The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-10-30
Governor Kellogg and "Usur.
DatiOm,"
From the Chicago Journall

J. L. ASAA NAAN CAAASe'too ooIaI I4fhI'
! No Northern man of any claims to com.
mon sense, and not many Southerners
will attempt to justify the New Orleans
insurgents. But there is large class
throughout the country who insist that
the uprising had strong prOvOcation
While it would be manifest breach of
candOr to claim for Governor Kellogg
and his associates immunity from all
blame we are persuaded that there has
been no uSurpatlOn," and that the OppO-
sltlOn farmOre responsible than the party
in power for the misfOrtunes from which
the commonwealth has long suffered.
Governor Kellogg is known in Illinois.
His youth and early manhood were
spent here. He is very far from being
a great man, and so he is from being a
monster of iniQuity. He had served the
country IN several important capacities
previous to his election to the Office he
now holds. Abraham Lincoln thought
we'll enough of him tO appoint him Chief
Justice OF what was then the Territory
OF Nebraska. He was quite young for
| the position, and did not prove @ very
good man for the place, lacking, as he
does judicial mind" as the phrase is ;
but lie was neither corrupt nor despOtic,
Good intentions and honorable motives
were conceded to him. He did good ser
vice in the war as Colonel of an Illinois
regiment. He next filled the post OF
collector of customs at New Orleans.
10 that position he was appointed very
soon after the war closed. His enemi,s
charge corruption upon him in that ca
pacity but no proof of the accusation
was ever adduced, and no specifications
were ever made in connection with the
charges Considering the number and
mallgnance of his enemies, this fact
amounts almost to absolute refutatiOn
Of the charge. From the CustomhOuse
Kellogg stepped into the Senate of the
United States. He was elected for the
full term of six years, and nearly served
that length of time when he was elected
Governor and resigned his SenatOrsEip.
A good many "jobs" were put through
Congress during his Senatorial services
and many previously fair reputation
was smirched, if not blackened indelihly;
hut at Washington, as at Nebraska,
William Pitt Kellogg was free from the
taint of corruption. What were the
swindles, if any, which he helped on by
voice, vote or influence of any kind ?
We do not pretend to know just what he
did as a Senator, never having paid any
special heed to his course, but we do say
that notwithstanding the intensity with
which his enemies hate him, they have
not so much as shadowed with suspi-
ciOn the purity of his career as United
States Senator. Is it reasonable to sup
pose that a man with such record has
suddenly developed into the very arch
nothing whatever to base such a charge
upon. His "offense" is simply this
A Republican convention nominated him
for Governor in 1872, and he received
majority of the lawful votes cast, ac-
cOrding to the decision of the legal au-
thOrities competent to decide. Having
been duly declared Governor elect of
Louisiana, he was inaugurated in due
time, and has steadily exercised the func- |
tlons of the gubernatorial Office ever
since. The insurgents demand that he
shall "step down and out" not for the |
abuse Ofpower, but for its usurpation."
Even if majority of the votes were cast |
for McEnery (Which was by no means |
the case,) that would not of itself be de- |
cisive 80 far as concerned KellOgg's in
dividual duty in the premises, for who
is to decide the question 2 1t is not for |
Pitt Kellogg or any other candidate to |
sit in judgment upon his own election. |
He must accept final decision of the
authorities clothed with the power to
what Governor Kellogg and his asso-
ciates did and are doing. Therein, we !
repeat, is their only " otfense." If there
ever was less justifable revolt than
the one now raging in Louisiana, we are
at q loss to say when and where it Oc-
Cured. Hon. W. P. Kellogg may or
may not be good Governor, but it is
certain he is no more usurper than is
Governor Beveridge or President Grant.
The Galveston News is giving wise
counsel to the people of Texas. 1t says
that ," if any argument were needed to
the people of the South of the
Importance of teaching the youth of the
land useful occupations and trades, it
may be found in the numbers of unem-
Dloyed clerks, book keepers, ard sales
men who are at present cOngregated in
Galveston. From all parts of the coun-
Try young men of respectability and
fair education have gathered together
lere, seeking honorable employment
n their respective vOcatiOns rs clerks
book keepers, statesmen, etc, willing to
work for the barest pittance until a
start can be had. We are informed, by
/ new cotton firm which has Just estab.
ished itself in this city, that applications
.Or situations from this class have been
1t the rate of twenty or thirty a day
iince they first opened their office OH the
Strand. And yet good tradesman or
mechanic of any description need not
)e here three hours before he can get all
le wants to do"
The foolish prejudice which has hither-
% existed in the South against mecbani-
,al and common manual labor has prov
I'd sad drawback on our general pros
)erity. 1t is high time that q new de-
)arture were taken in this matter. The
I'D and peculiar institution, which did
70 much injury to the South by degrad-
ng labor, has been swept away, and
With it should go all it's demoralizing
accessories. We cannot all fill high
professional positions, nor can we all
ind profitable eemploymentasp politicians.
Joining down to plain matters OF fact,
more of us must earn our bread by the
weat of our brows. AS our cOntempO-
arv observes, our section will be far
letter off when it learns to appreciate
no value of the working mechanic, and
ghen it esteems that the entry of the
'Outh of the land upon this course OF life
8 in the highest degree worthy and hon
O. Times.
We are informed that the friends of
layor Wiltz are by no means satisfied
With the announced result of the nomi-
alton had yesterday for the mayOral
flee. They contend that Mr.. Wiltz
vas fairly nominated on the first ballot
hat the announcement of the president
t the convention was to that effect, and
hat the recount of the vote subsequently
equested and ordered, could not. by