn Indictments against every negro
voter who had not been assessed Tor
taxes. The 1uries chosen for the pur-
nose did as they were instructed. ana
returned indictments against l'l5S inen'
according to the records OF the court
ali of whom. were colOred men except
four or five. 1t Is said Judge Johnston
remained ON the bench until midnight
OF the last day OF his term in order that
these Indictments might be completed
before his term expired.
These l. 1853 cases were al dismissed ex-
cept two, and they proved TO be white
Democrats, who testified under oath
that they voted the Democratic ticket.
II may be that these facts have never
before been made public, through the
press, yet they are familiar to all VINO
look an active interest in that memora-
bic campaign ten years ago.
Time files, and in Its flight eflaees
many memories. but this high-h handed
crime. perpe;rated by lawless politicians
and sanctioned and abetted by court
OF alleged justice will never pass from
memory, It is u stain upon the white
robes Of Justice that can never be ef-
faced. Now 1t appears that this same
Judge Is posing as the friend OF the-co!-
ored race, whose rights he attempted
to destroy for partisan purposes, ana
TINT he might conceal the sins OF his
party Johnston was the bell sheep In
this scheme, and every coiored voter
who has one spark OF self-esteem In
his soul will deposit his ballot against
such q man.