The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-08-19
THE WHITE LEAGUE.

.. Under this caption, the Boston Ad-
Tertiser, an able and influential con-
sentative Journal, discusses in the
following strain, and as it is highly
necessary to be posted at home in
what strangers think Of us and our
scheme, we think the article is wor-
thy Of perusal and some considera-
ton. At any rate we republish it
to keep our readers gu fat with
things from home:
The white people of Louisiana, be-
ing, it may be acknowledged, under
some just prorocation in view of the
way things have been managed in
their State, have rushed madly into
the worst scheme to remedy the diff
ticulty. Something they call the
White League has suddenly become
popular, and chapters OR councils of
it are being established everywhere.
Know Nothing lodges did not multi
ply faster in the time when sensible
people got wild about the perils of
trusting the ballot to men not born
in the country. The object Of this
White League is, of course, to COM
bine and organize the white citizens
in an effort to keep the citizens who
are not white out of office. They at
tribute all their woes to the colored
vote, and the scheme is, so far as it
s ineligible, to diminish the
strength of thatvote. Precisely how
this is to be legitimately done does
not appear. The colored men are
there, and, the right to vote is so
secured that it can not safely be de-
MED. The only way in which the
colored vote can be palpably dimin
ished is by killing the voters or in
shutting such panic Of fright that
they will not dare exercise their
right. Things have occurred in Lou
isiana within the past ten years that
tend to discourage any confidence
that the worst outrages would not be
resorted to it they were thought to
be expedient. But it would seem
that the State had already had suffi-
Gent experience of the policy of al
ienating the sympathy ofpeople most
competent to assist them in the effort
to establish justice.
We have made no secret of the
opinion that Louisiana has been since
1872 the victim of a violent and un-
Ijustifable usurpation. 1t is great
misfortune, both as a fact and prcc-
edent. Congress has been negligent
of its duty in treating the subject
with indifference. There is through
out the Northern States a strong
feeling of sympathy with the people
subjected to government not of
their choice. No person in any de-
gree responsible for the success of
the coup d'etH has won additional
honor on account of it in the estima-
ton of his own party in this section.
But it is also true that the Republi-
cans Of the North could have no
great respect for party which for
the chance of success made an ALI.
ance with Warmoth and his set. For
four years the white people of Louis
lana, or at least as many of them as
were Democrats, have denounced
Warmoth as the incarnation ofevery.
thing in politics which was dishoh.
est, fraudulent and ignoble. When
therefore, they consented to an ALI
ance with him for mutual advantage
he resigning the governorship tt
their nomination, they to elevate hin
to the United States Senate, the sin
certify of their professions of rcpug
nance to corruption was clouded. 1
appeared that the cause of their com
planning was not that corrupt met
were in power, but that they did no
share in the profits of corruption
Notwithstanding this exposure 0
gross inconsistency, by which tn
Louisianians lost more respect thai
they can recover in long term o
decency, there was among the Repuh
licans of the North no disposition t.
connive in a scheme of cheating then
Of their choice. Considered solel
as a question of party policy, there j
no question in any sagacious man
mind that the Republican part
would stand stronger and fairer be
fore the nation to-day with Warmot
in the Senate by Democratic vote!
and a Democrat in the Governor