The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-10-10
THE BAYoNET VS.. THE BALLOT.
TRINITY, LA, Sept. 1873.
Editor Otkuchittl Zeies,'uph

Public attention seems to have been
just awakened to the fact that in most
elections held in this State since the
war the bayonet has played Il more inn
portant part than the ballot.
The practice had become so common
as to excite little comment when the
supplemental enforcement bill was in
trodnced by Mr.. Kellogg in the United
States Senate. Although the passage
of that bill was the first declaration Of
the power of the Federal government
to declare martial law in a State at the
period of a general election, for the pur-
pose of controlling such election, it
seems to have been regarded and OPP
posed merely as a party measure.
Public sensibility had become so
deadened by repeated Entertainments
on the constitution and reserved rights
of the States that an act which threat
ened the liberties of the American peo-
pie more than ten acts of secession, and
which would have called forth spirit
of resistance if 4 spirit of resistance to
despotism remained, was discussed as a
mere party measure, and in Il conven-
ton of the people Of that State whose
existence was Immediately threatened
passed without even comment
It has become the fashion to charge
| the responsibility for this act upon the
Republican party, and, though that
party he directly responsible, there is,
80 far as we are concerned, a much
weighticr responsibility which does not
belong to it. The Republican party
was organized and from the first has
been conducted in open and avowed
hostility to us and our Institutions.
Whatever may have been its offenses,
and however much cause it has given
us to bear it Il cordial hatred, it at least
has never deceived us, and deserves the
merit Of avowing that hatred returned
to Il ten-fold degree. So we'll is this
feeling understood that no citizen Of
tone or character has ever been prevail
ed on to give his support to the meas
ures of the party, and the few who have
done so have been suspected of inter-
ested motives and have justly been
punished by social ostracism. Where
such feeling exists-where party or
| its leaders have become so deeply
eliminated as to be reckless of recanci-
fication or forgiveness--iti is only natu-
| raj that its policy should bc, by crush
ing its opponents, to escape that atone
| ment which it might some day be
| called on to make.
But there is another great political
party in the country party which
owes much OF its glories and triumpls
Of the past to the wisdom and ability of
Southern leaders ; II party whose prin-
ciples we maintained OH the battle field,
while its Northern element, which
should have fought side by side with
us, recreant or traitorOus, looked su-
pinely on, or gave its aid and influence
to our enemies. There are few of us
who do not know that in Il conflict
with the unaitlcd strength of the Re-
publican party the result would have
been different, and that instead of ap-
peafing vainly for help we would now
be able to redress our wrongs. What
ever may he the responsibility for the
results Of the late war, and the present
deplorable condition of this and other
Southern States, it is a responsibility
which belongs equally TO both political
parties.
These facts are matters of history, and
| are recited here not to awaken any OF
those feelings Of bitterness which have
been the result Of the war and for which
we at least arc not responsible, but be.
cause they are necessary to IL proper
apprehension of our condition, and tic.
cause they point TO the only course
which can possibly bring us relief. We
are willing to bury the issues of the
past; we are willing to forgive anC
forget our ruined fortunes and degraded
privileges we are willing to tight tn,
battles OF the Democratic or Conserya
tive party upon such new issues as ma,
arise but in doing this Vr have , r;,b