New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-20
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER TO- 1874.

life to exercise. At least the negro thinks
so. To bestow upon the negro privi-
lege. so perilous to him, requires that the
government which has given should guar
antee this right. In the meantime these
poor people are wholly powerless to con-
tend with their enem les. Just as power
less as Vuakers. who will not fight. or
women. who car not fight.
The right to vote carried with it the
right to decide whom to vote for. This
last right can not be controversial without
opposing the law which gave the vote.
The negroes decided to support the Re-
publican party. The right to vote carried
with it the right to choose.
While, then. the Republican officials
claim tc hold their appointment by the
will OF !: majority CT voters. it was never
claimed that their title depended on the
ability Of this majority Of voters to defeat
in was the minority skilled in and cdu-
Gated to arms. Had Congress given the
negro vote on condition that he could
whip anybody that disputed it. we may
safely assume the right Of suffrage would
have lain unexecuted on the statute book.
It is thus and therefore that the State off,
Gals elected by non-combatant voters
have never felt able. nor indeed willing,
TO make their title depend on wager Of
battle.
But when the question came up which
party in Louisiana had really majority
Of fighting men, then came the Presidents
proclamation that those who had driven
the Governor Of the voting majority out
Of the State House were insurgents. I.
warned this fighting majority Of the State
that their persons and property would be
at risk; that their port could be closed
and their commerce interdicted unless
they withdrew from the position into
which they mad intru ded. The State ma
jority Of force obeyed the warning. As
Governor Kellogg had yielded to fight
ing majority Of the S tate. Mr.. McEnery
yielded to the fighting majority OF the
United States.
Imagine then. the position Of these two
parties. Governor Kellogg 1esorted to
the protection Of the federal government.
Mr.. McEnery FASTENED to do the same
thing. We can see no cause Of ridicule
or triumph on the part Of the McEnery-
ties. II Governor Kellogg surrendered to
a superior force. have not his antagonists |
done precisely the same thing: The
force exhibited by the United States was
inadequate to have captured this city |
against the armed and drilled men who |
held it. Why then surrender with alacrity
to Approximation: Why protest with
such earnestness that no intention exists
to resist the government Of the United |
States? The very declaration that it is too
powerful to be resisted successfully. con-
tains virtual admission that i: would be
resisted if it were not SO powerful.
1t was not cowardice in the State adj
after having failed in its
ability to preserve public order, to sur
lender its helpless militia to a superior
lighting force. l. was not cowardice in
he McEnery party to lay down their
rms to the superior fighting force Of the
United States.
Ii a picture was made Of a negro
nilitiaman dropping his gun and throw
ng up his arms to a band with the "old
Confederate swing" ana yell. and another
picture Of an intelligent and educated
Gentleman rendering his sword and the
,eys Of the State House to an elderly
Gentleman. with per haps no other dis
lnguishable insignia than a blouse and a
'air Of blue pantaloons, what would be
he impression of spectator? Only that
be negro militiaman had more cause of
submission than the polite
nd accomplished gentleman in the second
icture.
1t is, perhaps. as well to cease these
sunts. The newspaper proclamation 1T
finished does not estop any legal or
oliticai proceedings which may result a
ON this 'insurrection. It is our wish
nat peace shall be res tored with as little c
ablic and industrial suffering as pos X
bic. The tone Of those who continue to 3
unit the State officials with having done ?
Zactly what they have had to do them c
Ives may do harm. Let the question of Il
courage rest. Ii it was cow p
dice to surrender even timid and un- II
Tiled voters to the yelling cohorts of II
emery. What was it to yield posses. N
IN OF this great city to few COM d.
MES Of United States troops: We hi
aintain that each. under the circum. tt
'nces. obeyed the irresistible and the sc
evitable. 1t is never cowardice to do
At. er
ASSASSINATION AS REMEDY. 70
When General Sylla seized the Roman nj
vernment he had lists already prepared ha