The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-09-18
The New Rebellion.

The New Rebellion.
1t no matter of surprise that those politi cal
journals whose intense partisanship in 1861
made them either the apologists or allies OF
the secession war are now the defenders of
the revolutionary proceedings of the White
Leagues in Louisiana. In 1861 they imag-
ined that party success lay in that direction.
Now they recognize IN the White Leagues of
the South their party allies and those upon
whom they most depend for party success.
The case in Louisiana is familiar to all. Two
inscriptions factions in Louisiana, one head
ed by Warmoth, the most dissolute political
adventurer that the war produced-a man
who plunged state hopelessly into debt
and the other headed by Kellogg and other
political adventures, most of whom were no
more honest than Warmoth but less able,
strove for the control of the state in 1872.
With McEnery as their candidate for Gov
ernor, there is every reason to believe that
Warmoth's officials overawed thousands
of voters and committed shameless frauds.
If the partisans of Kellogg did not stuff bal
lot boxes, and make false returns, it is be-
cause they had no opportunity. Warmoth,
thereupon, undertook to arrange the can
wasting or counting board to suit his own
purposes, thus ignoring a majority of the
board as constituted by law. Consequently
majority of the lawful board made one
count of the votes, and Warmoth and
his newly constituted board made another.
Both sides being composed of scoundrels,
they naturally counted in their own can
didates by good majorites. Both parties in
January, 1873 andertooklto inaugurate their
respective officers. A collision followed with
bloodshed, but the timely intervention of fed
eral troops merely to keep the peace. prevent
ed widespread anarchy. The state courts,
the lawful tribunal for the settlement of such
questions, decided that Kellogg was the right
full executive Of the state. He was qualified
by the proper official and entered upon the
discharge of his duties, calling upon the fed
eral, government for assistance, which was
given him in strict conformity to law.
For nearly two years Kellogg has exercised
the functions of governor. We doubt if he
has been model of virtue and rectitude.
Were this the case, he would be stranger in
that state and would not be appreciated by
the people. He has, however, stopped the
issue of bonds, declared number of War
moths illegal issues void and, in other ways,
shown disposition to care for the interests
of the state. a.hs Z
The question of the character of Gov. Kel-
logg's administration does not enter into the
case at all, unless the action of the White
Leagues of Louisiana is to establish a prece-
dent that in any state any faction that can
secure men and arms may overthrow the
state government and set up one of its
a long time since Maine hal Democratic
governor, Suppose the party leaders in
Maine quietly get together two thousand
armed men at Augusta and, having them in
the streets, demand Of Gov. Dingley that he
abdicate on the ground that they have good
reason to believe that he was fraudulently
elected and is, consequently, an us.rper, and
proceed to set up their own government.
Suppose that Gov. Dingley, after being driven
by superior force from Office, should appeal
to President Grant for aid to overthrow the
pretenders and restore him to his official DO
sition and authority. What would be the
duty of the President when thus called upon
We are confident that no Democratic par
tisan would pretend to say that the President
would be warranted in declining to interfere
when thus called upon, for, by so doing, he
would adversely criticise so eminent state
rights man as President Tyler in connection
with the Dorr rebellion in Rhode Island.
In taking the course he has in this case.
President Grant is not only following the
precedents of the past, but is consistent with
his action in the case of Arkansas, where
his course was SO warmly applauded by the
Democratic press. Gov. Baxter of Arkan-
sas was fallen upon by Mr.. Brooks friends
and driven out of the state house. Doubtless
Brooks had majority of the votes at the
election, but, for some cause, the state court
decided that Baxter was the legally elected
executive of the state. When the President
was called upon, he promptly took sides with
Baxter. OF the question of the legality of
the election, he does not take cognizance.
That is entirely for the state officials and
state courts.
The revolution in Louisiana was so we'll
organized that there is every reason to be-
lieve that it is the result of programme
which will soon be extended to other states.
The White Leagues are by no means confined
to Louisiana, but extend through every gulf
state, where they only await the result
in New Orleans to attempt other revo-
lutions. Such, at least, is the advice
of leading Southern Democratic papers. as
may be seen by the following extract from the
Atlanta (Ga.) Neaus, which is second in i'm.
portance in the state, and represents the
dominant wing of the party there
"Our only hope" says the Neos, sis in a
stern, resolute resistance-a resistance to thu
death if necessary, with arms in our hands.
II the October elections, which are to be held
in the North, are favorable TO the radicals the
time viii. have arrived for us to prepare for
the worst. Every Southern state should gov.
ern with White Leagues. If the white Demo.
Gratis OF the North are men they will not
stand idly by and see us borne down bv
Northern radicals and halfbarbarous negroes.
But no matter what:they do, it is time for rs
The Old and Stale CRY.