Year: 1879

An attempt is making to show that the
assassination of Dixon in Yazoo county was
not much of matter after all; that Dixon
was a rufian and was shot because he had
made scandalous accusation against q
democratic politician, and that therefore
Mississippi politics are all right


Now, the fact is that Dixon's assassination
was wrong, even if he was bad man; and
that in any case the question is not about
Dixon's character but whether the Missis-
sippi democrats are going to allow peace
full election and the formation of an oppo-
sition party. And we do not see any signs
that this is going to be allowed.
On the contrary, we notice q call
for colored democratic convention
in Vicksburg itself, which call complains
that whereas there was an agreement on
the part of the democrats that the colored
people should be allowed two members of
the Legislature and the County Treasurer,
in point of fact the whites have broken
faith with them and white men are can
vassing for these places. Hence the colored
men call separate convention to make
their nominations SO that, as they say, they
shall not be entirely without representa-
ton. The Vicksburg Herald we are glad
to see, approves of this movement as it has
manfully defended the rights Of the inde-
pendents; but the complaint of the colored
men shows the white democratic politicians
and oflice-seekers in pitiful light


We notice some remarks Of Representa-
tive Tilghman, of South Carolina, who re-
CARDS the independent movement in his State
as q peril to the democratic party, and urges
that every body shall hold fast until some
future time He says:-"A democratic Presi-
dent is the only agency by which tho South
can get rid Of infamous carpet-bag and
insulting, incompetent negro officials. In
fact, it is the only agency by which any Sec
ton of the Union can hope to enjoy either
tranquility, security or prosperity, and
think our party should subordinate every
thing to carrying the next Presidential cleo.
ton. If this be true, independentism among
Southern democrats ought at least to hide
its head until after November, 1880, and
every question of State or local policy cal
culated to divide the democracy, as well as
every exasperating contest among candi-
dates for place, should be deferred to q
more auspicious era"


Mr.. Tilghman does not appear to know
that the Southern States enjoy now pre-
cisely the same rights rs the Northern, else
he would surely not utter such preposter-
GUS twaddle as this But he offers a neat
emptation to the independents:--'The
are many thousand fat federal offices which
would doubtless be awarded to Southern
democrats by democratic President, and
disappointed office-seekers would, perhaps,
stand better chance to crafty their ambi-
tion for place by putting forth supreme
effort to elect democratic President than
by joining any independent movement. 1t
should be no reproach to q worthy man that
he seeks an office"


There is the bone Of contention in the
South. There is u rage down there for
office, and the independents arc tired Of
waiting for the distribution which is to be
made by democratic President. They arc
right, too they had better organize for
State Offices, for just now and until tho