New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-16
TIE COLFAX MASSACRE.

Referring to another column for the
only details known, We can give no other
name to this portentive act. A portion
of the people who believe that the existing
State government is lawful, assemble TO
maintain the local officers in possession.
The people of other parishes invade with
arms and intervene in the local contro-
yersy; they drive the undisciplined COM
batants into building, set 1t on hre ana
shoot down from eighty to one hundred
with loss to the assaulting party OF two
men wounded. The world will learn all
the facts and will characterize this &C.
according as authentic investigation may
Justify. 1t is thus that our political strife
has eliminated in bloodshed. We shall not
exasperate feeling nor unsettle public iudg-
ment by violent words, or by assigning re-
sponsibility where we may think ifbelopgs.
The consequences Of the deed are too sig
nal Some OF these poor, ignorant labor
ers have gone to their account. There
will be no further difficulty in keeping
them from the polls. The survivors may
exercise with fear and trembling 4 right
which it required blood to gain and has
required blood to maintain. They may
even emigrate where these rights will be
respected. Those violent men who shot
down the laborers Of their fields
about few miserable parish offices
have not yet seen the end OF their
unhappy act. There is power else
where greater than their own. There Is
spirit elsewhere as intolerant as their own.
There are severe laws and terrible penal
ties to which an appeal may be made.
The injury to the production ofthe country
to the business interests OF the city. TO
that confidence between the landlord and
the laborer which will result from this act
of violence, are dreadful to contemplate.
The reopening of that bloody chasm into
which SO much has been cast that IS pre-
cious may be apprehended. and all the
public interests of Louisiana may suffer
beyond the possibility Of contemplation.
This event has made crisis III our po-
Iitical condition. The attack on the State
credit has been successful. The oblga-
tions of the State are unstable. The adj
ministration Of city affairs is equally i'm
potent with that of the State. There must
be solution of this crisis, but Jan armed oc-
cupation of the State can not produce it.
In our belief there is class determined to
the State and city government
or defeat their administration by any
Others We believe this class to be in the
electoral minority in the State. Those who
differ with US may perhaps, apply the
same candid expression of distrust to our
selves. Very well. We have been always
willing to abide by the full and fair vote
Of the State, but we are not willing that
the poll and publication OF this vote shall
be left to the possible influence of fraud,
force or terror, whether coming from the
one party or the other. There is but one
sufficiently powerful and impair
tial to conduct fair election in Louisiana.
To this authority we are willing to sub
nit, and this authority there is none will
dare resist. But at this moment there is1
no authority for the intervention Of the
federal government. The Governor may.
and no doubt will. ask for troops to pro-
tect from domestic violence He may,
perhaps, be conscientioUsly Of opinion,
from demonstrations in this city, that q |
special force should be established here. |
The commandant OF local forces may |
be authorized to determine whether |
a proclamation Of martial law. and the |
installing Of a military mayor
and provosts. may he proper. This we |
can not foresee. But we may say this: |
That if Congress. in regular or special |
session, shall. upon review of our po- |
litical events and position. decide to re-
mand this State to territorial condition, |
and enact an enabling law by which new
and general election shall be held for |
State and federal offices, we will cheerful |
ly abide by its arbitrament, assured that
the polls will be kept open and the ballot
pure. This great concession we would |
make in the sincere belief that the |
present State government is strictly legal, |
but to demonstrate our devotion to the |
of the State and the peace of the
Union. Will our opponents say the same?