New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-22
The White .leaguers' War.

The ;rsUrrect;on in Louisiana is the most
formidable and outrageous that has oc-
Cured in the South since the war. 1t Is
the most formidable because il Is the best
organized. The White Leaguers have been
organizing in that State for many months
pas. with companies, captains. reg imenrs.
colonies. divisions. generals. and all the
machinery necessary fo- prompt offensive
operations. Their object has been openly
av.wed to be the driving OF Repu Dlleans
from Office AMI. If possible. their expulsion
from the State. The thoroughness OF their
organization is indicated by the prompt
response made TO the cal! Of Penn. who
s:.ns himself as Lieutenant Governor. and
bv the Unmistakab!e signs of sympathetic
action in the interior of the State. There is
no. a shadow OF doubt that the movement
has been deliberately planned and precon.
certed. In plain terms, it Is simply an at.
tempt on the part cf the Democracy. aided
by the exyebels and the very worst
elements of society. to obtain contro!
Of the State government. 1t is an attempt
to accomplish by violence and revolution
what they were unable to effect by other
means. Without going into the merits Of
the original controversy. or opening the re.
turns bv which Kellogg was elected Gov.
ernor, it is enough that he and his admins.
tyation have been recognized as the de tacto
government for two years past. and they
undoubtedly represent q majority OF the
legal voters in the State today. The fac:
that he was elected by colored votes. or
that the Republican party in Louisiana
rests mainly on colored votes. has nothing
| to do with the question. since the colored
men are legal voters as much as the whites.
The whole affair is an audaciOus and high.
handed effort on the part OF the White
LeagUers to overthrow the established gov.
errment Of the State. 10 intmidate the ne.
groes and to place the Democrats in power.
OF course it will no. succeed. 1t is a
| formidable insurrection, and may be at
tended By considerable bloodshed, but i.
| Will fail. The duty of the government is
| perfectly clear. l. is to support the consti
steps for the Immediate suppression OF
| the outbreak. Its magnitude IS evidenced
| by the tao. that Governor Kellogg has
| already called on the President FOR
| aid in suppr-ssing it, and that the President
has responded by issuing an order TO the in
| surrectionists to disperse within tive days
| and hereafter to obey The legal authorities.
| He has also directed Generals Mcdowell
| and Emory 70 use all necessary means fox
the protection OF life and property and the
| preservation Of order. This prompt action
! o. the President is admirable. II is only 10
| be regretted that the military has no power.
| eXcep. under martial law, to Go more than
make arrests and turn prisoners over to the
| civil authorities. Ii a score or SO of the ring
leaders could be tried by drum head court
MARTA! and shot the effect would be excel
len, throughout the South. That they are
| dissatisfied with the present State govern
ment nobody doubts, and there is probably
sufficient ground for dissatisfaction: bu:
these came men have been tomenting dis
.u.bances for the last two years. and now
tina. they have ;naugurated armed rebellion
thew on xht to be made 70 suffer for it,"
Jiaj.cyo.Js .'o1ti.aIj.