Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1870-01-01
THB I0UISll5AlNIAy',
Saturday, January !, 1870.

gated and as 1t has often lappened il, ,hs
history OF the wo1ld, that a people despoiled
OF their nationality, has, to avoid greater evils.
resigned themselves 10 the rule OF their
invaders, SO likewise has thai happened to the
Southern peoples of this Republic. They have
not only submitted to the superior force of
their con9nerors, but have accepted, for the
sake OF peace aud social order, conditions
winch conquerors imbued with the spirit Of a
truly Christian civilization, would never have
imposed. These degrading conditions, ,hay
accepted to avoid the horrors and devas,alions
Of war yet they have not avoided them the
devas'a,lonsc continue: the Radicals are unsa,ia,-
Ell; their glut will be con,en, with nothing shor,
OF the luI' measure of barbarian Vengeance!
When, in the history Of nations, i, has
happened (and we know ii has IappeneD thai,
"A conqnering power has recognized and res.
Pected the rights and privileges and customs
and social institutions Of The people .utjuca,ed,
the politica! editice, in such a contingency
has been characterized by the conservative
and progressive spirit and tendency Of a gov.
eminent really legitimate because, though
wanting the essence Of Legitimacy, i, possess
sed its exterior atlributes-peace and social
order.
II was Tins, that the ancient Gauls como.
hered by the Romans, but having had their
natural individual and social rights, and their
political institutions, respected and continued,
felt proud, at last, Of their connection will, The
Roman empire, and became an element Of lis
power and glory.
lhe humane and Lumauizing policy which
achieved so happy 4 result, could have It's
source only in a full recognition Of tie ancien,
theory of legitimate government, first recog-
nIzed BY The chosen people, and afterwards
resumed by the nations of Christendom. viz.
That no power can justly exercise the
authority 81 government over a people, unless
oy me consent, express or explicit, of the
governed. II is needless to observe that a
policy so honorable to our common nature and
under circumstances calculated 10 eIici,
us worst traits, flnds no place in the Radical
programme OF demonstrations" The inference
is inevitable, that between Radicaiism and
paganism there is an unmistakabIe fellow
feeling, pointing 10 a sympathetic meal,l and
moral organization which has nothing in
common with the nobler dictates Of civilized
humanity.
From the instance we have cited as well as
from others which history furnishes, i, is
evident tina, a government furced on a people,
NAV. nv ada Min r. iisalf L., ,L,t-
ny preserving their institutions, and by
its functions with a view 10 the
veal, receive the consent of The
governed, and thus become legitimate. But no
forced resignation of IA people can impatt
legitimacy to conQnerors, invaders. or usurpers.
wanting that indispensable condi,ion-lhe
consent or sanction of the people. Neither
can a government by unjust possession of
power, become jus, BY any lapse of time
'i'yAStnm lapSu tehnporis jusium fe,1 neQuil."
II follows that the Radical expectations of
reconcii'ng the Southern States TO a theory of
different 10 that Of their ancestors
TO a theory of government founded on new
moral IDEAS and consequently repugnan, 10
teachings OF Christianity, which embrace
. moral code not nev but a%ncien, and immu,a.
doomed 10 disappointment. For how
can u government, (however il NAV have
acquired the supreme power which mu,i,a.es
the Constitution Of the people, contemns their
a and customs, a~bridges their liberties, and
up the public revenues as a beas,
water, hope for recognition from that
people, who, however outraged in all
they hold most dear on earth, are still Justly
proud in the dignity of their manhood. And
aow' besides, can these Radicals
'stu'e as they are, though deficient in true
sasacity low can they be 80
of that worldly cunn,ng-lheir
main charac,eris,ic-which should teach them
the very steps they take to perpe,ua,e
heir power, are precisly those which will for
'ver prevent them from gaining the affections
II the people they affect 10 govern on
principles; and which efisctually
whatever claim or title 10 legitimate
government, their unparalleled audacity invests
With an air of FEASIBILITY?
Even in Europe, where Republican principles
we're not so much vaun,ed as they have been
III this Continent, when the Sovereignty
assed from the lawful rulers into strange
ands, the fundamental law Of the people and
heir social institutions were held sacred
nd the new Power established over them
.econgnizing that The authority to gorern, and
My that, had undergone a change, far from
bridging the popular Liberties, made it a
uty-founded on the Christian principles of
confirm and enlarge them. Popular
was not then made the sport of !
Legislators, nor its administration {
objected to the %manipulations Of uninstruc,ed
thcials neither was the right Of autonomy,
y the mere fact Of a change of rulers.