New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-13

OF official places which they wish to cap-
ture and enjoy without abatement? Let US
hear from them on measures Of constitu-
tional and legal reform to be ordered OF
enacted by the next Legislature.
TIE FOURTEENTH OF SEPTEMBER.
This day Of shame, disgrace and blood
shed has been frequently referred to By
the Picayune and Bulletin as something to
be proud Of by those who rose in arms
against the lawful government. Also as
a bugbear for the Republicans. IN our
judgment it is neither the one nor the
other. 1t was. no doubt. day Of defeat
and disaster. but we can not concede that
any substantial gains were achieved by
the White Leaguers. As the REPUBLICAN
has frequently explained. a local majority
overcame. for few hours. loca!
minority. But the fourteenth Of Septem-
Der was quickly followed by the fifteenth.
which brought the Presidents proclama.
ton. and very soon after by the sixteenth,
which brought General Emory and his
reinforcements. The seventeenth saw the
downfall Of the insurgent government and
the reinstation of lawful authority. In
the interim, there We're fifteen or sixteen
long funeral professions seen fling through
our streets. bearing the las: remains Of
young men who had been cut down in the
morning Of their days in an ;nternec;ne
strife between American citizens who had
been bounded ON to kill each other by the
Clay statue speakers. Eight OF Ten police
men were killed Oh one side and fifteen or
sixteen young men in private station on
the other. Unsuccessful attempts have
been made TO gloss over these tragical
events and soothe the aching hearts CT
bereaved relatives by the glittering fctions
that those who persisted ''tell in defense Of
the peoples rights"
II We inquire what rights We're thus Sc.
cured which could not as well have been
enforced by other means. the answer will
be, none. AL that has come ont Of the
conflict Of the fourteenth CT September
which the Democrats can regard with
any satisfaction is an increased vote in
the city. which the people could have cast
as well without the rio: as with il. II
will not. we trust, be contended that it re-
quires the killing Of twenty-five or thirty
young men, and the wounding Of a hun.
bred or more, to stimulate the Democracy
to do their duty at the polls. 1t is prob
able that the Republicans would have lost
every ward in the city if the election had
taken place on the second Of September.
instead Of on the second of November. II
there is any cause for additional rejoicing
because the vote was larger than was ex.
pected. we think there is also a modifying
in the remembrance that
many good men were So neediessly slain.
But Republicans are asked every day,
in terms of menace and taunt, '.Do you
want another fourteenth OF September
We answer--By no means. We want no
violence Of any sort. though perhaps the
party would have as little to
fear from a repetition Of the attempt Of
the White Leaguers to overthrow the
present forces armed for the defense Of
the State as their opponents. It will be
that TIE affair Of the four
teenth was not bloodless victory. though
there was nothing bu: the police to check
the attack. 1t is diferen: now. 4 battle
in the streets under existing circumstances
would be much more serious matter
than the late affair. and it requires no seer
to predict the most disastrous conse-
auences to one Of the parties. Ie. We
want no repetition Of the kind: no more
Fl Citing between those who should be
friends; 10 more shame and disgrace 70
our city.
We do not lose sight Of the :sc: tina: i:
costs little or nothing in this country to
threaten and blus!er about war. Words
are not punished so much as acts. Nor
are we unmindful Of the existence Of q
strong Discrimination in White League cir
cles to come out for another conaic. when
it is morally certain they would be brought
face to face with the stars and stripes.
This feeling is caused by higher consider.
ations than physical fear of defeat. though
prudent men rightly take that into ac-
count. Many Of the white citizens have
given their parole to keep the peace to-
ward the Union: and these who would
rashly take new courage from the recent
Democratic successes in the North are re-
strained by the more cautious. who re.
mensbered how the Northern Democracy
backed their Southern friends in the grea:
conflict. We repeat. We do no. wan:
another fourteenth Of September, and we
10 not suppose anybody else does. The
game Of war is always uncertain, and few
parties if any ever come out Of it better |
han they went in. Certainly our own !
history teaches US to let villainous salt
,etre alone and fight all our political bat
les with the weapons Of reason and com.
rop sense.