The grand jury of Pike County, Miss., reported that many persons summoned before them as witnesses failed to come, because of the fear of personal violence should they testify. "One witness," they say, "was assassinated while en route to the seat of justice, and we have received such information as to lead us to believe that the lives of others would be in danger, if they came before the court to testify." Mississippi gives a Democratic majority of fifty thousand.—Chicago Inter-Ocean.
But what right has the "Inter-Ocean" to complain? Hasn't the policy given Mississippi peace? Haven't the bull-dozers been informed that they will be conciliated, regardless of expense? And what is the importance of a murder or two, or the perversion of justice, or any other little violation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, compared with peace and reform? The "Inter-Ocean" is an implacable newspaper, and ought to be ashamed of itself for printing such bloody-shirt facts, and insinuating unkind things against the President and his Democratic policy!—Traveller.
Alluding to the suggestion of a Southern paper that Mr. Garrison should be hung, the Philadelphia "Bulletin" says: "It is difficult to say with certainty what may not happen in a country the government of which is now controlled by a political party which once strove to destroy it; but we have a very strong notion that when hanging for treason begins in this country Mr. Garrison will not be the first victim. If such a policy should be suddenly introduced, it would vacate about three-fourths of the Democratic seats in Congress and rob the Democratic party of its most popular leaders."
We know what we are talking about, and we say this is the plan which Western and Southern Democrats are now working up. Their first purpose is to capture the government, and their next will be the separation of the States. Mr. Voorhees's statesmanship does not recognize any community of interest between the West and the East. He thinks "the great West" and "the sunny South" should join hands and let the Eastern States with their "capitalists" and "bondholders" and "Shylocks" go. This is the new Democratic scheme, and it is one that honest men and patriots must fight from the start.—Indianapolis Journal.
The Atlanta "Constitution" objects to the roasting of negroes alive in Alabama, especially those who have not been convicted of crime. Alluding to a recent affair in that State, it says: "No immigrant, looking for a new home, will for a moment think of settling in a State or section that permits mobs to supersede courts. The senseless burning of Owen Wright may cost the cotton State a million of dollars, coming as it did at a time when immigrants were looking this way from the Northern States."
The Meriden, Miss., "Mercury," supports the policy by declaring that "no man should be tolerated as an independent candidate for any cause and under any circumstances, who attempts to procure his election by solidly arraying the black voters in his favor," and the Okolona, Miss., "Southern States," supplements this with the following: "The real, simon-pure Democracy of Mississippi, have never made the negro any promises—none whatever. We have, therefore, no pledges to redeem. Remember that. We will see that he is protected in his life, limb, and property as far as in us lies; but at the same time we will take precious pains to nip any of his political aspirations in the bud. 'This is a white man's government, made for white men and their posterity forever.'" We congratulate the administration on the progress of the policy.
There are strong Republican districts in South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Let Matthews, Hoar, Foster, and the other distinguished gentlemen who championed "the policy" in the Senate and House, together with the editors who have been "writing it up," go down there and help the Republicans elect the right kind of men. There is no easier and better way to secure a Republican majority in the House.—Inter-Ocean.
At the Virginia election last week, the Republicans cast seven votes in Petersburg and three in Richmond. The "Washington Republican" says: "It is well known that the negro loves the franchise and is proud to exercise it. The only reason for his not having done so at the recent election was that he could not safely vote as he wished, and would not vote the other ticket."
Alluding to the Atlanta speech of President Hayes, William Lloyd Garrison says: "The mental obfuscation of the President is hard to parallel; but his moral standard in this instance, is as flexible as 'a reed shaken by the wind.' Such a confounding of loyalty and treason, right and wrong, liberty and slavery, and treating them all 'with respect,' and in the same complimentary manner, is enough 'to stir a fever in the blood of age.' Hail, Judas Iscariot! Hail, Benedict Arnold! Your reproach shall now be taken away! You nobly acted up to your 'convictions,' and are as much entitled to commendation as the apostle John or the patriot George Washington! We humbly beseech you to be 'equally liberal and generous and just' to the apostle and patriot aforesaid, who were not less heroic and true to their convictions. Neither party has anything to be ashamed of; but both glory in their achievements.".
The sum total of Democratic policy in the South is the condign punishment of venial crime committed by Republicans and negroes, and amnesty for all crimes committed by Democrats. The Democratic party has never been strong enough anywhere to declare its independence of the dangerous classes.—Philadelphia North American.