Year: 1879




cratic party, being somewhat too
unanimous, divided, and certain prom
inent Democrats headed an Independ-
ent ticket. Thereupon the Yazoo
Bourbons, as the Vicksburg Herald
calls them, bulldozed these Independ-
ents, and finally coerced their leader
into abandoning the movement. There
is to be an election this fall in Missis-
sippi, and this Yazoo mob formally
opened the campaign, as in the North
and IN most of the other Southern
States, it is formally opened, with a
speech.


One wonders what these Mississippi
BOurbons are made of? What sort
of savages are they? And what sort
OF man is Governor Stone, who seems
to sit still in Jackson while stupid
and brutal mob breaks the laws of the
State and defes his authority? The
people of Mississippi complain that
they are poor, but do they imagine
that in this nineteenth century a law
defying community is anywhere any
thing but poor? They cry out that
their real estate is unstable. Are
they so foolish as to think that the
YazOo mob is going to make their
farms more valuable, or draw into
their community any settlers above
the grade of tramps? They groan
because their State is in i'll odor all
over the Union, in the South as well
as in the North. Do they imagine
that this Yazoo county mob is going
to make it respectable?


This Yazoo violence has been going
on for some weeks; and not one of
the men who represent Mississippi be-
fore the country and who are supposed
to have great influence in the State
has spoken out against the disgrace
full and cowardly proceedings. We
should like to hear Senator Lamar's
voice on such on occasion rebuhing
violence and lawlcssness and demand
ing peace and equal rights: but he is
silent. We should ike to hear that
Mr.. Singleton, i'll whose Congression-
al district GazoO county lies, had
promptly gone there to gather the
law-abiding citizens together and help
put down the mob; but he, too, is 81
lent We should like to hear General
Chalmers voice and General Hooker's;
they have a great deal to say about
liberty and equal rights in Congress;
they are men OF great influence among
their people; but they, too, are silent.
Is it because they do not feel the dis
grace, the stain, which rests upon
their State when such things are tole-
rated?


There is just one exception to this
general and disreputable silence. The
Vicksburg Herald, courageous, and
more than that a sensible, journal,
does what it can to save the good
name of the State which it sees drag
ged in the mire by the people
OF 4azoo county. 1t appeals to the
people and the authorities in this
language:


The Yazoo Bourbons rejoice oyer the fact that
the Democratic flag now waves in that county
"upchallenged." 1t is the duty of the conserv-
atives to proclaim TO the world that they do
not want any more such victories. victory
won at the ballot box fairly and squarely is
9 e eus % Won vcory Da0e Is
will surely result in evil. The present is the
now prove to the whole world that they do not
countenance bulldoZing and that they will not
permit 1T in the future. Our laws must be
maintained and our officials must see that all
are protected in their rights. Look at the evils
that will follow if buldoZing is permitted. If
il is good in YaZoo ii is good for all the coun-
ties. Suppose Warren, Kinds, Madison. Clai-
borne and other counties follow Yazoo's exam
pie; suppose all the counties in the State resort
to it. Would not this be an absolute refusal to
allow two parties TO exist in the State? YaZoo
has already declared in effect that there shall
be no opposition to the Democratic ticket. If
any county should do the same thing next year
it would be the same as the State doing it. Does
any sane man believe, under these circumstan-
ces, the electoral votes of this State for Presi-
dent could be counted? Cannot, Will not, the
patriotic thoughtful men of this State see
where drifting and put on the brakes
before it is too late?


That is sound and true; but where
are the leaders of the Mississippi
Democrats? How can they show
their faces in Washington next win
ter if they remain silent now and tol-
crate this invasion Of private rights?
How can they look decent and honor
able men in the face if they have not
courage and public spirit enough to
resent and resist this Gazoo mob in
their own State?