New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-23
The Burkesses.

a mob fills the First District Court room.
1t is bad. lazy, disorderly mob. It is said
to be popular demonstration.
But word on the popular demonstra-
non." The crowded courtroom has echoed
the expressions and murmurs Of those who
now denounce the Burgesses. They inter
rupt the business Of the court; they occupy
the whole attention of all Sheriff Patton's
force; they have deprived the city Of the
protection OF twenty police detailed to keep
them in order; they have manifested their
approval OF everything that seemed to
crush the criminals, and hooted their dis
appreciation OF every lawful protection that
surrounds them. Forgetting that, even
| though numbers ie power, they should think
| that some involved may retalats; they
| strike all whom in their blind wrath they
| believe to be down. This blind. brutal,
] bestial mob has attacked even the guards
| Of these poor unfortunates. and poured the
/ filth Of their wrath on their brave young
| counsel.
The outrages Of their oppfessors eonpels
| oven the elevation OF che criminals!
I INV OOOAoOI0OuCs WuO " hIl 6c.tCttu,
alone remembered his conscience and the
glorious traditions Of the profession to
which bs is such At honor appointed by
the court, and the other, who has raised
himself to his side by fof getting all bus his
brother in his professional extremity, vol
unteered his sid-how dare you abuse
/ them.
You, that hiss them ia court ifcite the
mob to lynch their clients stone their pro-
tectors; stay around the courtroom to gloat
On their tniseriee; work on a panel of
jurors till they dare not sit; do no labor
but hang around to earn the wages Of sin
who are you.
Who are you that have no other occupa
patton than to roll your cigarettes, or play
marbles, or fy your kites, or fire your spirit
with oaths that CRATE on the American ear,
or liquor that an honest stomach refuses to
retains
Rabble, the honest citizen of the Third
District says. Pestilential infants that
break windows and the police should lock
up. Bad, bad, all of you cay.
But you, my staid housekeeper, who how
SO sternly reprobate this demonstration as
We talk over it quietly, did you not leave
your black coffee to grow cold while you
swelled the crowd who welcomed the
couple on the street with jeers and threats!
And you, careful keeper of shop, did you
not forget the stealthy thief and leave your
goods unguarded, the hard times forgotten,
anc encourage by your presence the acts
of the towards whe dare do nothing alone!
And you, who are profoundly educated
student Of the civil law, which fades day by
day in the march of events, and know 10
more Of common law or English than will
enable you to sneer at the counsel for the
defense; was there not encouragement in
your smile as you stood on the banquette9
And you, my leisure-loving friend of phil
osophic discussion, were not you looking on
when the Burgesses ran the gauntlet? And
whose wives and daughters were those
ladies who. from their windows, looked
with approval on the outrages and the dis
grace, and suffered the wickedness of their
hearts to force through their lips the words
hang theme"
No matter what they have done or how
guilty they are, these two criminals are in
the custody of the law. They are accused
of the greatest crime the law knows They
are prosecuted by the highest and ablest
legal official of the State, with the aid of
the most successful district attorney.
Nothing can be suggested that will make |
either finch from pursuing the matter to
the end They are guarded by a vigilant
sheriff who has the confidence of the whole |
community. A force of police, undeg a |
most resolune officer Of the corps, assists
him. What can, in the name 81 honest hu- |
nanity, be added 70 their unfortunate CON !
dition TO make them moro miserable! The
fair-ninded lover OF freedom and fair play !
will say, with .softening eye and plying
voice, nothing" But the beasts that COM
posed the crowd that stoned their guard |
can ! They are those who hit man when
ne is down. They are those who abuse the
noble men who stand between them and
sheir helples. victims. They are those who
would outrage law and never obey il. They
are those who have no occupation but 80
watch tog the opportunity 20 do wIong.
And who composed that mobS Not che
DOys who played che marbles and threw ]
The stones, not those who flow Kites and |
looted, not the swearefs and " hisky drink
ITS who excited 10, but you, respectable
citizens Of the neighborhood, who encour- !
lged il by your presence; you. my staid
careful shop dealer, ~nvious
avye1 and my gentleman friend, and you
and gentle dsitiss OF their
learths-is is to you this disgrace on the
aw and order Of New Orleans is due. J.
The arm THAI hurled the brick which |
truck the policeman Who guarded the
surgesses, the idiotic laugh that welcomed
heir counsel, the threats, the sneers and
be disorder may all come from irresponsi.
lie eources. but the evil results will return |
0 you.
These outrages must be stopped. These |
shall be protected. The REPUR-
ICAN has denounced, in the words of the
lttOrney General, ''ali who do not come up |
nue. to do so. Officials or criminals, the
eople or the individual will be criticised
l the same impartial spirit. II has de-
ounaed Socha, and he is in jail; it bas told t
ne truth of Shoenhausen. and he is con-
icted it has exposed abuses ard beer
bused. ii
But below ali corruption, more criminal Q
ian the worst indicted OF convicted
debased beneath the contempt