The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-29
A VIVID PICTURE.
LOUISIANA AS 1T Is.

TROUBLES THERE AND A STATEMENT OF
THE TRUE CONDITION OF AFFAIRs-IHE
OUTRAGES COMMITTED IN THAT STATE AND
THEIR CAUSE.
The Chicago Tribune of the 2lst inst. con-
tains the following interview, which adds
much valuable information to the under
standing of the state of affairs in Louisiana
The report says: The condition of things in
Louisiana is at present the subject of con-
versation everywhere, and anything re-
lating to that admittedly distressed State
will doubtless be read with interest. An OPP
portunity to secure reliable information pre-
senied itself 20 Tribune reporter yester
day, and it was taken advantage Of The
gentleman interviewed was Mr.. Charles H.
Walker, a former resident in this city, but
who now lives on a large sugar plantation
in the Teche country. He is here on visit
to his brother, Mr.. George c. Walker, and
readily answered every question asked
him. The conversation was as follows:
Reporter-what is the state of feehng in
Louisiana?
.walker-In our country the white peo-
pie are almost unanimously opposed TO this
kellogg government. i know but very few
who do not denounce the usurpation.
Reporter-What cause of complaint have
they7
Mr.. walker-They complain of high taxa
ton; that the returns in the last election
were unfair; and they have no faith in the
men who are governing them.
Reporter-Whsi is the State tax?
Mr. Walker-In the parish of st. Mary it
Is 141I mills.
Reporter-Is the rate larger now than uu-
der the previous administration?
Mr.. Walker-I think not; but 1t is much
larger than it was before the war, and the
country is not able to stand it. A great deal
paw the taxes. Nearly one-half of the State
is returned delinquent for non-payment OF
taxes.
Reporter-Does that 141l mills cover per-
sonal property?
Mr.. Walker-Yes, both real and personal.
Reporter-How much are the parish taxes?
Mr.. Walker-They vary from 9 to IL mills.
In the cities there are additional taxes.
Reporter-Do the whites and negroes get
along we'll together?
Mr. Walker-They are perfectly friendly;
there has been no trouble between them as
far as my experience goes.
Reporter-Is there any danger Of a war of
races?
Mr.. walker-No; there can not be any,
The negroes are kindly disposed, unless they
are interfered with by designing persons
Reporter-Do they work steadily?
L.
they are told to stop by the men who want
their votes.
Reporter--Do these "designing PEG pie"
circulate among them much?
Mr.. Walker-Yes,aAda advise them to Join
the political clubs.
Reporter-Do many OF the negroes belong
to such organizations?
Mr.. walker-Yes, and about election time
they become excited and do not work as
we'll as when no election is expected.
Reporter-Who are these men who lad
wise" tbemg
Mr.. Walker-They are negroes who are
paid by persons who want to get in ONCE.
Let me read you an extract from the New
Orleans Republican on that point:
By the time the negroes become,thorough-
ly frightened and fairly aroused, there will
arise a melancholy wall all over the State
that there are no laborers to gather the crops.
The laborers in st. Martin, Caddo, Clai-
borne, and some other parishes ought, row
to instantly leave the plantations and seek
place of safety. Every days work they put
in only adds to the ability of of their OPP
pressors to keep up the war.
The men running tor ofice-say sherin or
county clenk-pay some leading negro'to go
among the hands, and he urges them to vote
for his principal, and gets them to join the
clubs.
Reportep-Do the of3ce-seekers of beth
parties do that?
MI. Wa-ker-Nor " - uone ny "nss "o
call
"CARPEz-RAeGERs."
Reporter-In your opinion, then, is 1t
they who cause all the trouble?
Mr.. wal5er-Yes. The people do not call
Northern men who go there and buy prop
erty, and increase the wealth of the State
scarpet- baggers," aud they do not care how
such men vote. Only those are called scar
pet baggers" who go among the negroes and
solicit their votes, and, when they get into
Office, steal from the people.
Reporter-Is there much stealing done?
Mr. Walker-Yes.
Reporter-What evidence is there of it?
Mr. Walker-The State debt has been in
creased nearly sl0,00O0OO since the war, and
we have not foot of railway, or of canal, or
even a State house to show for it.
The State house now used is rented.
Then the parish taxes are high, and
we have no roads or bridges. The
money collected is used by the Office holders
for their own purposes. Let me give you
came out in the New Orleans Chamber of
Commerce the other day: A railroad was to
be constructed from Vermillionville to
Shreveport and the State was to give g, $780,
900 of its bonds to the company. The presi-
dent of the road wrote to the engineer that
the work must be commenced before the
10th of October. A few shovelfuls of earth
were thrown up, and the governor turned
the bonds over to the company.
Reporter-Has no work been done since?
Mr.. Walker = No; but the bonds we're
taken by the company and the State Is re-
sponsible for their payment. An injunction
was issued to prevent the payment of the
interest, but funding bill was passed by
the legislature last winter and it is left to
the funding commissioners to say whether
the bonds shall be redeemed. If they recog-
nize the bonds the people will have no re-
dress; and we are afraid they will, as the
commissioners are carpet-baggers.
Reporter-Do you think the people will
submit to Kellogg's government?
Mr.. Walker-I do not, unless they are
compelled to by federal bayonets.
Reporter-Unless troops are kept there an
other outbreak will take place?