New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-17
THE TINE FOR ACTION.

which has led Its enemies 10 SuSoe''
suspicion of weakness. and it is PLAIN 'ha'
no remedy short OF overpowerln9 lofoe
will prove effectual to arrest the spirit %
insubordination which has been !hsiu-
iously instilled into the minds OF the peo-
! ple in many of the parishes. The ufah'
parish massacre is the toscln OK ""i'
which strikes upon the ear with no uncef-
tain sound. and admits o: but one inter
probation.
So long as the enemies OF the State con-
fined their aggressive policy 70 wordy
warfare. and vented their hostility IN
| sneeches and newspaper articles, Gov
ernor Kellogg doubtless thought his oes'
course was 20 leave the agitators to be
| dealt with according to the better Judg-
ment of public opinion. Perhaps he has
been too hopeful. Perhaps he has per-
mitted the arch agitators 20 distract this
unhappy State too long already-to pros
trate commerce. destroy confidence, I'M
| pair values, and excite the minds OF the
people. We say perhaps he has erred by
not displaying more frmness earlier. IN
the conflict. But if so, he has erred on
the side of leniency and humanity, and
will be among the first to apply the COR
rective.
He is our la wfully elected Governor.
and as such is entitled to the obedience
| and respect of every inhabltans OF the
State. He has, however, whether wisely
or not permitted another TO set up pre-
tense to executive powers and prerogatlVes
| until there is actually rather large and
unpleasantly powerful faction here that,
with bold effrontery pretends to question
his right to be Governor at all The
Grant parish outrage has pfecipitated an
issue which we are well aware the Gov
ernor has been anxious to avoid. While
the government has been amply able 20
make itself felt, the hope that the neces-
sity for the exercise of force would pass
away in time has had restraining effect.
! and this has led the opposition into the
serious error of undertaking the power OF
the administration. This issue must and
will be accepted Either Governor Kel-
logg must overcome and put down all 10
cal opposition to lis authority, Or he will
at once become Governor only in name.
He has ample means, and we believe he
has the disposition to enforce the laws.
Under the mistaken notion that the Re-
publican party feared a second appeal to
the people, the FusiOnists have been for
some months past agitating the question
of new election. Prodigious castles in
the air have been built upon the unsub-
stantial foundation of an order OF Con-
gress to that effect SO far as the success
of the Republican party is concerned, We
would have nothing to fear. As we re-
marked in yesterdays REPUBLICAN,:
That if Congress, in regular or special
session, shall, upon review OF our political
| events and position, decide to remand this
| State to territorial condition, and enact
an enabling law by which new and gen
| eral election shall be held for State and
| federal offices. we will cheerfully abide by
| its arbtrament, assured that the polls Will
! be kept open and the ballot pure.
But while we shall cheerfully abide by
such an arbitrament, we are not among
| those who desire it. nor will our voice be
| Joined with those who concede the pro-
priety of Congress setting aside State
| elections. We have several serious OBJ
iections to disturbing the existing condi,
ton of atf,irs as settled by the last cleo
ton.
In the first place. that election was
valid. and it was made the duty of the
proper officers to determine the result.
That determination has already been made
known and accepted by a majority of the
people Of the State, including thousands
of men who did not vote the Republican
ticket. Again, the officers legally chosen
have an equitable right to enjoy their
offices for the term for which they were
as well as impoltic TO disposses them.
Furthermore, We object to incurring al
this time, or at any other time, the great
expense OF holding q general election,
when it is morally cer,ain the result would
| be substantially the same as that of the
contest which ended ON the fourth of No
vember. And not the least Objectionable
feature of new campaign would be the
! political excitement and loss of valuable
time incident to such an event.
! These reasons are. in our mind, amply
sufficient to influence every well wisher OF
Louisiana to oppose the programme of
tle more desperate Fusion politicians to
appeal TO Congress 90 interfere and set
aside our State election.
1t remains. Therefore. for Governor kel-
logg and his subordinate officials 10 fight
( uut ~. the lin" already indicated. He
! can not shrink from his duty. which be
has sworn to perform. H can not turn a
deaf .u. 10 the cr, oi agony and 'listres,
which comes down from Grant parish.
He can not permit the blood Of one hun
! dred murdered citizens to- sink into the
earth without bringing their assassins to
account. In jackson. Franklin. Living
ston, and other parishes. incipient rebel
lion has already reared its head. and de-
mands instant suppression.
We must show the people Of the NORTH.
or the world for that matter. that We are
able to sustain ourselves, and put down
all opposition from whatever source or toi
whatever object. with the strong hand.