New Orleans Republican., 1868-11-12
TIE LATE "FAROB. -


THE LATE "FAROB.H
The result of the recent so-called Iresi-
Dental election in this State being now
fullv known. and the excitement having
subsidized, it is not unfit to look critically at
that event and learn what was Its real ma
tnre and what its practical effect. General
Rousseau. in speaking OF 1t beforehand
said that it would be ether :" q tragedy or
a farce Ii was both; OF rather, it was
farce with tragicel prologue. The Demo
cratic leaders in this State had announced
months before the time for the election that
they were determined to carry it at all haz-
ards. The Republican majorities which
had established the present Constitution
and elected the present State government,
as they could not be outnumbered, must be
overawed. The ability Of desperate ana
law-delying minority to o7erawe an in
experienced and law-abiding majorlty may
be sneered at, but can not be disputed
The history OF Kuow-Nothingism In this
city proves the power OF violence and in
timidation in accomplishing negative VIC
tories; elections in which the will Of the
people is not expressed. Some of the pres
eut leaders of the so-called Democracy are
old "Know-Nothing" veterans experienced
in the tactics of thuggery; and it does not
require as much political astuteness as they
possess to see that measures such as had
deferred from the exercise of their political
rights the stolid or turbulent
uaturalized citizen, would be much
more eficacious with the inexperi-
enced and timid negro. Accordingly negro
riots were brought about which could only
be called such, because none but negroes
were injured therein. These disturbances
were not confined to New Orleans, but ex-
tended throughout the State. II the par
ishes of Franklin, Bossier St. Mary, St. Ber-
nafd and St. Landry they became simply
massacres. in which the unofendiDg negro
fell victim to the bloody tactics Of the
Democratic leaders. Nor was their vio-
lenoe confined to the newly eniranchised.
The assassination of Sheriff Pope and Judge
Chase, OF st. Mary parish, was intended as
a warning to white Republicans that the |
selGstyled "people Of the State would |
permit no interference with their po- !
ltical plans, and that life and peace |
could be purchased only on the terms of
eli-disfranchisement. In this city the
breaking into private residences, the sack
ing OF colored club rooms, the firing into
professions, and all the other outrages |
dictated by the raffianly policy above men
toned, produced their natural effect Large |
numbers OF the newly enlranchised citizens,
1lnaccustomad to the exercise of their re-
Gently acquired rights, and intimidated By
the violence they had experienced and by
that which might reasonably be expected
in case OF a persistence on their part in the
exercise Of their political rights, resolved
to abstain from voting, This policy uli-
mately prevailed generally among the col
ored Republicans throughout the State
except in few parishes where no violence
had been attempted. In these the Repub
neans polled large vote in some Of them
ascension, Concordia, Carroll Iber
vile, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St.
Charles, St. James, St. John, Tensas,
West Feliciana, Madison and Natchi-
toches) obtaining handsome majorities.
That similar result would have occurred
in all the other parishes known to contain
Republican maj ajorities, had it not been for
the tactics of terrorism which prevailed,
no reasonable man can doubt These tao
tics not only interfered with the voting, but
even in some localities prevented registra-
ton, no one OF those appointed to such
districts being found willing to risk his life
by acting as supervisor OF election.
Considering these facts, it will probably
appear that the Democratic glorifcation
over victory has been premature. 1t would
be absurd to regard as an election farce
wherein qualified voters by thousands were
hindered from voting in some localities,
and in others the form Of election was gone
through with without previous registration.
Nor will the resolutions Of the Democratic
committee offering protection to all, but
coming out after the plan of intimidation |
had done its work, be regarded otherwise
than as an impudent pretence. No one
here was deceived by it,nor will it be more
efhcacious in the North. The Presidential |
electors from this State will unquestonably |
be rejected, and the claimants for seats in |
Congress will not be received. Another |
Congressional election must be held, and If
the same tactics of terrorism produce a
similar result, Ahat election also will be
considered null; and so on until the self
styled "people" of this State will permit
the rest of the people to exercise their po- |
Etical rights in peace
PIREBRANDs