American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-08-16
The Louisiana Robbers.

NONE of the reconstructed States has
suffered more severely by the rapaeity of
carpetbag plunderers than Louisiana
Ever since the present Administration has
been in power the State has been at the
mercy of clique of Federal officeholders,
headed by brother-in- law of the Presi-
dent, who have first manipulated nominal
ing conventions and then resorted to the
most barefaced frauds to complete their
work at the polls The result has been
that the taxpayers and owners ofproperty
have been despoiled of millions and mill
ions of dollars to enrich crew of adven-
turers and support host of their ignorant
negro tools in idleness.
Twelve years ago the city of New Or
leans contained a population of 245,000
and 1925 100000 in wealth. Since then
the city of Jefferson. the town of Algiers
and the village of Milenburg have been
brought within the corporate limits, with
an aggregate of 25.0O0 inhabitants and
$5O,OOO.OOO of taxable property; and yet
today the total population of New Orleans
is only 10000, and the valuation of all
its taxable property is but S135,OOO,00o.
Wharves have gone to decay, ferries are
abandoned, street railways lie unused, one
section of the great reservoir of the water
works is in ruins, its debris blocking the
streets. grass is ankle deep at Morgan's
fringed with steamers 'tied up to await
the action of the courts. great blocks of
extravagantly taxed buildings stand empty,
many of their owners having been driven
north to earn money wherewith to pay
their taxes; while decayed and abandoned
shops and dwellings are TO be seen in
every direction within the city and on its
outskirts In the once rich sugar coun-
try abandoned plantations and ruined
cane mills afford picture of desolation
in keeping with that presented in New
Orleans.
When the property-holderso of Louisiana,
last year, by forming a coalition of Re
publicans and Democrats, succeeded in
electing Mr.. McEnery, a respected citizen
that the reign of thievery and corruption
was over, and that by the exercise of en-
terprise and thrift they would be able to
revive the prosperity of former days. But
Grants brother-inlaw, supported by
Federal bayonets, soon deprived them of
that hope, and by usurpation as law
less as a burglary, the constitutional
Government was overthrown and replaced
by a spurious organization in which the
most unscrupulous plunderers who have
so long cursed Louisiana, hold unrestrict-
ed authority. And spurious Judges Gre
ated by the illegal action of spurious
Government, stand ready to justify any
measure OF atrOcity that their masters may
attempt.
As the establishment of the Kellogg
Government was secured by force and
fraud, so the administration of public af-
fairs by that Government has been char
acterized by shameless greed and entire
disregard of law The State Treasurer, a
colored man, was suspected of being hon
est, and his functions was thereupon
usurped by the Auditor, in defiance of the
express provisions of the statute, and the
Treasurer was ordered to Jail by Judge
Hawkins for resisting the illegal preten-
sions of the Auditor. ChiefJustice Lud-
cling and Senator John Raw of New Or
leans were sold the North Louisiana Rail-
road for $4,000, though stockholders of
fered 100000 for it at the same time. The
fortunate purchaser wished to sell the road
to Colonel Tom Scott, who feared to buy
it, as the outraged stockholders threatened
to contest the title: whereupon Kellogg
issued to them $576, 900 in State bonds
with which to buy off the men who were
disputing the legality of the first t-ansac
tion, and the ChiefJustice and Senator
it is said, got a million and a quarter OF
dollars for their bargain. These are fail
examples of the manner in which the af
fairs of Louisiana are administered by q
crew of usurpers, who have no more legal
right to interfere in its concerns than the
band of masked brigands who recently rob
bed a railroad train in Iowa. The New Or
leans Herald, a fearless and Trustworthy
journal, makes the astounding assertion
that the property Of Nep Orleans has declin
ed in ralue more than fifty per cent. sine,
Kellogg scds installed Is it any wonder
then, that the people of the State are beg
ging to be placed under martial law il
order to gain protection from the ruler:
who have been forced upon them?
Do the people of the North realize the
extent of the terrible wrongs which have
been inflicted by President Grant upor
the people of Louisiana? We say by
President Grant, for he is the man res
pOnsible for this crime, Notwithstanding
his efforts to place the blame on Congress
During the whole progress of the con
spiracy which resulted in the revolution
ary overthrow of the legal Government o
Louisiana the conspirators were in con
slant communication with the White
House, and were receiving encourage
ment in their unlawful purposes from thu
President himself 1t was Grant who CAV,
directions for the use of Federal troops Il
violate the integrity of State Govern
ment; it was Grant who promised mill
tary force to support an illegal order be
fore it was issued. 1t is true that thu
President sent a message to Congress OF
the subject after the outrage had been &C
complished, well knowing that the sub
servient majority in that body would
never dare to condemn his action, bu
that does not in any degree diminish hi
esponsibility.-Neao York Sun.