New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-31

we're anxious to get back under laws
that assured them peace and prosperity
Nowhere in the South was the rebel
spirit in the ascendant. But as time
went on the abuses of the administration
began to foster spirit of opposition in
the Republican party. In the North this
secession was particularly noticeable. 1t
speedily formed nucleus around which
the great Liberal movement began to as
sumo startling magnitude. There was
no chance of checking it there, but in the
South the case was different. The en-
forcement act put into the hands Of the
President vast powers for good or for
evil. In it was supposed to be resident a
dominant authority, sufficient to crush
out any spirit of opposition that might
arise in the South. AS in this State affairs
were moving awkwardly for the admins
tration, and the ascendency of the federal
party was no longer tolerated by those
who had charge Of local interests, the first
struggle was made here. We all remem-
Der it. The attempt to overturn the State
government proved a failure. 1t was sup
ported by federal officials, and the Gus
tOmhou5e was used as a rendezvous for
the maIcOntents. The collector of Gus
toms and a United States marshal were
the chief advisers and controllers of the
movement. The enforcement act, although
employed, was found inefficient and the
field of its operations was transferred to
the Carolinas There it has indeed proved
terrible instrument Of oppression, as APP
piled with heartless cruelty to he unffend-
ing inhabitants. The only test Of patriot
ism is Radical faith To be opposed to
Grant is to be an enemy ofthe State. Such
is the character of the Ku-Klux trials in
these States. 1t is full enough of horror
in its plain unyarished cruelty. But as if
this were not enough to impress the indig-
nant people with it's meaning if it re-
required something additional and dis
graceful to impress the public mind-a
Cabinet minister is sent down to the thea
tire of these Ku-Klux operations to say
"VOte for Grant and you are putriots, OPP
pose him and you are not. There can be
but one sentiment-one or the other horns
of the dilemma, Grant or Ku-KIux." This
is reconstruction in the South. These are
the issues before the people to-day. The
fact is patent 1t admits of neither argu-
ment nor denial.
The issue is represented in our State by
the Radical ticket on the one side and the
Liberal movement on the other. 1t carries
with it the issue Of happiness and pros
perity of the State. There is no medium
ticket That which unauthorized politi-
cal committees have put before the peo-
pie counts for nothing but a marplot. 1t
is the bastard progeny Of selfShness. and
distrust. 1t may defeat the hopes Of gen
uine reformers, of those who desire to see
the State cut loose from federal interfer-
ence IN local affairs, but it has no instru-
mentality for good. AS it now stands, it
is but an incident of evil; whether or not
it will be permitted to continue an i'm
pediment to Liberal success the next few
days will determine. But if it remains as
it is, there is little doubt that Louisiana
will furnish another example, in its po-
Itical abortions and irredeemable misfor-
tunes, Of the Presidents policy Of recon
structing Southern States.