The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-18
The Silence Tint Condemns.

The Silence That Condemns.
From the Nation.
Fifteen DAYS have elapsed since Mr.. johnson
took the government of Louisiana into his own
hands and allowed it to pass into the charge of
ferocious and bloodthirsty mob. Fifteen days
have passed since he learned of the wholesale
massacre of unarmed and loyal men, by those
to whom he had deputed his authority. When
appealed to by pardoned Rebels to suppress
peaceful Convention and to depose the Governor
of State, he lost no time. He could not wait
from Saturday to Monday, but hastened upon
Sunday to tie the hands of General Baird, and
to direct the forces of the United States to be
used in support of the "Thugs" of New Orleans.
The Thugs have acted according to their nature,
We cannot believe that Mr.. johnson meant that
they should enact the scenes of diabolism which
they ala. We cannot suppose that he intended
arrests to be made without the shadow of legal
warrant, the assassination of detenseess and
unTesistng prisoners, the deliberate massacre
of unconvicted and unreslstng men. But the
deed has been done. Even some of his own
tools are shocked at their work; why cannot the
President speak? He was prompt to telegraph
messages against the Convention; prompt to
publish his kilograms. Has he telegraphed any
Censure of this bloody work TO the Rebels whom
he made rulers of Louisiana? If he has, why
does he not publish his telegram? What means
this silence over massacre after such ready
speech against "usurpation {"
We trust that all our readers have studied the
letter of Mr. E. p. Brooks to the Presidents
organ in this city. Calm and clear In its state
ments, It's impartial record Is all the more terri
BILE in its effect upon the mind. 1t relates how
the clergyman who offered prayer at the opening
OF the Convention came down to surrender HIM.
self to the police, with white handkerchief on
the end of his walking stick, and "was met
knocked down, trampled upon, kicked and
beaten nearly to death while begging1o mercy"
Che is since dead); how DR.. Dostie was treated
In the same manner, besides being stabbed re-
peatedly; how detachment of the mob, some
hundreds strong, led by six policemen, hunted
single negro, the policemen, as they came up
with him, emptying their revolvers into his
back; how another negro fallinJiscSm police
mans shot while trying to es ~ was sur
rounded by policemen, who fISY their pistols
into him as he lay, and then, when he feebly
raised his arms to implore for mercy pounded
him with their clubs; how policeman mounted
cart full of dead men, and thrust his revolver
between their bodies to kill two men beneath
them who yet gave signs OF lite. These be it
observed, were the acts of the pOhce-ths sworn
guardians of the public peace into whose hands
the city was committed by the express orders of
the President For yet more ghastly scenes
among the auxiliary mob. we refer to the same
letter, in the New York Times of August g.
These specific details, given voluntarily by an
eyewitness who is a supporter of Mr.. Johuson's
policy, and who has not withheld censure of
'radicalism" at the North, have been public for
more than week, but yet we have not heard
word from Mr. johnson CIR his organs. The
Saratoga Convention has met, and endorsed all
the acts OF Mr.. johnson. Long speeches were
made on the occasion, but we do not notice a
single expression of horror over this narrative
which halt the members must have read on their
way to the place of meeting. They could go out
OF their way to pledge an affected sympathy for
the soldiers of the Union at the North, but could
not spare word for the DISCHARGED soldiers
who had Just been massacred by paroled Rebels
at the South. The President of the Convention
declared that he held out his hand to the loyal
SOuth II ST lV cd ON
brothers; but to the blood of these brothers,
split before his eyes, he was blind; to their cries
for help and rescue he was deaf
The partisans of the Administration in vain
endeavor to evade the responsibility for this
appalling crime But for the Presidents posi-
tive orders, General Baird would have protected
the Convention from violence. The action
which General Baird finally took, and which
alone stayed the work of death, was contrary to
the Presidents Instructions; and 1t is already
announced by one OF the Presidents mouth
pieces that the Generals action will cost him
his place. If the whole object, end, and aim of
the Presidents policy is not to turn over the
loyal men of the South into the hands of such
rulers as Mayor Monroe, and such police as
those OF New Orleans, who can say what it is?
Not only does he encourage and aid the rule of
such men, but if by accident a man of different
mould comes into power, the President either
ignores him, as in Tennessee, or threatens him
with violent resistance, as in Missouri, or de-
poses him, as in Louisiana. In short, the man
who made such loud professions of loyalty, of
hatred OF treason, or determination that loyal
men should rule, is the man under whom to-day
past loyalty is made odious, traitors raised TO
power, and Union men literally crushed under
their feet. There is not a doctrine in his poll.
teal creed which he has not violated, not pro
mise which he has not broken, scarcely an act
of usurpatiOn in his power which he has not
committed But of all his acts none have been
so utterly without palliation as his course in
respect to the Louisiana Convention. His
readiness to speak when he had no pretense o
right to interfere, and his persistent silenct
when every instinct of manhood should have
drawn him TO speak, are his crowning hi
damning disgrace.