The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-04

fore the day Ii over. Each side is confiden
of securing the organization of the Legisla
ture and in that body both seem determined
upon pursuing o programme which may
lead to bloodshed The reported meet
ing of the White League prepared for
battle is ominous. The measures adopted by
, the State authorities even more danger
Gus. For the first time in the history of any
State in the Union the people have been
called to assemble in the capital to see that
no wrong is committed upon the lawmaking
power of the Commonwealth. For the first
time the representatives of the people have
been asked to pass through o guard Of
armed men on their way to the State
apparent necessity that is imposed upon
the general government to support with
United States troops the perpetrators of SO
terrible wrong upon the sovereignty of
State 1t is impossible to look upon such
condition of affairs without alarm Two par
ties, both desperate in the measures they have
adopted to obtain supremacy, stand armed
and ready to confront each other. A word
may lead to blow, and blow to battle
In such conflict all political differences
will vanish for the time, and even the
sincerest friends of the wronged and
oppressed people Of Louisiana will be COM
PEELED to approve policy which commands
peace first, leaving the question of right to be
determined afterward. Than this nothing
could be more painful. Louisiana has been
misgoverned, Inundated, robbed. The State
government is little better than @ usurpa-
ton. The popular voice has been disregarded
and the election returns have been fslsifed by
faithless Returning Board. To crown a
long series of infamies the members of the
Legislature are to be compelled to pass
through a guard not less Pretorian than those
which did the bidding Of Roman emperor.
1t is as if whole people was undergoing the
ordeal of the yoke. They must feel such
situation keenly, especially as their best
friends can offer them no assurance OF imme-
date relief, and we are compelled to counsel
the people of Louisiana to submit little
while longer, that peace and good government
may come to them in the end with all the
more honor because they were patient in
their sufferings and loyal even when they were
most wronged.
There is one bright ray in the darkness and
gloom which overhangs the people Of New
Orleans. 1t is their promise to be guilty of
no act of violence against the United
States. When we consider the wrongs
they suffered and the outrages which
are still impending over them we see
in q 1,,fio hot = trio
it is heroic. Unfortunately the very conflict
they wish to avoid may become inevitable if
there is any conflict at all. A riot necessarily
means interference, and interference can only
result in prolonging the anarchy and usurpa-
ton which have long been almost unendura-
ble Another outbreak would only add to the
complications which have already done so
much to retard justice to Louisiana Congress
has been slow to free the State from the
Kellogg usurpation, and it would be
slower still to accord justice to an oppressed
people if even for day they took the reins
into their own hands by force. Besides the
bloodshed and misery and disgrace which
would inevitably follow q resort to arms at
this time the action that is most needed for
the peace and well-being of the State would
be delayed for another year. The remedy,
which the present Congress cannot
deny with any decent regard for the uni
versal sentiment Of the country would then
be withheld upon the plea that the people of
Louisiana are unruly and disloyal and can
the democratic Congress which is to assemble
year hence would be trammelled in its action,
especially if the Executive should feel ag-
grieved at the course pursued by the White
League leaders in this crisis In whatever
aspect we regard it On outbreak now could
only be productive of evil consequences.
1t would bring evils of its own even within
the narrowest sphere of its operations. II
would not tree the State or secure to the peo-
pie of Louisiana one right they do not now
possess. AS we said before, it would only
prolong their misery, and in some sense il
would lose them the universal sympathy they
now receive. Everything would be lost and
nothing gained. Under these circumstances
it is better for them to bear the ills
they have than fly to others that they
know not Of for, whether the radi-
calls gain their point in the organization
of the Legislature; whether they are prac.
tically DISTINGUISHED and new fraud i'm
posed upon them in addition to the old
whether the present Congress neglects or re.
fuses to do them justice ; still the day of theil
deliverance is near at hand, and they can
count to the hour almost when it will come.
Under the worst conceivable circumstances
they have only to await the assembling OF
the Forty-fourth Congress- and the certainty
of their relief then will greatly mitigate their
condition in the meantime if they are able tc
restrain themselves now. This is considera-
ton which ought not to be overlooked or for.
gotten in their counsels, and we hope it will
receive its due weight in their deliberations.
Our news this morning indicates one