New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-20
The Herald On Louisiana Affairs,

The New York Herald Of Wednesday
last deyotes several pages 70 the recent dis
turbances in Louisiana and gives full
page map Of the city and scene OF the en-
gagement. All Louisiana gentlemen now
in New York are inter viewed at length.
among others those named below:
The Sneaker of the Kellogg Legislature,
Who is now in this city, thought that this
uprising was . great outrage. as it only en-
dangered the commerce and prosperity Of
the State, He had expected 1t, although il
wonId have eeemed improbable that Nc.
Enery's followers would thus array them
selves against the authority OF tho federal
government. Ofcourse they were doomed TO
defeat, for they could only vanquish Kellogg
by oyerthrowing the authority OK the Presi-
dent. He characterized the instruction az
an effort of the politicians to capture lucra-
five offices. The outs wanted TO become
the ips-that was all. The people, as q
hody. took no interest in these miserable
fiuhfs for plunder. The present State gov.
eminent had greatly reduced the expenses
of the State. the State bonds were now at
par, which was something unheard of in
the history of Louisiana, and there had
been q reduction of taxes from twenty-five
and half to fourteen and half mills.
Three fourths of the State debt had been
paid off. and Louisiana had within two
years been put upon cash basis. Were
these not great results for any State gov
eminent to accomplish! Louisiana had
never had a better government than it had
enjoyed for the last two years.
The Speaker declared that Kellogg had
majority Of $4,000 in the State. lie could
undoubtedly maintain himself alone by
calling out the militia. but this would in
yolve much blOodshed, and 1t was more
prudent and humane course to appeal at
once to the United States government. BY
this course he avoided the great destruction
of prOperty incident to civil war. and le:
the laborers. who were now picking cotton,
remain at their work. Every labOrer who
was at this time taken from the cotton
plantations was equivalent to loss OF $500,
and il was therefore Of the greatest i'm.
portance that the picking season should
not be spoiled by calling out the militia.
Had he called out the militia on Monday,
the streets would now be running with
blood. and it was to his humanity and fore.
thought that many people owed their lives
and homes. The supporters OF Kellogg
were the great producers. the growers OF
cotton and sugar while the adherents Of
McEnery belonged to the lnost shiftless
classes Of the population.
Hon. George c. Benham. prominent
member of the Legislature OF Louisiana,
who is now in the city, gave 1t as his opinion
that the record Of the Kellogg government
was unimpeachable; that the people, upon
the whole, were satisfied with II. and that
those who had now taken up arms against
it were instigated by political loafers and
bummers Of the worst sort. He did not
think. as the dispatch from New Orleans
stated. that the meeting in Canal street had
been called by the solid business men. He
knew that two weeks ago, when the Pcesi-
dents letter was received in New Orleans,
all the respect table business men rejoiced
over it. He did not think that the disturb
ances would extend over the State, as the
| majority of the people approved of Gov.
ernor Kellogg's administration, and would
hail with JOY the Intervention OF the federal
troops. The negroes would not take part
| in the armed conflict to any very great ex-
| tent.
Governor Kellogg had done his best to
avoid all bloodshed. There never had been
| a man at the head Of the State government
| who had worked harder for the best inter.
ests Of the people of Louisiana.
| Colonel Field. the present Attorney Cen
erai of Louisiana. who is now at the st.
| Nicholas Hotel. is probably one of the, most
highly respected men OF the South His
| political career extends over a period OF
more than thirty years. lie said that he
had anticipated the violent outbreak. know
| ing the elements of strife and disturbance
| in New Orleans. There could be 10 doubt
| of the result. General Grant was bound to
sustain the existing government, which had
been recognized by the federal authority as
representing the will of the people of Louis
| lana. He apprehended considerable violence
and bloodshed unless the Intervention OF
| the federal troops should take place
| Immediately. The good, sober men OF the
community, even if they were adherents OF
McEnery, disapproved of all this violence,
| but they were unable to control the actions
OF those who were determined to overthrow
| Kellogg and to install McEnery. They had
| complained of many wrongs. but these they
could have redressed by a peaceable election
| next November flor Senators. Assembly
| men, etc. However, knowing, as they did
that the Republicans, in fair election, had
majority of $4,000, their plan was to seize
the government, Overawe the Republican
voters and prevent colored Republicans
! from voting. and, i'll fact. capture the offices
SO as to be able to manipulate the election.
Colonel Field did not believe that the
meeting in Canal street was called ny the
good and sensible business men. On the
contrary, the worst elements of the popula'
ton were engaged in this uprising-as fal
as he could judge in this distance. He
heartily approved of the proclamation of the
President. bu. was unable to give an opinion
as to whether it alone would succeed in re
storing peace. However. if the government
was not ready to use force in order to protect
the people in the exercise of their rights
| then the enforcement act amounted II
nothing whatever. The White Leaguers, al
| entire State. and many would join then
through fear and social os,racism. "Beins
part OF the Kellogg government Colonel
Field said. Il can safely say that we have
striven earnestly to reform all abuses thai
have been complained of. We have greatly
reduced the expenses of the State govern
ment, and diminished taxation from TWEEN
ty-One and Oneh half to fourteen and one-half
I have lived in Louisiana twenty-one pears
aud have always admired the Herald for 1T
admirable articles On Southern questions
can safely say thai the oppression these
people talk about is Pigment of their lm
aginatlon and am convinced that II th!S
| revolution were to succeed the condition OF
the State would not be improved in an
way"
Lieutenant Governor c. e. Antoine. Of
Louisiana, young colored gentleman o.
| elegant appearance and who is decidedly
! good looking, when asked to state bis views
said the state of affairs in New Orleans was
certainly deplorable, and that The disturb
ances had been famed into flame by the
recent Democratic victories in some of the
Northern States and by the action OF the
President in relation to the disturbances IL
Tennessee and Arkansas. He thought ina
there was such q feeling of 'social ostra
cism' among business men that they were
compelled to close their stores and aid thes'
Outsiders-for most of them came iron
other States-who were the perpetrators o
this fiagrant outrage upon the peace an!
prosperity of the State. 1t was quite possl