Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-19
LOuIsIANA.s WRONGS.

Inc leading northern hepubican
journals have for some time been de-
voting considerable space tc outrages
at the South, which in most instances
have been manufactured or grossly ex-
aggeratedfor the purposeof influencing
the elections to come off this fall. The
recent occurrences In Louisiana have
furnished these journals fresh supply
of horrors with which to regale their
readers, and they have not failed to
avail themselves of the opportunity to
the fullest extent. They do not hesi-
tate to denounce the people Of Lonisi1
ana as little better than cut.throats,
and not whit above Mexican bandits.
But occasionally we find Republican
paper which is not SO sweeping in its
denunciation Of the people Of that
plundered and oppressed State. Here
and there one viii be found which has
the candor to confess that the people
of Louisiana have exhibited wonderful
forbearance under the trying circum-
stances in which they have been placed.
The Ne1v York Times, which has been
unfaltering in its support of Republic
can men and measures, denounces
those who have deposed the usurper
Kellogg, and declares that nothing
justifes riot and appeal to arms, ? but,
as If conscience stricken, it confesses:
The Government of William Pitt
Kellogg IN Lou siana is one which we
have never been able to defend. The
Duren decision which aided in estab-
fishing 1t was an outrage. The conduct
of the Returning Board which declared
it elected was dishonest. The taxation
since 1872 has been arbitrary and op-
pressive. Legislation has IN hundreds
of cases been a shameful farce. Dis.
tricts have been represented by men
who never aw them. The small vel
hue CLEANED from the impoverished
people has been diverted to improper
uses. New Orleans is prostrate. The
city administration is penniless. Real
estate In the metropolis is worth moth.
ing In the present condition OF affairs;
no one viii buy It, The prominent
local banks have recently failed. La
borers and salaried employees alike are
paid In scrip worth thirty cents on the
dollar Many streets are desolate.
Whole pages Of all the newspapers are
filed with the names of delinquent
taxpayers. Negroes and whites IN
some sections of the State are in dam
ger of starvation.
Here is a confession from an organ
of Republican sentiment in the North,
of lawlessness OF the worst character,
because perpetrated under the sem
blance of law and authority. The Times
confesses that the people of Louisiana
have been ground to powder between
the upper and neither millstones and
driven to desperation by band of rob
bers as infamous as those who ply their
vocation along the highways of Mex
leo.
The NelU York Tribune, a Liberal
Republican journal, which rarely finds
anything to commend in Democratic
action, while condemning the course of
those who deposed Kellogg, is as en-
phatic as the Times in its denuneiation
of the despoilers of Louisiana. 1t
says: CO.
But let us be Just to these unfortu-
nate and sorely tried citizens even while
We blame them. They have set forth
their grievances both in an address
TO the public and respectful. even
deprecatory, letter TO the President,
ana every word Of their complaint is
true. This Is a free representative
government, yet it is al Undvniable
-trsstIa sIssss- tL7 people OF Louisiana are
living under an absolute despotism.
For them the ballot has no meaning
and the courts have no power. No
reasonable man doubts that at the last
election McEnery ard Penn were fairly
chosen Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor OF the State, but that Kellogg
seized the reiDs Of power by
fraud and force, and installed
pretended Legislature Of his
own by his use OF the Federal bay
onets. Against this capital outrage
what remedy had the citizens of Louisi-
ana? Should they 60 to the courts? The
Judges were partners IN the crime
Shouldthey appealto the Legislature: It
was dispersed, and the cOnspirators
made laws IN its place. They COM
planned TO the President and he denied
them even a hearing. They went be-
fore Congress, and Congress ordered
an investigation, ascertained that the
charges Of usurpation were all true,
listened to a terrible denunciation of
the usurpers and an eloquent plea for
justice from the lips Of Senator Car
penter, and then-did nothing. Nor
was this all. During these two years
while the citizens had borne every i'm
aginable wrong, and watched the
State sinking day by day into lower
depths Of dIsOrganiZation and bank
ruptcy, they had still the hope that
the next election, in due course of Law,
Il21uI t-dD4G lutuA u OhtILuTu IulS |
Ubiquitous administration. But Of late |
Kellogg has destroyed even this last |
hope. His rascally Legislature passed |
a registration law 50 mOnstrOus In |
its provisions that he was afraid |
to approve 1t while Congress
was IN session. Bat when |
there was nothing more TO fear from |
the Indignation OF Congress, he drew
the half-forgotten bill from his desk
and signed it. The new law empowers
him to appoint supervisors and assis-
tant supervisors of election in all the
parishes Of the State, with full author
ity TO add names to the registry or
erase names from them. Their action
IN both these points is final. They
have only to draw a pen through a
voters name and he is DISTINGUISHED
beyond the power of any authority in
the State to help him. The courts are
forbidden to interfere, by in
junction, nan6amus, or any other pro-
cess; and TO make the case complete.
the registrars are authorized to appoint
an indefinite multitude of suitable
persons" TO attend at the polling places
IS their JaDizaUies, ''to keep order
Is there the faintest shadow Of chance
hot h.,,,.1- ,1.g.-sg,-, L |