The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-11-18
After the Election. and What Next?


After the Election, and What Next?
We have sufficient returns from the recent election
to show, that while the Democratic party hasme with
the defeat its nominees it has gained signal advan
tages from the late canvass. In order to estimate
properly the importance of these advantages it should
be borne in mind that from the date Of the surrender
o! the Confederate forces to the convention in July
last the political power of the whole country con-
centrated in the hands of congressional majority,
with the exclusion Of all the Southern States from the
national councils; that this majority, after provokng
an issue with the Executive in regard to the policy Of
restoration, shaped its legislation with the sole view
Of perpetaatngits SUGGESTIONS that passed laws
protcssedy outside of the Constitution to secure
partisan ends, establish negro supremacy aad to
place the people of the excluded States under the ban
Of military authority; that, during this long carnival
of Jaeobin misrue anarchy reigned under the prstec
torate of military proeonsuls, exercising arbitrary
power the lives and property Of people through
their favorte instrumenalities military tribunals and
the Freedmen's Bureau; that unchecked by the infu
ence of any counter movement, it mad subsidized the
Negro vote taking advantage Of secret associations
appeal to their worst passions in order to name them
against their late masters Who they were made to be-
eFe had robbed them and their forefahers, for cen-
tuies, Of the legitimate fruits Of their labor and indus
try that, during all these four years Of bitter memo
ries, the National Democratic party Of the United
States was represented in the national Legislature by
mere corporals guard, as to enthusiastically pow
erless to prevent mischief as to do any good. =
Thus, it is necessary for to recall through what
scenes and trials we have passed. what we have pa
tently borne and suffered, in order properly to APP
preciate what have gained by the recent election.
The corporals guard of Democrats in Congress has
beenrecruited TO abouteghty FIVE innumber-a strong
and powerful minority, considering the character and
ability of the Northern representatives. Besides, the
Democratic party has been successful in nearly all
/ the Southern States and VIGOROUSLY triumphant in
our own State Nor will this State triumph be more
harren Of fruitful results than the national gains It
true, in the one case the popular judgment was ex
pressed against the established organisation, while, in
the other, the sanction and the Endorsement In
the former, with view and recent experience
Of Radical legislation, the peopleof Louisiana, white
and black, ignored and Reproduced the Radical party;
WHILE in the latter with distant view Of reconstruc
ton effectsand results the Northern people, by large
maiorities sustained, by their support of Gen. Grant
the Legislation outside Of the Constitution but this
support was evidently founded upon an apprehension
that to secure the fruits Of victory in the field it
necessary to elect the victorious cheftain In both
cases the popular judgment has been equally decisive
! 1t is also significant. From the canvass in our
State, have learned to cope with adversaries,
and we now know that we do it successfully. From
l.L,
years to come IN the national Legislature; and there
fore it becomes US Louisianans, to watch over our
own affairs trusting the management of party affairs
there the nelligentan9 courageous representatives.
of the Northern Democracy-the true and tried men
who fought battles in the late canvass and will
| fight them again. From the Southern members, moth
ing is nor expected For the most part, they
are neither men Of ability, nor, in any sense Of the
word, representative men-mere iron clad oath-tak
ors!-whose expulsion from Congress would neither
dsappont nor hurt 1t is, perhaps, fortunate for
us, that in watching and attending exclusively to
own affArs shall have political agitatons for
the next two years. Then we should devote all
energy and industry tothe development and improve
ment Of the State. The people of Caddo should un-
dertale to develop the resources Of Caddo, and the
people Oh ohFeFGpoEt sHoHu at uHCe, W
after the exteuson of our railroad to the improve
ment Of our navigation, and to the building up of
city Here, there is plenty Of work to do and may
unite heart and hand in it, Foraourselves, for the fu
ture, shall keep these objects steadily in view, leav
ing national and political affairs, to the management
of those to whom they have been confdcd. An album
dan cotton yield has relieved pecuniary of great
en1barrassments. Let eo1to work, make more cot
Ton, by cultivatng more lands, and, with the good
understanding between the whites and the blacks
the prospect is, every way most encouraging.