The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-26

sands of the men who are now idly pom
dering the situation will jump at the
chance and eagerly seek death or Il
change of fortune in another land. How
then to act under these two difficult sur
gical operations, is the question for
every thoughtful man to consider.
Roundabout does not pretend to advise.
He can only state facts as he believes
they exist, and leave the matter to the
Judgment of the people.
The present excited condition of the
public mind, especially in the country,
if it is not speedily quoted, must cause
of an armed militia. Were the Repub-
lican party, from self-prcservation,
compelled to take that step, the men in
whose hands would be placed the
twelve thousand muskets due Louisi-
ana by the United States, are we'll
known.
Were insOIence on one side resisted,
IN the other every musket and every
gun might fall into the hands of white
men, but Capitalization would neverthe-
less he protected with the full power of
the Federal Government.
1t is as we'll to realize the truth at first
as last: The Republican party means
Capitalization. The men, North and
South, who hold office through it's in
strumentality, (and who do nOtN will
not only protect it, but enforce its de
mands, while there is an armed soldier
Our talk Of constitutional rights is sheer
nonsense. None exist, nor Will exist at
the South during the present genera
ton. The question to be decided by
the people Of Louisiana is solely one of
pOlicy-Whether, in the interest of their
material prosperity, they will accept q
proposition similar to the one above
stated, or, clasping hands like the brave
PaScagOulas, rush into a sea of chaos.
Mr.. Kellogg personally, i'll the opinion
Of Roundabout, is as much disposed to
act justly by the people as any member
OF the Republican party in the State.
The testimony of gentlemen we'll known
III the community will bear out the as
sertlOn that, to a certain extent, he has
exhibited a fairness and moderation as
gratifying as it is unexpected; but Mr..
Kellogg, nor no other member of the
party he represents dares run counter
to It's flats, and a time is fast approach
ing when opposition will be treason not
only to party, but to the nation. In
many things, not only he, but the Re-
publican party of the State, are as pow
erless as the weakest among their op-
ponents. Admitting all the cupidity,
disregard Of law, and ruthless spOlia-
ton OF which many of them may be
guilty, the revolution they themselves
have l~naugurated, has grown into a
power they cannot resist. Political
movements so pregnant with fate never
retrOgrade. The step boldly taken bv
the President and sustained by a major
lty OF the people in the North must pro-
gress. The fate of Louisiana will at
tract no more attention North than
would the fate of a deceased pauper in
one OF u hospitals, and it is being a
paupeT, IN money, influence, power.
everything, IN fact, except honor, wher-
in lies Il misfortune.
The only suggestion, good. had or in
different which emanated from the Con-
gresslOnal party who recently visited
the city, was the advice to organize the
Leglslature and leave the status of the
State officials to the courts. This can
be considered official and as it were er
cdthe0r0.
Many of Il citizens consider the
chances for a new election excellent
but with a Federal supervision antagOn-
lstlc to the people, and officials deter
mined at whatever cost to sustain their
party, the result, to say the least, would
De doubtful.
Roundabout has the assurance that
reforms of a salutary character will at
once be instituted in the offices of the
Auditor and Treasurer; that an effort
will at once be made to modify and
place upon an equitable basis the State
assessments. He has been assured for
weeks that the converting of the Legis-
Ilature upon the basis proposed would
be the signal for wholesale measures of
reform, and a modification of MANY Of
the laws which now disgrace the Sta
tute book. Others, however, have quite
as good an opportunity as he to satisfy
themselves upon these points, and were
the next week devoted to a personal in
v~estigati0n of the subject, the time so
expended would be most ~usefullv en-
ployed. The foregoing remarks are, as
near as he can make them, a simple IN
vanished statement of facts as thew
exist; and his sole hope is that they
may lead to further inquiry and o. de-
cislon upon the vexed8question wherin
lies our true interests, morally, socially
and materially and in the present dire
extremity, what is the propef course for
the people to pursue.