New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-20
THE REIGN OF TERROR.

THE REIGN OF TERROR.
Letters from the northern parishes of
Louisiana continue to pour into the
executive department, all going to show
that the Democracy have, through their
White League organizations, succeeded
in establishing reign Of terror in that
section of our State disgraceful to civil
ization. A recent letter from Mansfield,
De Soto parish, describes the condition of
affairs. SO far as Republicans are concern.
ed, as most dangerous and fearful to con-
template. The White Leaguers are rep
resented as having armed patrols going
the rounds in the parish every Eight for
the purpose of catching and numbering
political niggers" caught away from
home. This patroling is evidently de-
signed from this to prevent the assem-
bling Of Repubicans-white and black
for political purposes, and, according to
all accounts is doing the work most
effectually. The letter in question, dated
August Z, states that three colored
men had been killed that week in
that parish by the White Leaguers, for
no other assigned reason than that
they were suspected of being political
niggers." Two of them were going
home from church, and the third was
riding IN wagon in company with other
| men, when he was taken out and shot, his
companions being told not to tell who
were the murderers and threatened with
speedy and certain death if they did This
conduct on the part of the Democracy
for it must be remembered that the White
Leagues are nothing but branches of the
Democratic party in this State, has
brought on the reign of terror said to be
existing in De Soto parish at this time,
the effect of which is as Intended, to de-
prive Republicans, black and white, of
the rights of citizenship guaranteed by
the constitution of the United States and
of the State Of Louisiana. The letter in
question states what is the result of this
| violence already, and what it will end in
if it is not stopped by authority Of govern
ment. The result so far is that the Re-
publicans are deprived of the right of
publicly assembling and giving expression
to their political sentiments and making
choice of their candidates for public
positions in the coming elections. This
is regarded as one of the most essential
and sacred rights of American citizen
ship-guaranteed by the constitution n,
federal and State-and yet it is thus
ruthlessly violated by members of the
Democratic party styling themselves
White Leasuers and proclaiming them
selves in favor OF a white mans govern
ment. We are informed that, as conse-
guence, there are no Republican candi-
dates in De Soto parish at this time, and
assured that there will be none unless law
and order can be restored there; that under
the present condition Of affairs there it
would be certain death to a colored man
to announce himself, or even permit him.
self to be announced as a candidate for
office; and further, that the fate of white
Republicans would be still worse should
they attempt to organize for the purpose
of selecting candidates and taking part
in the present political campaign and
election that will follow in the fall. It is
represented that their residences are
guarded by patrols every night, with in
structions to shoot them down if they are
caught having anything to do with col
ored men. And the colored men are
threatened and told that death would be
their certain fate if they should attempt
to vote the Radical ticket.
If the above is a correct statement of
the political condition of De Soto parish,
and we have no reason to doubt it, because
it is corroborated by similar statements
coming from adjoining parishes, it is very
certain that the war is waged to intimi-
date and prevent Republicans from peace
ably assembling and organizing for the
purpose of nominating candidates, taking
part in the political campaign and,
in the end, casting their votes for the
purpose of making choice CT such men as
they may deem best to serve the public |
interest. In the presence of this outrage
upon the rights of citizenship the civil
authority of De Soto stands powerless.
The people there, as in other parishes in
that section of our State, seem to be at
the mercy of the mob. Appeals are made
to Governor Kellogg to have this condition
of affairs remedied. Urgent invitations
are even extended to have affairs in the
northern part of the State investigated in
order that government may be satisfied
that accounts from there are not exageer-
ated; that in fact the White Leaguers
have succeeded in estab lishing reign of !
terror that is working great wrong, and
will end in depriving all Republicans of |
their civil and political rights unless gov
ernmert-State and acknowledgements
to put down lawlessness.