The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-24
The Future o. LOUISIANA.

The Texas case has thrown a flood of
light on the Louisiana case. 1t has shown
how these questions ought to be settled.
1t has proved that there is but one
healthful and lawful solution of them, and
that is self-solution. The Texas difficult
ty lasted only three days, and was peace
fully and exhaustively settled without
shock to the country. The Louisiana diff
ficulty, on the other hand has lasted thir-
teen months, and is unsettled yet. The
explanation of the easy Judgment of the
one is that it was left to the people of the
State to be managed in their own way :;
the explanation OF the embarrassment Of
the other is that an attempt was made by
outside force to manage it for the benefit
of party at Washington. One is a sue
cess. the other is failure.
1t is very probable that Congress will
order a new election in Louisiana, and thus
give TIE people an opportunity to try the
case over again. 1t is impossible, after
the Texas lesson, for Congress to consent
to the maintenance Of the lawless Kellogg
government. What ought to be done is
for the President to withdraw his forces
and leave the people to install the McEn-
cry government. But this would be a
confession of wrong that we need not ex-
pect. The next best thing is for Congress
to resubmit the controversy to the people
by new election-and this, it is intimated,
will De done 1t will not be entire Justice
to the people of Louisiana, but it will be
something infinitely less unjust than the
armed maintenance Of the present offensive
status, and if the people of Louisiana are
wise, they will accept it and make the best
Of it. They have asserted repeatedly that
there was Conservative majority in the
State in 1872, and that there is a Conserv-
alive majority now All that they have
to do, then, is to make this assertion good.
If in the new election which Congress will
probably order in the spring, they shall
carry the State, they will not only secure
their complete deliverance and regain con-
troll Of their government, but give to the
country a signal demonstration of the JUS
tice of their cause and a signal condemna-
ton Of the Washington policy. We ear
nestly hope they will do this-not by VIC
lence or retaliation, but by fair and lib
eral treatment Of the c0lored masses who
have been claimed as the supporters of the
Kellogg conspiracy. There are three exam
pies in the South that the people of Loui-
siana cannot too carefully study-Georgia,
| Virginia and Texas. Those States were
afflicted as Louisiana is; but they are afflic.
ted no longer. By wise counsels, patience.
and moderation they have disenthralled
themselves and are now their own masters.
The despotic and venai party that rule
and robbed them has been annihilated,
and these three great States are now lead
| ing the way in the restoration Of the van
pushed south to its rlghtful coequality and
influence. One by one the worthless car
pet baggers who have mis- represented
| them in the Senate are dropping out of
| their seats and faithful and trusted citizens
taking their places What has been done
in Virginia, Georgia and Texas may be
done in Louisiana, if the same prudent and
considerate methods are used We in the
| West have substantial interest in the
solution OF the Louisiana question, because
we want the active aid Of the people of
that State in the effort to secure an i'm
proved and cheapened navigation of the
Mississippi and an improved and cheaper
| ed outlet from New Orleans to the gulf
1t is keen self-interest, therefore, that
prompts the wish that the whites of Loui-
siana will adopt such moderate and con
ciatory policy towards the colored masses
as to insure for their State ut the forth
coming election the same deliyerance that
has had such benign results in Virginia
Georgia and Texas st. LoQis RepuLli
can.