The Opelousas courier., 1872-11-30
Ehe Death Struggle of .Louisi-
ANA RaliicaHism.

The defeated Radicals are making a desper
ate struggle to annul the late election in
Louisiana. .rA,-
Their induction into office began in 1868, by
means OF the most infamous character BY
slandering and falsifying the conduct of the
southern people, the carpetbag thieves Undue
| ed Congress to overturn the State Govern
ment, and establish government of arms
This Congress, itself rump, and unconstitu
tlonal body, enfranchised the colored people
disfranchised fully one third of the white peo
pie, and then sent their colleagues in iniquity
to their unholy work. Fraudulent elections
IN 1863, at which one-third of the whites were
denied the right to vote, were held. The re
suit was the triumph of Radicalism in it's worst
form. Every State office went into the hands
of an unworthy man. Wicklife, the impeach-
ed Auditor, Bovee, the disgraced and removed
Secretary OF State, Beldon, the unblushing rob
ber and spokesman, as Attorney General are
specimens of the men who became our rulers
In the Senate the Democrats had O. majority
not Wlthstanding all the frauds Knowing
that this would check the robbers, in their
shemes OF pInnder, the Lieutenant Governor
elect required all the Senators to take the test
oath for which requisition there was no war
rant, and thus expelled numbers of Senators,
until they had organized the Senate. Sambols,
White, Jewell, Day, and others were in turn,
0usted, until Radicalism had the majority.
thus the work began in the summer Of 1868
-Four years have rolled away since. Taxa
ton then was one-fourth of one per cent Ii
Is now near three and half per cent, for the
state, and as much more for the local tax.
Onr debt then $l2, 900 900, is now over $40. 600.
000. Our public schools, then prosperous, are
now mismanaged, and do no good The inter
ests OF the State and city in our leading rail
road has been fraudulently bartered away.
unneceessary offices have been created to en-
rich carpetbaggers, and our yearly expcndi-
lures thus vastly increased. The Slaughter
House, Penltentiary Lease, Ship Island Ca
nal, Louisiana Levee Companies, are SAMPLES
and names OF outrages and monopolies that
nave oeen inflicted upon the people. The
change OF the law in regard to judicial Oaths
and in regard to the marriage relation the re-
peal OF the inhibition of the old law against
the marriage of the African with the Calca-
sian, the license of gambling houses, and the
lottery charter, are samples of Radical inva-
sion OF public and private morals.
There is nothing that this party has left
untouched. 1t has been in absolute control of
every department of the State, and blight
moral, Social financial, political and industrial
has followed the touch of its unholy hands.
In 1870, by stuffed boxes and false returns,
the fingers" of their Governor and returnin 9
Doard oioHicef" counted that party again into
power, -s-.
In 1877. the election right again recurs, and,
by means of a lawfully conducted election.
the conservatives and Democrats have elected
full set of state officers, the Legislature. and
majority, of the Congressman. In almost
every parish the right has triumphed. and
honest men are elected
But the thieves are not thus to be disposed
Of The men who compose the Republican
party OF Louisiana, have had immunity from
moral and political responsibility for crimes
committed, so long that they NAV stop at
nothing: Their insolenee knows no bounds.
Foreseeing their defeat, they sent blank oaths
naprDeS n q Ixn oh f,
otyped phrase, irregularities and frauds in the
eieetion. Their tools and minions in each par
lsh, even before and during the election
and count of the votes, We're profuse in their
threats against our election officers, and loud
III then boasts of success, regardless of the Ie-
gal result of the election. "Sypher will be
the Congressman said they, no matter who
gets the votes while defeated Radical non,i.
nees were to be seated as Representatives
and Senators i'll the Legislature, ..by Gen
Grants boyohets." The creature, Shannon,
who disgraces the honorable position of Fed
eral Commissioner, lends a ready ear. aud
nasty writ to any perjured complaint. while
Mr.. Beckwith, who is Z. s. District Attorney
munster OF justice, Judge a.lvocote, a sworn
officer, fulminies his overstrained and law
less interpretations of q Federal Statute as
authentic opinions, to intimidate State officers
His opinions We're threats and could have no
other meaning. And yet it all failed
But still the work goes on. The Circuit
Court of the United States is moved by this
champion of Radicalism. Mr. Beckwith. and
forth with rule nisi from this Court suspends
the State Government, i'll its legal functions,
aud prevents the officers of the4State from
compiling the election returns, and from de-
clarng the official result.
That other instrument of Radical oppres-
sion and corruption, Judge Dibble's "8th Dis
trict Court. is also ;brought into reauisition
and there, too. the schemers seek to annui the
result of the election.
Their object is to continues their irusl1rpation,
and plumber of the people of the State. Their
hope is, that, by these outrages, they may pro-
woke our people to some act of violence and
thus procure the Intervention of the Federal
Government.
But scheme will fail. The result ofthe elec-
tion will hayeits due effect The newly elected
officers will be duly installed. Then VIII begin
the work Of reform, and the hegiYa of the car
petbag thieves. Then also should begin the
work OF retribution. Let purjurers, embezzlers,
and criminals, be dealt with, and let the pen.
iteniary open wide IFS portals to receive its
chosen sons Patience, and the due course of
the law, are the desiderata of this hour. We
are now witnessing the expiring throes Of
Louisiana Radicalism. 1t may die in con-
Vulsion, but it will die.
Iangipaloa Democrat