The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-04-16
The COIfaX Riot.

regard 10 the serious t1bnOies al Co'-
fax, in the Parish OF Grant, and have
arrived at a clear statement ct the
whole cause Of the trouble aud its uat-
nral consequences, and we assure our
readers they can rely on the perfect
truth of the facts we shall write.
The Lynch Returning Board ignored
the election of the Parish officers, and
Mr.. Kellogg appointed set OF men to
fill the vacancies, but who did NOT
Qualify according to law, aud allowed
the time to elapse in which they are
required 10y law to do tim. MIR. Kcl
lugy commissioned all officers who were
elected, including both Republicans and
Fusionists, " hite and coloret!, except Il
Parish Judge, who had already quail
fed and was Republican,.
Wa,d, a ,ncmb-r of the Dryades
street Legislature, learning that MIR.
Kellogg was going t" issue these com
missions, fastened to C"lfax and took
violent aud iorcib e possessi"n of the
Court House and offices with mot'.--
There was proposition to hold mass
meeting of the people for the purpose
Of expressing their condemnation in Il
quiet way at the course pursued by
these men, but when the day arrived
for the meeting to have been called to-
gcther there was such violent demon
strati"ns made h.! Ward. Register aud
Flow ers, and the armed band that was
backing them, that the few white pco-
Pile who had the matter in hand did not
pretend to do an. thing, but quietly re-
turned to their homes without going
neal the Court House, or assembling
any here. And ut once, and withuu,
law or the shadow of auth"lity, they
| (the negroes) installed and proclaimed
themselves full masters and po>sesSOIs
OF everything in C"lfax. All being
armed aud prepared for the occasion
proceeded to throw up intrenchmen's
and all necessary war prrcan,i'ns Wei t
at once implovJsrd by these riolt,sand
opponents of law and order. They
seut out miles in the county tnra.iu.
and scouting parties and made good
use Of their temporary and nsnrped
powers. Nothing was LETT uEdone to
deprive reHceahle people of all their
horses. mnies and prov isinns, and thus
matters ent on till last Sunday when
fearful rtlibulion brought them tn
grief. What then occurred we have
gathered from many sources aud thou
sands of rnn0rs, all of which we have
>ifted and S down naugl,t hut What
reli#nre can he placed I'M. The whole
affair, as we stated last week, is the
teachings and legitimate fruits Of ne.
gro Radicali>m in Louisiana, as taught
aud Weach.d here for the past toul
years. 1t is simply, we fear ami re.
: greet, war of races, wholly inaugula
ted aud forced on 10y the negroes, VIII,
from the start have been arrogant, die.
ta'orial and willingly disposed to hunt
down the White man. ut all risks ant,
under all circumstances. Politics is
j the only excuse hut not the cause ri
the whole affair, and we know and fee
that none bur the white people of poor
crushed Louisiana conld Lave been s..
long endurant, and we may sag meek
under the many and continued taunts
insults and prosecutions they have
been forced to bear from an inferior
aud deluded race. But 50 it il and S,
I it will he forever and all time that the
j hest intentions and conduct will cease
10 be virtues. Here is the finale anC
sad result:
The whites Of the surrounding conn
try, on whom these wrongs had beer
heaped with vengeance time and time
again, were at last aroused and gather
ed and banded together in self defence
and in the protection OF their home,
and fauilies and in that Just and sac
red cause instllled into every man il