The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1909-12-17

they would not be hired for another
year. DR.. Riley. then young ply
stefan, told them ne could not give
them any more medicine unless
they voted with the democrats.
This was said in a public meeting.
An old fellow near by said in loud
voice: Doctor. don't give them
any medicine at all. unless it is a
big dose of strychntne. Another
method Of exciting fear in the
minds of the negroes was by means
of torch-liRht professions. These
professions were very common in
Monroe county. The people would
congregate at an appointed place.
build a big bonfire of whatever ma
terial was at hand. and if in Aber-
deem, where most were. they had
lard barrels and boxes and plumber.
Around this fire they would raise a
shout and yell. and do anything
for a noise, and have speeches.
Sometimes the speeches were deliv-
cred to the negroes while the party
was marching about and doing
everything to create fear in the
negroes.
The people from the east side Of
the river would get into array and
come over to Aberdeen. One big
procession may be noted at this
time. 1t formed at the public
bridge and the file was long enough
to reach to the /. c. depot. 1t then
turned to the right at the place
where F. ID. Carter's store is now,
went several blocks. turned west,
went as far az silk Stocking"
street. turned south and went down
that street. left that street and fin
ally met at Carter's store again.
All of this was a public demOnstra-
ton to the negro to show the
strength of the white man in num-
bers.
On Sept. 4. 1875. an article ap-
peared in the Aberdeen Examiner.
which was the mouth piece of the
campaign and of all political con-
troversies. This noticle was meant
to give emphasis to a statement Civ
en- by Col. Reynolds in a speech at
Buena Vista short time before.
The statement is as follows: who
ever eats the white mans bread
must vote with the white man or
refrain from voting at all" For
this statement he was applauded
immensely. The Aberdeen Exam
liner says that this utterance was
the keynote of the campaign. The
following night, Sept. B, Judge
Houston spoke at the county court
house declaring that the whites were
justified i'm demanding the coopera-
ton of the colored voters in their
efforts to free themselves from
rule that was oppressive and odiOus
to every man who had an interest
in the welfare of the state. and that
it the negro would not assist them
i'm redeeming the State from this
terrible incubus. he took the posi-
ton of covert, il not an avOwed
enemy, and was entitled to no con-
sideration at their hands,
Note-Garner's History of Recon-
struction of Mississippi. 1893.
The main issues of the campaign
were white Mans Rule" and
Enormous Taxes The people
were tired of being ruled by ne
groes and of submitting to an ex-
orbitant rase of taxes. The demo
Gratis had a full ticket of both
county and state officers. the NOM
nations for each party being as
follows:
DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS
r C Reynolds Senator H Little
w w Troup
Gus sykes Legislators Bnck Hodges
j NJ Trice
j w Howard Sheriff JwLee
ii Billings Chancery Clerk RIB Little |
apSraxx Wood Cir Clerk (,eo peuniu~fou
r A Honey Treasurer J H Anderson
Buriine Assessor
d. A. Beeks and +. d. Sykes |
are authority for the above statis-
tics. r. f. Houston also.
The plans having been perfected,
the time for the Grand Rounds
came. The first place on the pro-
gram was Cotton Gin Port. now an
extinct town, but then consisting
of few stores and a school house.
The republicans and democrats had
assembled early i'm the day when
the democrats appeared on the
scene. In order not to excits Gus
picion the Democrats split up into
two parties, and each took different
routes on leaving Aberdeen. but
arrived in sight of the school house
simultaneously. E. o. Sykes and
A. II. Whitfield. now Chief JUS
tic. If MississinDi- crossed the river