Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-19

UGU-
SATURDAY MORNING. Dec. 70. 1874.
RNH7,'


The appointment of thetwo House COM
mittees of investigation, the one TO go to
New Orleans and the other to Nicksburg,
=, 20. ascertain the actual condition of things
political at those points aud report the
same, is a step which the public interest
demands. Ii il be possible to discover
what is the real root of the difficulty at
New Orleans, whether it be Kellogg or
McEuery, the White League or the repub-
licans, we hope it may be GONE and truth
full report made to the country, let it tell
against whatsoever individuals or party 1t
NAV. We have believed and still believe
that Louisiana is republican in politics in
a fair election, and that the grand cause
of all the difficulty is the attempt of the
democratic minority to defeat by inlimida-
ton, management and fraud, the righttul
rule of the majority; but if a fair in
vestigation reports otherwise we will ac-
cept its conclusions and support them.
If Louisiana is democratic, then we say
let democracy prevail there until it is
rightfully set aside by public opinion Re-
move the federal bayonets if they stand in
the way Of public right and justice. We
would not uphold republican control of the
State by fraud or unjustifiabie force single
hour. But, on the other hand, if it be
true that violence and fraud have been
employed to deprive the colored men OF
their rights at the polls and drive white
republicans from the State, then it is our
duty and the duty of every republican to
demand and insist, not simply because we
are republicans, but in the name o! liberty
and justice, that the right be sustained at
all hazards. There is an idea being steal
thily disseminated among republicans that
the only way to end the troubles in the
South is to permit the democrats to subju-
gate tho blacks. to ride rough-shod over
them, allowing them the appearance
of freemen but in reality sinking them to
the condition of bondmen. The demo-
cratic press has so misrepresented the
state of things, and there has been so
much trouble about the negroes. that many
republicans have become weary and timid
and prefer to abandon the field rather than
continue the strife. This was not the
spirit with which the anti-slavery contest
was waged before and during the rebel
lion. It is a weak and craven spirit. 1t
would yield the victory when it is almost
won, and won by heroic sacrifices.
And so at Vicksburg. let us know the
truth in relation to the bloody act which
recently occurred there. Let us see
whether the slaughter of scores OF black
men is subject that christian and humane
people can look upon with Indifference.
The manner In which this is treated By
ahe democratic press is brutal They
speak of it as good joke, as a jolly part
in a very enjoyable comedy. The more
negroes killed the better pleased they
seem 10 be. 1t reminds us of the heart
less Jokes they uttered when the white
Union boys were fighting and dying
around this same Vicksburg for the Union
flag. "Good enough for them" was the
utterance of the copperheads at the news
of losses in the Union army. "Good
enough for them ~ is what they say of the
negroes murdered the other day, and what
they would say II the dead were thousands
instead Of one hundred and fifty. And
they believe that their unfeeling remarks
about "bloody shirts" are acceptable to
communities taught to believe life sacred
and color no reason for approving murder.
If there is crime against which all good
men should raise their voices, we believe
it is the usage of negroes in the southern
States in localities where the Ku-Kux and
White League carry on their Internal work
against the blacks. Slavery was better
than the outrages they have to endure
We shall see whether the democrats can
cover up the enormity of the situation in
the South by fiendish ridculc, or whether
ct last the North will not rise in indigna-
ton to repress the wrongs against the
blacks. Ne.are therefore glad that able
and trusty committees have been appoint
ed by the Speaker of the House to inves-
tigatc. Mr.. George T. Hoas Of Massachu-
sets is chairman of that which goes to
New Orleans. and Mr.. Conger OF Michigan
is chairman of the Vicksburg committee
both men in whom the people have conf
dence. God speed the Right.
THE TiGKSBURG MASSACRE. 49,.
STATEMENT WHICH BEARS THE IMPRESS or