Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-04-26
oIYlPlA, SATURDAY MORNING. APR Is, ISL,
THE LOUISIANA TROUBLE.

The iniquitous proceedings in Lou
isiana have at last eliminated in con-
Aict, apparently of races. which may
assume formidable proportions if the
Administration persists in recognizing
q government forced upon the people
through the farcicsl and corrupt appli-
ance known as the Returning Board.
1t has appeared to be the object OF that
board to assume full control of the po-
litical affairs of the State. It COM
menced its nefarious work by virtually
setting aside the election of State Off
GERS, awarding certificates of election to
the candidates rejected by ballot, upon
the most flimsy pretexts. supported by
the weakest evidence. The Kellogg
government by this means was institut-
ed. and has thus far been sustained
only through the fostering aid of the
General Government. The people re-
garded this usurpation of authority as q
wrong too grievous to be borne, but
have patiently awaited for some relief
from this unhappy state of affairs.
Their hopes have not been realized.
The two State governments have existed
for many months, and the President and
Congress have done everything but the
proper thing to- restore peace to the
people. By means of such official lies
as are found in the dispatch Of United
States Attorney Beckwith, the Admin
istration has sought to justify its arbi-
trary and unwarranted interference.
A plain statement Of facts, that has not
passed through the official quill, is as
follows: .'....
The trouble in Grant parish arose out OF
the destruction of parish officers. The Lynch
Returning Board ignored all officers elected
by the people Of the parish, and Governor
kellogg filled the places with his appointees.
These failed ~ qualify, and the Governor then
ordered the parties originally elected to as
sumo office. A large force of negroes, insti-
gated It is said by several white men, men,
selves and took Charge Of the Courthouse at
p COltax. They erected barbados from which
they issued, laundering plantations stopping
steamboats, for supplies of provisions, etc.
Meantime the whites of the parish had begun
to gather at Colfax to consider what to do.
They were joined by the whites of the sur
rounding parishes, and by Saturday there
were $50 whites encamped around the Court
house at Colfax, in which were several humid
red negroes, most of them armed with Enfield
rifles. The white leaders of the negroes
stepped on board a passing steamer on Friday
evening, and went TO New Orleans out of the
reach OF danger. The first fight occurred on
Saturday. The whites. commanded by Had
not, member Of the Fusionist Legislature,
were defeated, but there was no loss of life.
On Sunday noon the final battle took place.
The barricades were stormed and the negroes
driven into the Courthouse, and the assail-
ants, being unable to Dust them, set fire to the
Court house, and as soon, as the negroes ran
out shot them down one by one, to the num-
Der Of one hundred. Many were wounded
and and the hers rest escaped The whites lost only
Several were wounded. At last advices, not
NEGRO was to be seen In the vicinity Of Col
This unfortunate state of affairs can
L u l.