New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-22

Il
fact that all the bad men down here know
they could murder me and men of my
stripe with perfect impunity and safety
that is, so far as the government, State OF
/ national, is concerned. have known this
long and sadly; but it has not and shall
not deter me from speaking my thoughts
without disguise and with truth and free
dom-has not and shall not deter me from
being Just without fear. Men as coed as
am, and as true to liberty, have within the
past few months-within less than one year
past-been basely and most UNANIMOUSLY as.
| sassinated in North Louisiana; and no one
is molested or made afraid. ! refer espe-
cially to the assassination of Hon. William
b. Mcdonald, of Jackson parish, and Judge
I Thomas s. Crawford, of Caldwell. More
I true and pure patriots do not live in any
State Of this Union, which fact was their
only crime; and for this they died. Perhaps
the government, either State or national,
can not help it; but if this is really SO it
would seem that the condition Of Repub-
leans in the backwoods Of North Louisiana
Is only SO much the more romantic-in-
deed, miserably romantic.
recollect asking General Grant, in 1868,
| whether or not might be permitted to re-
sumo and continue the publication of
| loyal newspaper in the town of Homer. My
| office had twice been mobDed within few
| months-frst in April and again in the fol.
| lowing November. He replied very prompt
| ly and Enthusiastically: Eyes, will pro-
tect you in that right, if it takes the entire
land and naval forces Of the United States"
But Homer is great distance from Wash
! ington city, and somehow or other the pro-
| lection has never cOme-neither does even
| the moral recognition and protection Of the
government, either State or national, reach
| unbroken the lonely and unprotected condi
ton of the Republicans OF the backwoods
of North Louisiana. When an active cam
paign is going on, we Republicans Of that
locality are very much in demand-we are
| then all very clever fellows indeed-our
services are very much needed to roll up as
large . vote as possible for the Republican
ticket, with perhaps men on 10 who would
soil buzzard roost and disgrace an ordi-
nary dog kennel; but as soon as We get
through with this dirty work, performed at
the very peril of our ives-and for which
perhaps we ought to have been killed-we
are ignored and left out in the cold on all
possible occasions, and not unfrequently the
very men rewarded over us who prosecuted
and hunted us down for our devotion and
activity in behalf of the Republican ticket.
land this. too. is vanity and vexation Of
spirit'-and just little romantic withal.
There are Men in this State today hold
ing fat State and Federal offices. who never
controlled vote for the Republican party.
even if they ever cast one. while careworn
and SCARED and famlshing Republicans. of
equal or superior ability, are told there is
no rest for the wicked aad no help for the
widows son-no balm in Gilead and no
physician taere-no place, no crumb tor
them!
This is peculiarly and especially the case
with the Republicans Of North Louisiana,
and it renders their condition, in my estima,
ton, very omantic-shamefully so. What
consideration, for instance, has John Ray
ever received at the hands Of the Repubii.
can party, at all commensurate with his
trials, his services and his ability! None
And why! Because he has lived away up
IN North Louisiana. and is simply decent
and competent native Southern loyalist. |
can see no other reason-if. indeed, so in |
excusabie ingratitude and injustice might |
be termed reason.
John Ray may not than; ine for making |
this allusion. but l do SO as lie climate
vindication aud exemplifcat;on Of the posi-
ton assumed In this chapter-that the |
theme Of politics Is a very romantic one to |
the Republicans Of the backwoods of North
Louisiana. Mr.. Ray is fair sample OF the |
whole Programme of romantic ingratitude
and injustice Of which w...e. and Of which !
complain.
I say boldly. and defy any charge Of AFRO.
.ance. much less of untruti. that the his.
Tory Of the Republicans o: North Louisiana.
from the tirs. commencement of the rebel.
lion Of secession to the present moment, ex.
slibits an unrequited devotion to principle |
unsurpassed. if not unegualei. ini the his
tory of the world: and. on the other hand.
their neglected and unprotected condition
shows case Of inexcusable ingratitude and
injustice on Che part Of the government they
have supported and defended at SO much
peril and under such disadvantage tina. is
equally unsurpassed. it no: unequaled,
in the history OF the ingratitude O: repub-
lies. And thj. applies alike to the State and
aatona! governments. make no special
charge OF this character gains: the present
State government o: Louisiana. because i.
has been so hampered and trammeieI that
1t has as yet had no fair ch ance to show its
hand; bat if i. does follow in the footsteps
.liustrious Of ITS predecessor. in this ceapect.
may the waters Of Lethe soon flow over its
disgraceful and disgraced memory forever
Che sooner the bett r. If those who aid in
placing the government: into power can not
De fostere6 and protected by it: if the enc.
mics of Q government are 20 be rewarded
and its friends punished. and the rule OF
honor and equity thus perverted into one
.! dishonor and injustice. then lie: al! gov
eminent be abolished a: once. SO tia: every
mar may seek that protection and redress
best known to the nomad Of the desert.
Then would we have romance Of poll.
tics in New Orleans as well as il the back.
woods OF North Louisiana. and fully as
much protection FROM wrong and outrage
here as We have in the mai. had there siuce
me war.
SO would cay to my Tennessee friend
and all others concerned. or who may feel
solicitoUs. that have indeed passed the
political Rublcon and propose 20 enter
Rome -have burned my ships and cut the