Nearly all Democratic clubs in the State were converted into armed military companies.

Funds with which to purchase arms were believed to have been contributed by the National Democratic organization.

Nearly every Republican meeting was attended by one or more of those clubs or companies,--the members of which were distinguished by red shirts, indicative of blood,--the attendance being for the purpose, of course, of "keeping the peace and preserving order." To enable the Democrats to carry the State a Republican majority of between twenty and thirty thousand had to be overcome.

This could be done only by the adoption and enforcement of questionable methods.

It was a case in which the end justified the means, and the means had to be supplied.
The Republican vote consisted of about ninety-five per cent of the colored men, and of about twenty-five per cent of the white men.