The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-12-20


try. The daily papers have doubtless
made our readers familiar with the de.
tails Of the situation in that unhappy
province. 1t is useless for us, of course,
to attempt to sound the alarm over what
the people at large seem quite content to
submit to, and it is childish, always, to
protest against the inevitable. But it
is "A curious ard pregnant bit Of history
now being transacted before US, and as
such we record it.
In November an election is held for
Governor and members of the Legisla-
ture. McEnry, representing the con-
sentative anti-administration Republicans
is candidate for election to the guber-
Material office. Kellogg, carpet-bag U.
s., Senator, and clearly ineligible on that
account by the laws of the State, is his
competitor. Serenely regardless Of this
disqualification he makes vigorous can
vass to secure his election, and employs
every artifce of corruption and intimida-
ton. Bnt Notwithstanding this he and
his legislative ticket are badly beaten.
But your true carpet-bagger never knows,
nor indeed do other people, when he is
beaten. A board Of supervisors had been
appointed, in accordance with the State
law, to count and report the polls.
Some Of these were suspected Of being
honest men. 1t was, therefore, necessary
to get rid of them. Kellogg applies to
Durell, y. s., District Judge, for as
sistance This conscientious judge, in a
totally irrelcyant clause ofthe enforcement
act, finds authority to rob the State
courts Of their rightfrl jurisdiction, null
iify the State-lsss. -a,.iil-fnias Of see.
set I~~an entirely new State Government
Of his own. He turns out the old super
visors and appoints new ones, who care
fully counting the Kellogg vote, and care
fully failing to count the other, declare,
of course, that gentleman to be Governor
elect, and his followers to be rightly
members of the Legislature.
But in the meantime Warmoth, who
is himself an adventurer, and most
bold, able and unscupulous one, is making
a stubborn fight for himself and follow
ers. and incidentally for the best interest
of the State. A successful rogue natu-
rally and necessarially becomes con-
sentative. The law and order, which
shields honester men, is necessary also
for the protection of his ill-gotten gains.
Hence this wonderful an melancholy fea-
ture of the case; Warmoth, a knave,
scufiling with needier knaves merely to
keep what he has got, becomes the cham
pion of every element of honesty and
respectability in the State. 1t, therefore,
becomes necessary to be rid of him too.
This is done with neatness and dispatch
Durell's Legislature impeach him, and
pending his trial, which will, of course,
never take place. Pinchback, negro
barber, who had once been President
Of the State Senate and er oficio Lieuten-
ant Governor, but whose term expired
months ago, and whose right to the sue
cession therefore is just as good any other
negro BARRIERS in the world and no bet
ter, is declared acting Governor. He
puts Longstrcetat the head Of his MALTA,
issues his pronunciamento, and takes
military possession Of the Government,
Then the people in the extremity of Their
distress, in the agony Of their humilia-
ton, forgetting alike personal and party
pride, kneel to President Grant aud beg
his assistance. President Grant kicks
them for their pains, tells them that
Pinchbaok shall be sustained, and orders
troops to New Orleans from all quarters.
This ia plain, unexaggerated terms, is
the origin aud present status of the
troubles in Louisiana. Surely any com
ment is superluous. This, OH optimist,
who believes in the infallible wisdom OF
the mob, and the infallble justice of a
majority, this is the closing spectacle OF
the year which the Model Republic has
prepared for the eyes of the world. While
the Christmas fires are being kindled all
over the earth, and the Christmas bells
are preparing to ring out to the ears ofall
Gods creatures his message--"Peace on
earth, goodwill toward all men'-here
in this most christian nation is being en-
acted a drama as cruel, as grotesque, ms
heaihenish as any in all the year of his
tory. A proud, an opulent, a sovereign
State crushed under the play foot of a ne
gro her people, broken in spirit as well
as in fortunes. duplicating for sympathy
from a President and Congress Of their
own race and blood, and that suppliea-
ton answered by line Of leyelod and
loaded muskets.
OUR friends of the Advocate have ON
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