Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-12
louisiana
a rEsr Gaze.

- - E5a
The downward career of y nation
~ well as of an individual is general
lya gradual one. La neither is final
ruin and degradation reached at a
single bound. There arc Stages of
repentance and attempted reiorma-
ioa.gradaally decreasing in frequen-
cy, however, along the entire route.
These are traisms of history aud Judi.
viduai experience.
Civil war inaugurated the era OF
our downfall rs a self-goycrniny pco-
pie. Up to the very time that dread
tul event burst upon us, who could
have dreamed of Americans butcher
ing each other in a fratricidal war,
III comparison with which tho bloody
prescriptions Of Sylia and Marins
lose much OF the hidecus aspect
which thsy have been made to wear.
For were not tho latter enormities
perpetrated IN an uncillightcned sgs,
land by. q people stepped in pagan
barbarian? But we have done worse
in the noontids of the nineteenth
century, and at the same time claim
ing the highest development in
christian civilization! WHO could
have believed until it happened that
the government of the United States
would at one sweep of arbitrary
power take from the people three
billions of dollars in property with
out rendering IL rent of compenss-
ton? Yet that step, after. some
hesitation, vas taken. Then followed
tue years of reconstruction, more
fatal 10 our liberties than those of
open war;. At almost every step
there has been 3 pause and struggle.
The people of the South, in copjunc-
ton with the Dem ocratic party in the
North, have gailantly borne up
against the tide OF corruption and
tyranny: but it has forced tiom back
frem one position TO another, until
there HOW seems but q single move
between them and absolute desput-
That move has been attempted
in the State of L.ouisians. We have
before called attention to the ii, isnt
and high-handcd usurpation OF the
Kellogg factien, which is sust; il I'd
by the whole power of the Adm III,
tration. The matter was brousl, by ;
petition before O committee ct 'ir
Senate, and the committee prouapl Y
reported TO that body that the II can
by which Kellogg and his assnris'o,
had been placed in Office wor, q o..
illegal; yet the Senate rrft--a
TO take action upon the rcpor'. So. !;
Grant announced his ~intcnti,u ;n
lend the power of tie g~ovcrnm:c4. *
the continuance Of ike ~rsurp.tiua.
And he has kept his promise. /.
The mass meeting i'll New Orira:.s,
mentioned in Il last iss:r, which
called to aid in the estai.Ii.I.v.eI.t
Of tho Legitimate government, result
ed in ~bloodshed. The hayenet cf,he !,
soldier has checked The cGcrt c: the
A commanding officer OF. !
he United States army report. ,ha;
lniet reigns III New Orleans. Eat i. !
s an ominous quiet. Docs ii mesh /,
'eath, Or is il the caiiu which lurc- :,
'odes the bursting .: the v~orcaac? l.
Who can say? We are informed that 4
pen resistance on ;!sa part o. the !,
eoplc is not contemplated, bat they :,
Fill i'll every possible manner. sl.or, {
f violence, refuse TO recognize tie Il
le!iogg usurpa,iom. The p~ropurty-
olders viii! almost 10 & man rcfls,
o pay any taxes TO support if, aud If
supply of money can be Withheld ,
ong enough, the iufa.py will die, for :
t thrives alone upon corruption. t.
The people of Louisiana deserve the o
Encouragement and moral support Z
and if it need be, material support.) :.
f every true lover oflibcrty through u
ut the land. II this infringement Il
pom civil liberty is acquiesced in by c.
nc country, another frightful ad- !,
will have been made in the di- :,
cction of pure despotism. "