The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-14
Western Opinion.

Amongst the number of our ex-
changes is the St. Lous Republican, a
sheet of imposing dimensions, yet re-
dolent in every cOlum of the opulence
and patronage of its friends. Its name
would lead one to suppose that it fol-
lowed the trail of the Radical faction
at Washington, but the reader would
soon lie undeceived when he perused
it's vigorous and racy style of criticism.
We are SO absorbed in Canada with
the squabb'es of country municipali-
ties, and the pretensions of electoral
candidates, that few are conscious of
the momentous struggle now in pro-
gress in the United States. The issue
is not whether Boutwell, shall accumu-
late millions at the treasury whether
negroes shall he free of Congress and
the Senate; whether Southern whites
shall be stripped of the franchise, ex-
cluded from the Legislature and sub
jected to martial law whether San
Domingo shall be annexed; bat wheth-
er clique of railway maenates, tariff
fed millionaires, Office loving Republi
cans and an ambitious General shall be
allowed to overthrow constitutional
government and erect in its place a
centralized despotism. TIE institu-
tons of the United States are on their
trial. Any one who has studied the
course of American legislation for the
last few years, must have seen that
there has been in progress subtle
and persistent effort to render nugato-
ry State rights, and under the plausi-
BILE pretence that the safety of the
Union required exceptional legislation,
to transfer the Legislative. Executive
and Judicial power to the President.
The Democrats, with an obstinacy,
and stolidity perfectly inexpllcable,
fought the last Presidential battle on
false grounds; they allowed the atten-
ton of the electors to be distracted
from the true issue, that the Republic
itself was in peril, to the sole questions
of reconstruction acts, tariffs and ne
grophobia tariffs. The people are now
awaking to sense at the real danger
which menaces them. They saw in
Washington the other day, clerks in
the public departments marched down
in squads and forced to vote for Gen
eral Grants nominee, under pain Of
dismissal, and they see the full strength
and influence of the Executive exerted
in every quarter to coerce the electors
1t has long been predicted by Euro.
pean writer's that the day would arrive
when some ambitious general would
usurp the Government and trans
mute the Republic into military die.
tatorship; bnt it was not anticipated
that the deed would be attempted un
der the auspices of mammoth railways
manufacturing companies, aided by
the Republican journalists. The role
of usurpation has hitherto been played
by an individual gifted with ability
and audacity. General Grant only
furnishes but the latter ingredient. A
genius for befooling the people ant
deluding them must be assigned t.
the Republicans, and no study's is mor'
, interesting than the writings of homes
Republicans, who, half suspecting tin
turpitude of their leaders, and secret,
condemning Radical legislation, ye
have not the moral courage to eman
cipate themselves. They palate vic
lations of the Constitution, too palpa
BILE to be ignored, and excuse resor
to bayOnet government, under tn
hacknied plea that the common safet.
and the welfare of the Union deman,
exceptional remedies. We have tgrea
: faith in the intelligence and indepen
. dence of tue Western States. The
, arc so far removed from the blandish
ments or frowns of Washington, S
, beyond the reach of railway, bankin
) or manufacturing pressure, and witha
, so liberty loving, that we look wit
the liyeliest interest and much conf
+: dence to their coming vote. The bat
? tie of freedom must be fought on tn
banks of the Mississippi, and at tn
: West must be decided the great nation
] al issue, whether State rights are to b
+ maintained or bayonet rule imposed o
the country.