The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-09-16
THE RED RIVER PARISH AFFAIR.

because we ueSiTeu, Uelole express
ing an opinion in the matter, to be
in possession of all the facts, and to
await the subsistence Of all excite
ment that we might speak dispas
sionately on subject of the very
greatest Importance to people whose
all is at stake. In our issue of yes
terday morning, a full and clear
statement Of the affair was given
from the first manifestation Of hos
tility on the part of the negroes to
the final scene Of the tragedy, in
which the carpet-baggers and SCALA
wags were killed, and on that state
ment of facts we have formed our
opinion, and the country will base
it's judgment.
The action of our people in this
startling affair, including the exter-
mination of the white organizers of
the negro insurrection, to be justly
estimated, must be considered in con-
nection with the general history of
the State during the past six years,
and the contemporaneous events now
transpiring within our borders
There is point Of endurance beyond
which human nature cannot by any
power be driven; at which the mild
est men grow desperate and challenge
all the consequences of resolute and
desperate measures to protect them
selves. The white people Of Louisi-
ana have been crowded to that point
and they must be expected to act out
now the nature that is in them.
Whether this be policy or not, we do
not pretend to determine, but we do
believe, that in desperate emergen-
cies, when wrong and oppression
have aroused in the bosoms Of peo-
| pie, all the daring and determined
passions which God has. planted
there, the human heart, acting under
their sway, is wiser than the human
head, and will more surely lead 9
people out of a damnable bondage
than the subtlest schemes Of policy
If the civil connections Of the last
few days in Red River Parish had nc
counterpart in other portions of the
State, it might be surmised that law.
less men there had outraged the Law
and outraged humanity; but the sim
pie fact that similar occurrences are
transpiring in other and distant sec
tions Of the State, and that the white
people in every section Of it sympa
thize in those occurrences, is evi
dence that a general and powerful
cause has provoked them, and tina
they are something nobler and might
Ter than rebellious, causeless ant
brutal attractions oflaw. "The pure
impartial and vigorous administra
ton Of justice; is without doubt tn
surest bond to secure a cheerful sub
mission of the people, and to engag
their affections to, government" ant
when an enlightened and Christian
people, as if with one impulse, tax
the law in their own hands, expel OF
ticials from the seats, and strike dow
in blood, men of a certain well-de
J fined class such acts are in them
selves irrefutable evidence that ther
is upon that people some deep an
terrible wrong; that men have los
, faith in the ADM nistration of til
laws, and that the government unde
which they live is not free govern
ment, but a despotism, terrible in il
imbecility, or fierce and unbearabl
? in it's relentless tyranny. It is a
t evidence that there is cause {
: work among that people, dark an
strong enough to destroy the cor
servatism of organized society, an
! turn the thoughts and aims of me
from the daily avocations of. peac
full life, to the vindication. throug
n battle and blood, Of their rights an
o their manhood. sIsar,
1t is a truth, old as civilized soc
) ETY., that capital is cautious; and v
o know how reluctant the basiae
f classes Of any community are to e
y gage in civil commotion; we kno
they are naturally conservative; al
!. tprefer. to bear many wrongs, faith
i than rush into turmoil and e9cit
O ment; we know that commerce, ca
y ital, Findustrytand property, are all
be injured Or ruined by the disorde
ct an unsettled condition of Cover
If ment, and by civil strife; We kho
r further, that the real and person