Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-08-24
no CAPACITY 70 LEAD.


The Federal appointeeo IN the
granite building" have practicalir
demonstrated their incapacity 10
Ian and TO execute great designs.
lower to plan and execute, are I,
o well known essential attributes
f Leaders and Generals. that ,
the men who are entrusted with
uch powers, do not succeed in
flaming and carrying out their
,lans, they are removed and assigned
% the proper positions OF followers,
md others are, selected whose dis
,retion will not be overrun by theft
yalor or their zeal in times Of peril.
Good Generalship consists rs much
IN knowing when to Ace, as when to
fight. Bravery does not consist in
a fool hardy kicking against the
pricks merely for the sake Of fight
ing. 1t is always a mistake to
order a "Light Brigade" to charge
an army in position, and however
much the world may wonder at the
unquestion:ng obedience and valor
Of the soldier they are forced to de
nounce the order to charge" and
pronounce the officer unfit to
govern. This is about the position
of the leaders OF tie Customhouse
faction; they, with their deputy
marshals, and soldiers with beyo-
nets, and bands OF employees, drove
in Representative Republicans Of
Louisiana at the point ofthe bayonet;
but they wist not, that the army of
the whole people Of this vast Re
public were in position TO open
upon them raking FIRE. to rain
into their doomed ranks, thrown
into disorder by the 'irst shot,
murderous showers of shot and
shell, even as it is at this day. They
have turned to retreat, but retreat
there is none. and it is flag of truce
or death. The reflection that the
engagement was unnecessary and
unwarranted, that it evidenced the
lack Of knowledge of tactics; that
the force was utterly out of all
proportion to the strength OF the
citadel attacked, that in fact the
whole plan in its conception and
carrying .out-was not only big
blunder, but it was criminal folly
as All attempt to disarm the anita
gonists, hand emf and bind them
then goad them to death at pleasure
for all OF which somebody must be
responsible.
The disquietude and indignation
which have been evoked, will not bt
quoted. the national equanimity
will not be restored without atone
, ment for the outrage. The mel
who recklessly prostituted powers
conferred on the President of tn
United States, Tor their own ina
, mediate ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, perhap
. in the hope and expectation of pleas
ing "the highest authority" mus
either pay the penalty of their rash
! ness, or "the highest authority
must assume the responsibility
| The tyrannical measures have beel
, repudiated by the latter. But thi
reputation must go further than
), mere denial Of completely in. o
Identification with the outrages
There must be such o repudiatiol
: as VIII place it beyond the power c
, these men to inhict other injurie.
and offer other equally gratuitou
D insults to the legally qualified re
: representatives. of the Republica
party in particular, aud to the free
I dom OF the American people in gen
q eral. There must be some penalt
inflicted and enforced somewher
to afford some safeguard, som
. security from capricious and NAL
9 cious interference OF Federal subol
diuates with the regular current {
> State affairs. This is the stan
i, that We take in common with thos
q who desire to see Constitutional ill
n erty and freedom secured and eajo,
Q ed. And there is scarcely any doul
i that when these considerations sha
Y have been duly considered by Pre-.
4 ident Grant, who isthe only one
q settle the dispute, that there will /
such a solution of the difficulty {
= will satisfy the outraged rights {
q Of the American people.
TBF FIFTH DISTRICT RIcohDER.-