The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-09-24
THE NEW YORK HERALD On THE
LiUISlAN QUESTION.

The following is an extract from the lead
ing editorial of the New York Herald, Of the
18th inst:
President Grants original recognition OF
Kellogg was political blunder. Peace and
tranquility would have rei3nrd in Louisiana II
he had not acted on the Illegal order OF Judge
Durrel! and had allowed things to take their
natural course i'll the inau9nr ton OF McEnery,
VINO had the color, at least, Of 4 legal election
The present revolution IN Louisiana ~ the dl-
rect consequence of President Grants original
mistake, aud even If he is at last Sc sibe OF
that mistake and is willing to rectity it he
stands Ill AN embarrassing position.
Having indiscreetly recognized Kellogg as
the legal Governor, the President WAS bou id
to supp TT and restore him. but, having made
this recognition without warrant OF law, III
purSuAnce of judicial decree for which
Judge Durell was impeached by the House OF
Representatives at its last session, the Presl-
dent should perceive that he is in a false and
untenable position Ii his recognition OF
Kellogg had been defensible, all would be
smooth sailing now. Had Kellogg bee
elected by fair vote and honest count-had
his right to the Office been established to the
reasonable satisfaction OF impartial men, no
kind of concession would be justiiable, and
1t would be the imperative duty of the Pre- ii
dent to restore HIM ut all hazards and every
cost. But even tho Republican party is not
unanimous in thinking he President made
wise decision. The Impeachment OF Darrell
by the House affords presumption that the
President WAS misled.
The report OF the Senate Committee charged
to investlg te this question winter before Last.
proved that Kellogg was not legally elected.
and Senator Carpenters very able speech put
haV IL r>V
When a false decision OF the President brings
the country to tho brink of civil War he Oh
viously does not stand upon the same clear
and tenable ground us ii there were no valid
legal obi ,ctlons to his recognition OF Kellogg.
His persistence III original mistake, even
with the implied sanction OF G ,ngrees. puts
him in a very different position from mat
which he would hold if the unanimous Jud9-
rient OF the statesmen OF his own party sup.
ported him II, recognizing Kellogg On the de-
cision Of Durell, the mp ached Judge. When
strict law ls one side and fairness, equity
and justice on the other the President ous4t
to pause ana consider.
Gen. Grant cannot safely ignore the strong
public sentiment OF The best classes OF the
Louisiana population. they m ,nimon,iy III
dorsed and supported the overthrow of the
Kellogg usurpatlon. Peace, order aud un
yersal acquIescence followed the supplautng
of Kellogg The public sentiment OF the Re
spectacle classes and business community OF
Eouisi INA supports the overthrow Of Kellogg
The difficulty Of the Louisiana situation
consists in conflict between what is right
and what is legal In point of law Grant Is
bound to support Kellogg after rec 'gnzng
him vs. the legal Governor. But III equity and
Justice Kellogg has no title to the office, and
the best public opinion Of Louisiana warmly
indorses his overthrow. With justice AID
and sound local opinion ON one side. and
striot law on the other, the President is put i'll
a very embarrassing dilem NJ.
This ia one Of the occasions where com
promise and Cancellation is the wisest states
manship it a pacific adjustment is pc ,sible.
If the powerful moral influence which the
President can exert were directed to procure IL
resignation both of the Kellogg State officers
and the McEneiy Safe officers the State
would be lett without any legal government,
and the Federal authority might then step in,
a. it did on the same ground Mt the close OF
the war. and provide for the establishment Of
new State Government II Kellogg and his
associates should resign and McEnery and his
associates should resign, the election Of new
State officers might be referred to the peoole,
and the result OF a fair, honest election Ought
to be equally satisfactory to the President and
the people Of the State.
1t is OF the essence # republican institutions
that the people should rule, and the easiest
solution OF the present difficulty j, to refer the
question to the people OF the State The
Federal Government has no authority to do
this unless both sets of the State officers
resi- N ; but III that ease the Who'll question
could ba referred to the people, and tneir Nll!
ought to reyil. If the Kellogg ANA Mciiutry
Governments would both resign and retire the
solution would be direct aud easy. \ hriet
period OF military Government, followed by ),
fair election and reorgauized State govern
ment, would be satisfactory 70 the people, and
would relieve the Federal authority OF us en-
hnrrass meut-.