The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-02-04
The Louisiana Report.

The Springfield Mass Republican COM
ments as follows on the report of the
Congressional Sub Committee of Inves-
tigation on the Louisiana question:
The Importance of the subject-matter,
the equal ability and candor cf the
treatment, and the character and posi-
ton of the three gentlemen whose
names appear at the bottom, insure it a
general and careful reading. 1t stands
alone and conspicuous among the docu-
ments in the Louisiana case for the utter
absence of partisan exaggeration or
special pleading. 1t bears in itself the
evidence of sincere and intelligent ef-
fort to get at the exact facts and to state
them exactly as they are, without the
slightest color or distortion from the
feelings of the investigators. Every
paragraph and sentence breathes this ju-
dicia} temper. 1t is this distinguishing
quality of the report that gives it its
exceptional weight. 1t is this that
makes it the most damaging indictment
yet drawn against the Southern policy of
which Kellogg is the fitting representa-
tive, and against the Administration
which supports him. 1t is this that has
so excited the anger and alarm of the
Administration partisans in Congress,
D
Foster and Phelps as traitors" and
Democrats in disguise"
These gentlemen have told the truth,
and the truth hurts. That is the whole
story in d nutstell. They may have sup
posed that that was what they were sent
to New Orleans for-to ascertain the
truth and to tell it. Their Republican
associates in Congress said it was. The
Republican newspapers of the country
said it was. Wait" the former have
been saying all along; "our sub-com-
mittee will be back presently; then we
shall get the facts and be in position to
act intelligently." wait" echoed the
go off at halScock; Congressional com
mittee in wifHse ability and fair-minded-
ness everybody has confidence are on the
ground taking evidence; when they re-
port we shall know just what to believe
and to do" Messrs. Foster and Phelps
chose TO take the remarks of their asso-
ciates and the Republican newspapers in
dead earnest, and we de not envy the lat
ter the exhibition they are now making
of themselves in the effort to gulp
down their own words of only
fortnight ago, and to discredit a
report which they then commended in
advance to the confidence of the country
as certain to be just and conclusive.
Messrs. Foster and Phelps are the same
men now that they were a fortnight ago.
They have done the very things it was
promised they should do-make an hon
est investigation, and followed it up with
| an honest report. They found that the
Conservatives undoubtedly carried Lou
siana at the recent election; that the
action of the Returning Board was marked
by the grossest and most palpable fraud !;
| that there was no such intimidation of
colored voters as has been alleged, while
| there was very active intimidation on the
| other side; that the account of the White
League which the President has embOd-
| led in his message and which the Repub-
| lican papers have accepted as gospeltruth
| is, in fact, the merest fiction; that the Kel-
| logg Government rests entirely upon Fed
eral bayonets; and that its effect upon
| Louisiana has been every way calaml-
tous. Having found these facts they state
them frankly and simply like the honest
men that they are. and leave Congress
and the country to make their own deduc-
| tinns