The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1909-12-17
Reconstruction In Monroe County
By e. r. Pickett, b. s. 1902.
tooutinuea from last issue. ,

md OF course had political power,
but in a different sphere. There
we're also the military companies of
each side, which were kept in train
ing for display and for show rather
than for actual service.
No clashes are known to have
occurred between the opposing
parties in this county, not even IN
the campaign Of 1875. The negroes
were exceedingly aggressive and en-
in keeping up their mill
tary display. At Athens the ne
groes were often seen having sham
battles. They could go through all
the motions Of charging on horse
back and on foot. They said they
were showing the white people what
they would do for them.
There was also the Loyal League,
an organization which was well scat
tered over the county. They had a
definite constitution, one of which
is known to be in existence in orig
inal form at this time. This Is
owned by Capt. r. Z. Houston.
Various citizens testify to this state
ment.
OF 1875 AND GENERAL
CAMPAIGN METHODS.
The republicans practically car
ried every election in the county,
both local and general, during the
period of reconstruction. This they
did by means of negro votes. The
white democrats were not inactive
during all this period. After the
war they were economically embar-
raised, the slaves were freed and
property destroyed. Still they
fought with moral heroism, the
high handed political schemes of
the republican leaders. During
these ten years taxes had become
enormously high and fraudulent
schemes were plentiful. (Above in
formation given by ID. A. Beeks, r..
f. Houston and +. o. Svkes.)
A people will stand oppression
for time, but when the pressure
gets too high things assume a rev.
aspect. These rotten
thongs of political corruption and
with which they were
binding the bounded political Lion
of Democracy were to burst with
over tension and the beast" was
in a few years to turn and rend and
drive them from that part of the
world. The policy of the north
was changing at this time and the
evils of reconstruction violence were
to be seen. The people wrote to
republicans asking them to help
them and were asked in return to
be quiet and peaceable and resort to
no violence. The people would
have gladly raised up in armed
force to resist oppression, but DEM
ocratic principles were to be carried
out on a less violent plan. Democ-
racy was to conquer at last. (G.
J. Leftwich is authority for this.
Things had grown intolerable
and the democrats had resolved to
carry the election by any and all
means. They began early in the
year 1875 to make plans to defeat
the republicans. In order to do
this committee of twenty-five
members from each district was
appointed to manage the election
cam paign. Information from G..
j. Leftwich.) This committee was
further subdivided into central
composed of five men,
DR.. John Moore, w. ID. Harper,
+. O. Sykes and S. A.
Jonas. The representatives were
faxed $1,000 IS. A. Jonas gave this
each in order to raise
/ campaign fund, and other citizens
gave by private subscription. E.
}. Sykes gave $500. This subcom-
nittee was to work secretly and to
select the vulnerable points at
which to attack the enemy. In
his move Monroe county was "a
/ leader. (E. o. Sykes and G.. j.
.eftwich.) She received little assis-
ance from the outside. but on the
,ther hand, old Monroe county
ounded the keynote for all her sis
ers." (S. A. Jonas.)
NoTE.-Mr. Garner in his History
# Reconstruction in Mississippi
as, note, tells us that Immediately
Ifter the Clinton riot the citizens of
aberdeen telegraphed to the Clinton
,eople offering TO send them . hun
lred well equipped men if necessary
o help them, if further assistance
vas desired.
Preliminary and preparatory to
he campaign, the democrats were
citing their speakers and organic
ng their military companies of 60
r 20 men and training them. A
lee club was organized by Messrs. |