New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-02

through which such an organization could
be armed and authorized to commit these
horrible acts, and the leading gun stores
promptly stated that they had made no
unusual sales Of weapons or ammunition
to negroes.
At this stage we supposed one of two
things: 1. The P;cdylne would have pub
lished the information upon which this
mischievous story was founded. 2. That
the subject would have been taken up by
some responsible and logical writer who
would have extricated the paper from the
humiliating position in which it has been
placed.
We were mistaken. The subject has
been apparently left in the hands that
originated it. The logician says:
We understood, also, that such a publica-
ton should not be made except on the most
satisfactory evidence and after the gravest
consideration.
Less than the high legal talent lavished
in the daily columns of the Picayune
would have informed the sub-editor that
when specific evidence is adduced in proof
of a charge, no court will allow the sub
stitute of other, less authentic testimony,
unless the first evidence is Withdrawn or
shown to be inaccessible. Now, the arti-
Gle does not produce the evidence upon
which the charge was based; that is, that
information reached US yesterday" and
'tas was expressed" b. the same informa-
ton in regard to the plot to ''slay all the
men and keep all the women" Does the
Picayune admit it has no such informa-
ton? Is it unable to produce the proof
upon which was based this perilous
charge of Black League for the ex-
termination of the whites? If such be its
inability, then let the proprietors and d.
rectors of that journal come forward and
say that they have no such evidence.
Let them allay the unfounded appre-
tensions of the timid, and the dangerous
animosities Of the whites, falsely threat
ened with determination and outrage.
1t should not be tolerated that such a
charge, not substantiated by positive evil
dence, should be sought to be set up by
the forced construction of acts and inten-
tons imputed to the colored people for
months, perhaps years. preceding the
massacre which they are charged
with intending to commit. Our French
DeTocqueyille takes up the false news
divulged by the Picayune, and adds
the result of the inquiries made by
the other journals. 1t intimates an ap-
prehension whether Captain Badger can
be depended on to defend the whites, be-
cause evolves do not eat each other up,
and our chief of police has too much need
of negro voters to diminish their majority,
already very feeble throughout the State,
by dispensing them with cannon shot" It
accords so much credence to the Picdyune's
charge as to say We by no means indorse
the assertion Of the Picayune, and publish
the facts announced by our Camp street
contemporary under every reservation,
but adds, prudence is the mother of
safety, useless preparation is better than
suspense, and man warned beforehand
is worth two" This group of apothegms,
like those of Sancho Panza, may be trans
lated, ''we do not credit the charges of the
Picayene, but they may be true after all
We had even relied on the probable quiet
and harmony Of the day set for the mas
sacre and outrage, as proof that the
charge was unfounded, but De Tocque-
vile cuts Us off from this disproof, thus:
The Picayune has it from good source
that this news is perfectly founded, but
believes, nevertheless, that its article will
prevent the putting in execution of the
plan of massacre in question, because the
negroes, seeing themselves discovered, will
not dare to hazard the attempt.
This eminently Gallo reasoning when
translated reads thus: A man is charged
with an intention to fire house. The
evidence upon which this charge is based
is not produced. It is claimed that the
man would have burned the house but for
the improved charge that such was his in
tention. Salvage is claimed on the house
for him who promulgated the improved
charge. But this charge, SO detrimental
to our peace and values, has now been
published in foreign tongue, and passes
to that portion of our people, who can not
read the constitution under which they
live in the language in which it is written
If we miss the thronging thousands
which usually celebrate with veneration
the birth Of freedom on this continent,
we may accord to that Mistress Nickel-by
of the press. the Picayune, the response
bility of having, by damaging false news,
closed the soda shops, and stopped for
that day the sale Of pastry. Shade OF
Mr.. McCloskey!