The weekly Louisianian., 1874-09-26
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION

80 VA
& -
Whensoms time since Ne saw : dis
position on To part i ths whitepeo
Pr to i.~.ueqzate Apolitieal - il
I5ouidana against the coJored, voters.
we admcniahed them that such 9
movement WAS destined to prove ~
great . blunder as their attempt to
ignore the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments Of the constitution and
the reconstruction measures
We announced then, what we believe
now. that the dissatisfaction expressed
all over the North against the conduct
Of affairs in several of the Southern
States was not the result of q convic.
ton in the Northern mind that negro
suffrage had proven . failure, but
rather . condemnation of the men who
had been nnwisely entrusted With pow.
e, which they had abused; and we
urged our white fellow-citizens not to
place a wrong construction on North
ern criticisms of Southern affairs.
In spite Of our protest-in defiance
of the plainest dictates Of reason and
common-sense this unwfse policy was
persistedin, untilit not onlybe9ame the
political shibboleth of the opposition,
but eliminated in riot, outrage and
murder that his deepened and broad
ened.the chasm between our people
and for the time, makes it appear to
the unthoughtful that there is no hope
for better things.
But for us,-who are not without
hope and who have placed our shout.
der to the wheel and are determined
to improve the condition of our peo-
pie cost what it may-the
sanguinary conflict just past has
taught = most valuable lesson and ena-
bles us to refer with pride to the
course Of the. Lou1a1Ax1AN.
We have maintained from the first
that to obtain practical reformation in
the government-the essential thing
the prime necessity, was a better under
standing between the white and colored
people and the establishment among
them Of friendly relations based upon
3 just and fair recognition Of the rights
Of both. ill.,. .~. >
For some reasons there has been no
serious effort made to accomplish this
Indispensable task. Temporizing with
blatherskites, selecting for important
positions nondescripts-m who rep
resent no doctrine, principle, or
party, have characterized the con-
luct of those entrusted with the
control of the government
If Louisiana. We charge first, that
nd Governor Kellogg exercised the
,ower, patronage, and ability Of his
administration for the removal of in
and dishonest men, and the
substitution of good men within the par
lines, or ofthose really representing
'ome other party, the disasters Of last
week could noth have occurred. Second,
lad the powe& and patronage Of the
been exercised in restrain.
and confning o~bstreperous under
ings within the legitimate sphere of
heir duties, instead Of devoting their
ime exclusively to the overthrow Of
leaders, the decentralization
hat exhibited itself last week, would
lot have been seen. Let US be dis
understood. We charge ad-
that the majority of recent
'emovals of Republicans and appoint
nent of others under the guise Of
With our political oppo-
tents have been unqualifedly in
urious to Republicaninteres without
:fecting one title Of reconciliation
nth our foes. :A -. sal
We have :easefqlly followed up this
and our experience has been
hat not in one case out of ten has
be appointee for the Fusion
Conservative Democratic white mans
'arty received the approval Of
hat party: And this brings us to the
Every removal Of a Repub-
lean weakened the party in proportion
the status and usefulness Of the
officer, while the success
OF, rot representing anything nor
nybody, necessarily failed to secure
ven the most ordinary consideration
our opponents.
We are in favor of peace and har-
oony between the whole people of
and we intend hencefor-
ard and forever to 'tcry aloud and
pore not" in that interest; and We
&ha wh;ko raorJo ~ Tho 1koAol