The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-01-14
The Situation.

The Situation.
The great and practical question of the
situation is whether the general govern
ment can in any shape interfere to relieve
our community Of the incubus Of misgov-
eminent which weighs upon it 3D. fearfully.
The old man Of the sea who rides on our
shoulders wont get drunk and be shaken
off because he drinks nothing but money
and his appetite for that is Unsuitable.
How then can General Grant get us rid of
our Governor.
It is evident that he must, in the interest
of the Republican party, be extremely aDx-
ious, nearly as much so, indeed, as we our
selves are, that we should be rid of War
moth, for any further tolerance by that
party of such outrages as have marked his
reign in Louisiana, would throw upon it
the moral responsibility of that whole
criminal record.
Martial law is called for and, would GER
tainly afford some relief, but that cannot
be o permanent arrangement and would
leave the same civil officers in position. A
reconstruction of the State, placing it I'M
der military governor, would be still
much better, but that would require an act
of Congress and another reconstruction
would find q very unfavorable current to
counterfeit. Certainly if it could be done, it
would go far towards re-establishing the
credit and restoring the prosperity of the
State. The military supervision and con-
troll Of such o man as either General Candy,
General Hancock or General Emory would
insure honesty and economy in the dis
charge of public functions. We can
scarcely hope for such action, however,
under the WORKOUT name Of reconstruc-
ton. But cannot something of similar
nature in result, though based on differ
ent principle, be effectedf
The Constitution of the United States,
guarantees to every State republican
form of government and, we boldly aud
cofdently say that Louisiana has not re-
publican form of government. She scarce
~ has it in name and not at all in SUBJ
vides for the exercise of the right of
suffrage by it's citizens and the cleo
ton law of the State deprires them of
it. The Governor has the right to ignore
and reject the vote of any citizens, of as
many of them as he may choose to reject,
Of all of them if he so wills it. Is that
right to vote when your vote can be thrown
out at the mere caprice of another man.
It follows then that one man who has this
right to manipulate the votes of the people
and reject them if he chooses is really the
only voter in the State. His one will may
elect to every Office. He is, therefore,
more than dictator, more than Emperor.
more than Gear or Sultan. There is no
despot In the world whose despotism is
confirmed to him by voluntary written
law, made by the people themselves. We
should say no other despot, for virtually
and practically there is no other ruler liv-
ing in the civilized world who rules auto
cratically aud singly of his own will SO
completely as Governor Warmoth of Lou
isiana.
Look at the case of Wheyland, the per-
son who was killed the other day. This
individual was a creature or tool of War
moth. He was sent to Sabine Parish sew
eral days before the last election, seven
days it is said, as registrar of votes. He
was an utter stranger, but boldly announced
himself as candidate for election to the
legislature. His opponent, an old citizen
got nearly all the votes, yet he returned
himself as elected, and Governor Warmoth
manipulated the votes 30 as to sustain |
him. It was, therefore, Warmoth who |