The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-09-16
THE RED RIVER PARISH AFFAIR.

IN Oil Opiulou III oAC iHaCIcl, W bc
in possession of all the facts, and to
await the subsistence Of all excite
ment that we might speak dispas-
sionately on a subject of the very
greatest Importance to people whose
all is at stake. In our issue of yes
terday morning, a full and clear
statement of the affair was given
from the first manifestation of hos
tility on the part of the negroes to
the final scene Of the tragedy, in
which the carpet-baggers and SCALA
wags were killed, and on that state
ment of facts we have formed our
opinion, and the country will base
it's judgment.
The action of our people in this
startling affair, including the exter-
mination of the white organizers of
the negro instruction, to be justly
estimated, must be considered in con-
nection with the general history of
the State during the past six years,
and the contemporaneous events now
transpiring within our borders
There is point of endurance beyond
which human nature cannot by any
power be driven; at which the mild
est men grow desperate and challenge
all the consequences of resolute and
desperate measures to protect them
selves. The white people of Louisi-
ana have been crowded to that point
and they must be expected to act out
now the nature that is in them.
Whether this be policy or not, we do
not pretend to determine, but we do
believe, that in desperate emergen-
cies, when wrong and oppression
have aroused in the bosoms of peo-
pie, all the daring and determined
passions which God has. planted
there, the human heart, acting under
their sway, is wiser than the human
head, and will more surely lead a
people out of a damnable bondage,
than the subtlest schemes Of policy.
If the civil connections of the last
few days in Red River Parish had no
counterpart in other portions of the
State, it might be surmised that law.
less men there had outraged the law
and outraged humanity; but the sim
pie fact that similar occurrences are
transpiring in other and distant sec.
tions of the State, and that the white
people in every section Of it sympa.
thize in those occurrences, is evi.
dence that general and powerful
cause has provoked them, and that
they are something nobler and might
Ter than rebellious, causeless and
brutal infractions Of law. s'The pure
impartial and vigorous administra,
ton Of justice; is without doubt the
surest, bond to secure a cheerful sub
mission Of the people, and to engage
their affections to government and
when an enlightened and Christian
people, as if with one. impulse, take
the law in their own hands, expel Of
flcials from the seats, and strike down
in blood, men of a certain well-de.
fined class such acts are in them.
selves irrefutable evidence that there
is upon that people some deep and
terrible wrong; that men have LOST
faith in the administration of the
laws, and that the government under
which they live is not a free govern
ment, but despotism, terrible in its
imbecility, or fierce and unbearable
in its relentless tyranny. 1t is al
evidence that there is cause Il
work among that people, dark ane
strong enough to destroy the con
servatism of organized society, ant
turn the thoughts and aims Of me1
from the daily avocations of. peace
full life, to. the vindication, through
battle and blood, of their rights ant
their manhood. g&,.ae7s
1t is a truth, old as civilized soci
ety, that capital is cautious; and WI
know how reluctant the bushes.
classes OF any community are to en-
gage in civil eommotion; we know
they are naturally conservative; ant
1prefer to bear many wrongs tathe
than, rush into turmoil and excite
ment; we know that commerce, cap
ital, sindustrS1and property, are. all tt
be injured or.ruined by the disorder
Of an unsettled condition of govern
ment, and by civil strife; We Mow
further, that the real and persona
property Of this State is worth up
ward of three hundred and fifty mil
lions of dollars; that the cotton, sly