The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1874-10-10
The Situation,

~AVSSSSVA~oo>
4 special to the Times this morn
inc from New Orleans indicates a lie.
ploorable and disgraceful condition OF
affairs in that city. 1t seems a move
ment is on foot there headed by Lieu
tenant Governor Penn and a number
of prominent mulattoes and negroes,
to adopt the Terrebonne compromise
while the Bourbon democrats nave
IGNORED the Baton Rouge fusion and
nronose TO hold . democratic con.
vention to. morrow to make city and
Parish 1ominations. The spirit that
has wrought this disruption and
threatens the cause Of Louisiana with
ruin, is plainly discernable 1T is the
same spirit that brought discord into
our ranks in 1872, and finally sold the
State to Kellogg to secure the offices
in New Orleans to a clique or ring Of
individuals who claim to possess ali
the democracy. patriotism and poll.
teal wisdom Of this State, and who
are rapidly bringing themselves into
deserved Odium and Louisiana into
undeserved contempt.
The coup detat in New Orleans was
the most brilliant event in the history
of reconstruction, and has attracted
the attention, admiration and sym
patty of the whole country; but in
the very midst of the applause that
brilliant movement won, and while
the blood of it's martyrs still reddens
the pavements of tie streets, the pO-
litical leaders-Great God, what lead
ers for brave people!-as if actors
in a pantomine, have dropped from
the sublime to the ridiculous, and are
now playing parts 80 low and dis
graceful as to provoke the laughels
and contempt Of the spectators.
At the Baton Rouge Convention,
the delegates Of the people Of New
Orleans met the representatives of
the people Of the parishes, and there
a campaign was solemnly agreed upon.
How the people of North Louisiana
have fulfilled their duty how truly,
bravely, unfinchingly they have
stood by the common cause; how
nobly in parish and town they have
shown that the common good, and not
private aspirations, was their aim in
this struggle, are matters of record.
We have permitted no miserable and
contemplate personal aspirations for
office to breed discord in our conven-
tons; We have selected our best men
and put them in the field day and
night We have labored- for Cad
do, nor for DeSoto, nor for Bossier,
nor for Webster, nor for any other
parisl'-but for Louisiana we have
been true to Baton Rouge and follow
ed the white banner displayed there
with uDfaltering steps, and made up
in its support q record that has direct
ed all the vengeance of the foes of the
State against US. When the intelli-
gence came to US Of the grand move
ment in New Orleans, we were H.
stnntly in arms, read;' to sustain it to
any extremity New Orleans might he
bold enough to carry it; at night, the
telegraph announced the opening of
the conflict at the capitol city, and
the morning sun shown upon q people
from the banks Of the Ouachita to
the borders Of Texas, il arms and
prepared to take the field. The over
throw by the Federal power Of the
legal government of the State and the
submission Of New Orleans inspired
North Louisiana with no dismay.
After the overthrow Of the revolution,
orr battle line was reformed and the
campaign reopened on the Baton
Rouge plan and We had every rea.
son to expect that the people through
out the State would be true to the
cause in which all had engaged. But
at this critical moment, and but q
few weeks in which to work, while
the republicans are massing their
columns and threatening every Sec
ton of the State, the news comes to
rs that in New Orleans, Lieutenant
Governor Penn and his followers are
organizing new movement, and that
the democrats have ignored tho "Ba-
ton Rouge business" and are going to
have democratic convention.
This does not mean the defeat of
radicalism throughout the State !; il
does not mean tho redemption Of
Louisiana ; it does not mean patiot.
ism, honesty and courageous action
it means greed Of Office it means
that the State and the interest of the
country may 60 to the devil, if this
or that ring or clique can get up some
miserable aud contemplate local
dodge to capture the city Offices of
New Orleans.
This is hamiliating, deplorable-
but not discouragiug +; and we say to
the people Of North Louisiana, lot
the New Orleans political bummers
50 their way. The people of that
city are brave, honorable snd true
they know the vast interest at stake,
and we believe they will Gee to it,
while the hungry brood of Office. seek.
ers among them are dividing out the
shrievalty, judgeships, etc., that good
and true men are sent to the IIegis.
lature. But. however. that NAV he