New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-18
Tho Failure of Recoustruc,ion.

In Yesterdays issue of the Chronicle We
endeavored SO indicate some Of the points
in which reconstruction had proven fail
nrp, and intinated that we would again
refer to the subject, and endeavor to point
out one or more Of the causes for the fail
ures we had named. We spoke of the un-
happy condition Of the negro by reason Of
his being almost entirely unprotected from
the virulent hatred of the poor white.
To any man Of average intelligence who
has watched the progress OF events in the
Southern States for the past nine years it is
as clear 81 MONDAY that the white men of
intelligence, wealth and social position are
principally responsible for the unhappy
condition of things we have alluded to.
This may seem to some gentlemen Of COM
Portable leisure who affect to regard politi-
cal questions as beneath their notice, ard
to others of tho Bourbon Democratic per-
suasion, as an assertion not warranted by
the facts. 1t is in the light of well known
facts, however, that we propose to consider
. it.
The very fewest number of the old South
ern leaders have taken, or will take, any
part whatever in the political affairs of the
South. You can find men of that class
stranded here and there over the South,
bearing about in their august persons all
the awful dignity and solemnity Of ante
war times. without having learned single
lesson from the war. Courts, legislatures,
peace conventions, every peaceful appliance
had been tried, and only III the last dread
tribunal of arms, by the bloody arbitra-
ment of the sword, from which there is no
appeal, had the great questions been settled,
yet your Southern leader learned nothing,
forgot nothing, but lives the Bourbon which
the war found him-and left him. 1t is
this class Of men that are mainly RESPONSE
bic Cor the continuance of troubles in the
South to-day, and for the failure of recon-
struction.
But it may be said they can not convert
the discordant elements into peace and or
der, and make them submit to good govern
ment. Without multiplying evidences to
the contrary, we need 90 back no further
than the recent troubles in New Orleans to
produce the very strongest evidence OF their
power to control the worst elements. We
invite attention alone to the facts in the
New Orleans case: Governor Kellogg's
government was overthrOwn by an organ
lied instruction which was for the llme
being successful. but yielded to the demand
of the President. and Kellogg was restored
to his official functions. The insurgents
only yielded to the federal authority. de-
claring their determination never to recog-
nize tho Kellogg government, but to over
throw it again the moment the federal
power was withdrawn. This was the
universal expression of all the people
and the newspapers of the city which
were of the party in opposition to Gov.
ernor Kellogg. The Governor was in
hourly danger of violence at the hands Of
the worst elements of the city. He was
Governor of Louisiana only bys virtue Of
federal bayonets. The feeling against him
was apparently widespread and universal
in the opposition party. But. 10! the lead
nf rpnraapNfInp fhn n
telligence. the wealth, the blue blood in
short, of the city of New Orleans-met in
solemn conference with a number OF the
friends of Governor Kellogg, and agreed. in
the most solemn manner. in consideration OF
certain cone essions by Kellogg ITO cause all
violence and intimidation, il any exist, to
cease throughout the State Does any IN
telligent gentleman for a moment DOUBT me
absolute power of these gentlemen to fulfill
their pledges And, furthermore, does any
man doubt their power to have prevented
the instruction and the bloodsbed of the
Of September had they been as
active in that behalf as they were in tolnent-
ing the troubles!
The organization known as the White
,earue. which overthrow the Kellogg gov
rrpment, was composed largely of officers
and soldiers of the late war. They had
sOldierly habits, and were amen.
able to discipline, obeying their leaders in
ali things When Kellogg was reseated by
The United States military power the in
,uryent organizations submitted without
struggle, not because of the superior force
displayed by the federal authorities, for
he latter was outnumbered by the former
more than tenfoid. but because Their lead
rs commanded their submission. Inc 1alr
inference is that an order to deslst IRON
'iolence against the Kellogg government IN
he first place would have been Obeyec with
be same promptness.
1t may De said that our conclusion IN re-
ard to the submission Of the insurgents 10
n unjust deduction from the facts. No one
tho is familiar with all the facts can resist 1
,e same conclusion. Men who engaged in