The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-10-12
New Orleans correspondence.

New Orleans correspondence.
The Independent mousmsnt-lnfur of seoundrels-
Instances Of Thug violemee-7Ae approaching
contest--Our aeat Goueraor.
New ORLEANS, October 1st, 1889.
The independent movement is deeper rooted and
wider spread than had anticipated. 1t is con-
fdently asserted by some Of the most sagacious of
our citizens that the ticket will be elected. But
think that nothing can be certainly calculated ON
at this time. The Democratic party heretofore,
have had not only the whole organized American
party to oppose, with its violence, intimidation,
rowdyisIn and Thugs who were habitss Of the city,
but more INSCRIPTIONS set Of villains, the influx
of hordes Of pick-pockets, murderers, and river
thieves who congugate here every fall and winter,
for the prosecution of their various callings and
professions, were added TO the. ranks of that dis
reputable party and we're active abettors and par
Elephants in all the acts and lawlessness Of the
Know Nothing party. The result of the election
will depend alone on the course those may think
proper to pursue II they as usual side with the
American party, the election will be more turbulent
and bloody than any previous to it. TO the Demo-
cratic party those near and unknown and being
strangers here have committed some OF the most
atrocious crimes, without chance of recognition;
to the leaders of the independent party most OF
them must be known and the usual participation
of those wretches in jurisdictions will be summary
punished as | am informed. The resident Thugs
are well known and it will require the most peacea-
BILE demeanor on their part to escape the vengeance
in store for them. There will be an unusual influx
of those Chevaliers dL,dlstris in New Orleans this
fall. The health of the city and the general pros
perty Of the South will bring them earlier and in
larger numbers, and upon them in my opinion will
theresult of the election depend.
The freedom of elections becomes farce when
those robbers, murderers and perjurers non resi-
dents of the city state or parish turn the scale
Of an election, by ballot stuing, violence and every
species of fraud and corruption but such has been
the 10 the city for the last four years and such
will be the case again, if the most prompt and
energetic measures are not taken to preventit.
These facts may be considered strange to the
country Democrats, but assure you that they are
true and can be authenticated by the assrtion OF
! the most respectable citizens. For my part can
see no probability for any other condition OF al
fairs in our city, except to meet violence Win
violence and the party that takes the initiative VIII
be successful. 1t is sad condition of things but 1t
is sadder still, that in this land OF boosted liberty
it becomes dangerous for respectable cltzeh, 1or'
eign or born here, to exercise the elective iran
chise. saw in SO one of the most ancient and
respectable citizens of the lst District insuted and
his right to vote challenged by bully imported
from neig.boring city for the purpose Of carrying
the election. When the dgnifed old gentleman
said to him " sir have voted here before you
were born and this is the first time ever had my
right disputed" the bully's only answer
was "swear him swear him" he is not
legal voter and at that mans suggestion one Of
the dastardy inspectors held to the gentleman the
bible. The indignant old citizen replied to the
inspector, sir, YOU have attempted to insult and
disfranchise me will not swear to please you
nor will vote to day, nor ever vote again until
/ ana convinced that decency and propriety have
0nee more been recognised at our election wards :
This whitening rebuke had no effect and when the
old gentleman left, he was hooted aud laughed at
by the heartess villains. This is but an insulated
case of indignity and injustice which has been rem
dered common at our polls. There is scarce gen.
teman who has not been the witness to as great or
greater outrages, and seen the suffering forced to
submit without a n,nrmer. When Wood Perry
was slung shossed at the 7th Ward polls, simply
/ for being in line with those voters who were ap-
preaching the polls for the purpose Of voting, he
did not leave the hustings but declared his inten-
/
cost him his life His soiled clothes and bleeding
face with his determination to vote, elected from
tie rufians, a forbearanee, which his age and res.
probability had failed to excite and he WAS per-
mitted to vote the Democratic ticket How many
| hundred would shrink from the ordeal, which he
60 pefsistently determined to meet again? There
are very few.
Can it be wondered at, that Democrats may be
induced to aid any organization for the purpose OF
putting down party, who have inaugurated a
system of violence and intimidation, regardless OF
age or responsibility? The best men in the city
will vote the independent ticket 1t is the deter.
| mination of hundreds that it shall succeed even
to the shedding of blood. The Fth Of November
next will be long remembered either as a day in
which power was wrested from the American party
and peace and order established or it viii be famous
for its violence and turbulence. 1t will be either
one sided affair, or mobs, riots, and breaking OF
ballot boxes, will prevail over law and order again.
The contest will be bitter and violent, the preo-
| nitions are unmistakeable. Determined mon are
| at the head of che independent movement bad and
dangerous men are numbered with its followers,
Williams and cut threats are penduous, undeter-
mined what side to esponse, undecided which can
and will pay the most always ready for an offer.
In this statement of the political condition Of
New Orleans, have not 0Yer-drawn the picture
nor is it my intention TO do so. | write what
know, and as my communications are the voluntary
offerings think proper to devote to the good OF
the Democratic party, can hardly be suspected Of
being subsidized. / write as feel, and give utter
ance to my individual sentiments without consulta
ton with any. make this statement simply that
your readers may bgat perfect liberty to take my
sentiments at wbstever value they may choose to
receive them. Yam Democrat ard an ardent
advocate for the perpetuity of it's principles, de-
sire the election of the Democratic State ticket
with your honorable neighbor at its head. The
election of Col Moore as Governor, will save our
party He will go into the Gubernatorial chair,
with character for infexible honesty and frmness
equal to that Of any man in the Union. He will
go in without entangling alliances, personal OF
political He will 20 in untrammeled BY favoritism
or associations. His appointments will be based
on sound Judgment and disposition to elevate
the party. Baton Rouge viii be no longer the focus
TO which al the butterfly and humming bird politi.