The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-05-23

GRANT PARISH May 7th 1874.


/ GRANT PARISH May 7th 1874.
Editor Caucasian -
Tho lictoys Of the satrap nj Wash.
Ting ateagain at work in orr doomed
country dndlike tigers are licking. thei1
lips with the taste of the Forthcoming
blood. They are mastering thei1
clans and with worthy prudence viii
forward them we'll instructed in wbaI
is required OF them. The people dc
not seem alive to the momentous i'm
'Fportance Of this Grant Parish ones
ton. It 10 bat the entering Of q
wedge which when driven to the
head will leave ns shattered and
ruined, + not the lifeless victims Of
an unparalleled persecution. What
will property, family or life be
worth when, rising victorious from
the arena in which our very blood
is to be split, the satellites of the
'yrant will return TO over awe us at
our own tiresides, and tear from our
very heagts the last drops of exist
ence? What arails law or evidence
f'rhe last trial gives us the extent to
which Justice will be me,ed to u.s.
Do the pc; pie Of these parishes
fully realize that eight OF their fellow
citizens are now on trial for their
lives, for defending what nature it
self has guaranteed to al created
beings the right to defend family
and life? DO they not know that
the next step will be to place every
one in the same position in which
the prisoners stood. ut the time OF
the conflict?
What will prevent the blacks from
rearming and when the cry Of ALARM
will be raised, what will be our
remedy? The exact counterpart of
the Colfax trouble. We will have to
arm onrselvesto defend our very ex-
'stence and the government will
force on us the very same result
The same penalties will be exacted
from the unfortunate participators
and the parch Of reconstruction
will be on our PROSTATE bodies and
di'apldated homes. For popua' ion
TO stand mute and paralyzed while
the very hand cuffs Of slnvery are
being riveted to their wrists is almost
unparalleled in the annals of civilized
nations. What matters government :?
Whit matters risks? " hat matters
life? When all we have, when all
hold dear is ut stake. Forbearnnce
has ceased to be a virtue and the
shadow of what is forthcoming bodies
only disaster and relentless perse-
cution. 1t is on On occasion like
this, that Il people rising above all
con liberation of self, will assert
their natural rights at all hazards.
Look at Ireland! Persecu d
mangled, bleeding, she stands yet
to-day, a living 'cting monument of
resistance to oppression and tyranny
Look at Poland ! undaunted, facing
the united strength of three powey-
fnn nations, her sons perfered exile
to submission. And look at our own
country? When prond Britain, So
cure in its treasures and power, I'M
dertook to make the young colonies
fell the grasp of its strength the
people, strong in their rights, hurhsl
back their defi"nce and with styn
blows as can only be dyalt by
those who must conquer or die. soon
taught their oppressors that the fate
of bat le does not belong "to the
strong alone" We are not defend
ing today, as we did before, the in
st'tntion of slavery, nor are we pre-
tending to claim any right under the
Constitution we are defending to-
day our right to live, our right
which was given to us by God to
protect all that belong to rs.
Let us then form ourselves for our
defence and submit to nothing, yes
defend our rights as men to all ex-
tremiy. We have ia ked enough, it
IS orr time to act. They want our
blood, let our oppressors pay for it
he OF ly price which freemen can re-
;eive their lives for ours.