The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-10-08
"0rder Reigns in Warsaw"

merciless and rapacious military chief,
from the city which he had crushed
with shot and shell and the execution
of thousands of the brave citizens,
must prompt those who declaim against
the proposition adopted by the Com
mittee of Seventy and the supporters
Of the McEnery government OF this
State convoking a State Convention.
The argument is, first, that previous
efforts TO obtain justice and vindicate
the right have proved so Intellectual.
Secondly, we have more serious DO
nestle care demanding our attention
and our entire withdrawal from the
distracting conflicts of politics.
Boiled down, these propositions in
voIve the pusillanimity Of abandoning
all efforts to maintain the right on the
first repulse; of striking our colors at
tho first gun, of retreating in disgrace
and dismay at the first charge of the
enemy.
There is little use in discussing such
a proposition before our people. We
need only state it. Nor does 1t rest
upon facts. The cause has not yet
been surrendered, nor has the battle
been gained by the enemy. The ques-
ton of the legality of the usurpation of
Kellogg is still pending before Con
gress. As a political question-and it
has been so recognized by Congress,
certainly by the Senate-it would be
in the highest degree discreditable and
unmanly if we abandoned the Issue,
which we have provoked and have
presented to Congress for its. ISOLATION.
Aud what is now proposed is simply
to convene an assemblage of represen
tative men of the State, with view of
presenting the true facts of our case
and exposing the enormous frauds and
violence by which our people have
been defrauded of their rights as free
men and as citizens, and subjected to
a government which is the approbrium
of modern civilization.
We can imagine nothing more dam
aging to our reputation as frecmen,
than would be the abandonment of a
demand, such as we have made in
Congress. 1t would, in fact, involve a
gross contumacy and disrespect TO
chat body. ...
Nor is there anything worthy of con-
sideration in the suggestion, that in
the asse, ton of our political rights,
and in the performance of the duties
Of all treemeD, we should be sacrificing
our material interests. There is no
such consequence, and if there was,
the obligation to assert and maintain
our political rights would still be a
paramount one to that which narrow
down our whole concern and absor b
all our energies and interest in the
pursuit Of mere present comfort and
material welfare.
Even in the practical view of the
stt.iect. the resistance TO the present
usurp"tion oushtto be prosecuted with
all the eafnestness and vigor that can
be brought to bear against it. The
maia cause of the present embarrass-
ments and impoverisllment of our poo
pie, in all their commercial and all
other relations, is distinctly traceable
to the maintenance in it's Government
OF tie c0rmorant horde which has been
indicted Into power through the frauds
of The Kellogg party and the violence
of Federal authority.
Can we ever have prosperity, thrift
and progress in this State when it is
subjected to the greed and plumber of
this rdpacious crew9 What will the fer
tiliiy OF orr soil. the industry of the
people, the growth and extension of
our commerce avail us If the rule of such
a nment is to be continued? Who
does not see and acknowledge that the
great evil, the main incnbus, the over
powering obstacle to our progress and
restoration. is the existence of snch
nnrernment2 Why tlan rlnnll ,ra