New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-05


but detestation for their crime and
contempt for the cowardice Of them
and their employers. be they whom they
may. The Bee declines to enter upon a
':serious discussion" of the question
whether political assassination is justi-
fable under constitutional government.
As for serious discussion. we could not
expect it. Defamation, abuse. and a
grasshopper sort Of sophistry is about as
near as the Bee men can come to the
argument Of any political principle. But
with permission we will argue the ethics
Of political assassination tor those who
can read the American language and who
comprehend the constitution and institu.
tons Of their ancestors. We affirm I:
position that is unequivocably founded
upon and justified by the writings and
speeches of American state smen. 1t is that
people having bound themselves to abide
by the provisions Of constitution, have
no right to effect any change in their form
of government except according to the
provisions of their own contract. They
can do no revolutionary act under a re-
publican constitution.
As we understand the Bee it yindicates
assassination as cans by which a por-
ton Of q people. moved by what some OF
them may deem misgovernment. may
under the law redress their grievances.
And this according to the forms and under
the exactions Of the constitution which
they have sworn to support. The precise
language employed is: I'VE condemn
political assassination" The Bee says,
";he doctrine Of revolution is. essentially
American. since the republic springs from
the exercise Of that right" The American
colonies separated themselves from gov
eminent in which they had no recognized
right, and established government by
their own consent. They founded the
means by which this government might
be amended in conformity with its own
text, and it has been SO amended.
If. then. this reasoning be correct. the
plea of the Bee for political assassination
under Republican constitution is un-
founded. We may concede everything
Of political wrong that may have been
perpetuated in Louisiana. Nothing af-
fords justification for the assassination Of
q public officer. as means OF reforming a
public wrong. But the Bee controyerts
its own position. when it says:
In SO far as the people have the right of
ballot (scrutinj the right Of revolution is
not necessary: but when a band of vaga.
bonds has seized upon the government by
fraud. and tries to swindle an election to
perpetuate themselves. then the people
have the right and the duty to rise III arms
to compel them to respect the popular will:
and j! this people. pressed beyond endu'
rance. and a prey to a legitimate indi.na.
ton. deem it proper to execute summary
justice upon the guilty, it is still an act OF
sovereignty, and i, is not we 1.-THE Eee/ who
would interfere to save the guilty.
This is as pure communism as was
ever preached by Rochefort. or executed
by the petrolean cohorts. This sort of
talk reads very well in French, and would
be received with applause in the Red Re
publican clubs anywhere. When brought.
however, to the rational test Of American
principle. it is wholly inconsistent with
republican doctrines.
The State Of Louisiana is presumed to
be the case in the eye of the Bee. az
band Of vagabonds has obtained the gov
eminent by fraud" Who says so? Those
who themselves aspire to administer the
same government. Who placed this
illuminated government il power: The
people. Then this abuse. if it be one.
has been precipitated by the people OF
Louisiana.
If the fact be as alleged it would prove
majority Of the people incompetent and
unworthy to choose their own officers.
This objection lies TO the amendment OF
the constitution under which the right OF
suffrage has been awarded to all men.
Does any party oppose this concession OF
right? None that we know. Il is the set
tied and accepted law Of the whole land.
How, then. may this alleged incapacity be
reformed? We say by good schools. good
example and just treatment. The BE.
says shoot them down. This is no. sound
doctrine. We must take society as it is
and reform it. If i: be incorrigible We
may abdica.e this duty. but only
in one way. BY quitting coun'
try in which the people elect
none but bad men, and g,ins to some
other whose institutions suit us better.
In such case the Be. men would perhaps
with some thousands OF alien ''carpet.
baggers." return 20 France. For ourselves
this is the land of our ancestry and oul
destiny. We shall abide in it and by it.
II every alien from Europe shall claim
the right to preach assassination as a
mode Of making official vacancies. We are
confident that doctrine which has filled
France SO often with blood and flames
will never meet the approval of the Amer.
lean mind. We trust this communistie
sophistry will be even renowned by The
petrolean organ. and have no appreAen
sion but that tie respectable citizens Q,
Louisiana will denounce political assas
sina:ion as q doctrine alike abhorent and
indefensible.
THE POLITICAL INTERVENTION OF TIKI
TEMPLARS INVOKED WITHOUT EFFECT.
Al. NJ L Hosa.A Ernnd AIacAoa n1