New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-02
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER q 1871

extreme measure, it may safely be as
sumed that the scandalous teachings OF
the radical Democratic papers ought to be
held responsible for all the effects that
may follow the substitution of military
rule for the civil law. The country at large
was not satisfied with the action of the
President in North and South Carolina
until the facts were declared, but when
Colone! Merrill had developed the exact
condition of affairs in South Carolina by
the arrest Of score of veritable Ku-
klux who confessed to their guilty organ
ization, and their still more reprehensible
transactions, the conservative sentiment
which had resented the action of the
federal authorities subsidized into a sor-
1owtul acquiesence in the propriety Of the
| movement. The American people believe
| IN peace and freedom, and although they
dislike to employ the army in securing
these blessings, they are, nevertheless,
prepared to allow the military to aid when
the civil authorities neglect or refuse to
do their duty in the premises. If there is
any such organization in Mississippi as
that which undoubtedly existed in South
Carolina, it should be broken up, even if
the army has to do it. The country is
strong enough in its republican instincts
at present to attack these lawless COM
binations with the military without ja1ring
the entire fabric of orr free institutions;
but who shall say that it will be strong
enough next year, in the midst of
heated political canvass, to make the same
attempt without CONFUSING the entire re-
public? The first blow at mob is the
one that delivers community from the
ferrors of anarchy if it is rightly directed,
and though the declaration of martial law
in South arolina was bitterly denounced
at the of its proclamation, the truth
Of history will hereafter confess that the
energy of the government in pursuing
lawlessness in that State was not only
great social virtue, but that it was the iden-
teal fact that established free thought and
political tolerance by breaking up the
local tyranny that ostracised all opinion
and prohibited all action but such as were
acceptable to the Ku-klux.
There is enc thing connected with the
course of conduct which the government
pursued il South Carolina, and which
rumor says it intends to pursue in Missis-
sirpi, that never existed before, and which
is highly conservative in its influence, and
that is the watchfulness of the North over
these military proceedings. The strinSen:
Republican papers, and the profoundest
Republican statesmen in the country are
opposed to the substitution Of the military
for the civil law; and even the officers of
the army feel offended at being warped |
from their professional duties into police |
for the suppression Of disor-
ders that the civil authorities ought to be |
left to deal with. Colonel Merrill, IL !
South Carolina, his refused to use his
power il any case where the federal courts
could be invoked, and all the parties that |
he has arrested have been promptly sur
rendered, with the evidence against them,
to the United States District Court. Mis-
sissippi, il she provokes the penalty. will
only have to suffer in the same degree.
But, as We said, the wicked and disturb
ing teachings OF the Democratic press Will
have to bear the responsibility if this evil
AIS upon Mississippi. They have spread
error and fostered prejudice until their
leaders have been m:slel into combira-
ions that are dangerous to the public
oeace: and the disciples who use their in
iuence to create disturbance ought always
o be held responsible for the disaster
hat follows their abuse Of the publ: coz
idence.