The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-10
The Opinion of DR.. Thomas COttman, the
Commissioner OF the Government
to Examine the Condition
Of Louisiana.
Capet.Bag Rule Worse Than the Flood
IS There Must Be a Change or Civil War
is Inevitable."

| ing account of an interview had with DR..
Thomas Cottman " no, it will be recollccted,
was recently on visit to this city. On his
return to New York he furnished a report of
his observations to the Herald, from which
we extract the following.
After giving a very gloomy but truthful
description Of the distressed condition Of
the people, made SO by the overflow, he said
of the people that
ALL OF THEM WERE REGULATORS.
The negroes especially are in favor of the
reputation of all State debts. They have
been taught that the proprietors will not
are compelled to pay the taxes. The ne
groes do not care about any other kind of
politics they believe just that much, and
do not care to know much MORE"
REPUTATION THE NEXT ISSUE.
"This is likely, then, to be the next issue
in Louisiana! ?" asked the reporter.
1T certainly will be the issue in the next
election; but it will not be confined to Lou
isiana. 1t will spread wherever there are
negroes-all over the South. The work of
the negroes is the only means at hand for
the whites to pay the taxes. This the negro
knows, and he naturally feels that the money
is to come out of him, and that he has the
upper hand of the argument and can dictate
his prices. The employer is to blame for
this state Of affairs. He has taught tire
negro to believe that the tax must come
from reduction of his wages. But, as
said the great trouble is that there is no
money in the State. Last year negroes
could earn $40 per month, while now they
are glad to get Sl3 for the same amount of
service. The reason for this is that, where
| 90 fho of los tho
$50 to pay his man, he now finds that he has
not the credit to acquire the S13 which he
must have before he can engage his help"
FUNDING THE STATE DEBT.
SIS the condition Of the State finances as
bad9"
"The State will never be able to pay its
bonds" replied the Doctor. "Kellogg is
coming on with the funding commission to
try to fund the State debt. The interest on
sixty per cent of the face of the bonds has
already been collected and can be paid if
the bOndhOlders are willing to fund their
debt. The remaining forty per cent must
be dropped"
care there many of these bonds held in
the North y
eyes A prominent banker who went
into bankruptcy few months ago held
1900, 900 Of these bonds, and now suppose
his creditors hold them. The general i'm
preston throughout Louisiana seems to be
| that If the Governor acts fairly in the mat
ter Of funding the bonds, and does not go
into Wall street to speculate on his own ac-
count he will get the united support of
both parties. The bOndholders would, of
course, array themselves against any such
a course"
RAMPANT FOR A "wHITE MANS GOVERN
MENT"
"Does this include the factions and turbu-
lent elements in New Orl ans ?" asked the
Herald man.
1T does not" was the reply. "The young
men OF the country are all organized, but no
one knows for what purpose. They all be-
long to secret organization. Some call
themselves members of vigilance commit
tee Certain it is that they keep the place
and time Of their meetings strictly secret.
This is all OmlnOus movement and bodies no
good for the political future of the South.
There is one redeeming feature, however
The solid men are etfecting an organization
to restrain any Incorporate action. The
young men are nearly all out of employ
ment, 50 dull has business become. They
attribute this state OF things to the general
ruin produced by carpet-bag rule. They
are ready for any emergency. The present
pail over business has not existed for more
than six months, and yet their despair is
driving the young men Of the South to ex-
tremes which may end very disastrously for
reconstruction"
THE IMPENDING CRISIS.
Where is this state of things to end?"
"There is oaly ono solution" replied DR..
Cottman. "There certainly will be con-
ttlct of races sOOr. l think the crisis will |
occur about September next 1t is as sure
to come, in my opinion, as the sun will RISE |
Only little time ago there was trouble in |
"a nf
bly, contest between the Warmoth and !
Kellogg factions, but it was development |
Of the spirit Of hatred to Northern rule. On |
that occasion two men were killed and
eleven were wounded. Several parishes are
under a platform, which is
printed in paper called the Caucasus, and
they are all rampant for a white mans |
government They believe that Gen. Grant
is getting tired of the Civil Rights bill.
1t is the impression among the cool head
I'd citizens that Casey, of New Orleans has
spread this report. 1t is also the current be-
lief that Judge Bradley, who sat with Judge
Woods in the examination of the Grant
parish prisoners, regards the Civil Rights
bill as impraCticable and imperative and
that he will so report to Senator Freling
huysen, into whose hands Senator Sumner
the bill"
. DARK NIGHT SETTLING OVER LOUISIANA"
"rhis certainly looks rather dark for the
state. Is there no way of avoiding this
crisis :" asked the Herald representative.
"Not at this late day. The day for avoid
ng the awful calamties which are in store
or the people of Louisiana is past Nothing
hort OF civil war, to which the late conflict
Il Arkansas will be mere bagatelle, can
'ver wipe out the hatred of these long bitter
7ears of misrule. 1t cannot he amicably set
led, but will demand national interference.
Is said, the only element Of salvation is
ound in the conservative organization of
merchants and peaoeable citizens now form
ng, backed by the whole power of the Cen
raj Government. This can scarcely suffice,
!owever. Party troubles might precip
tate civil war tomorrow, and then
ven the most amicably disposed men
vould be compelled to join issues
With their neighbors for the common
rOteotion Of their families aud their proper l
y. Republicans, DemOcrAts-all would have ,
0 join IN the revolt. It will be square
ut-and out fight between white aud black.