The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-24

At the last moment, however Pinchback aban-
doned Witt, and thus he received but 81 votes,
In House OF 1903 members, in which his own party
had So men. ASH is very common to charge cor
rupton where party lines are thus broken, Will
add my Dehef founded upon pretty intimate
knowledge OF the negotiations on both Sides thar
there was nothing Of the kind here. Mr. witt IL =
person OF high sense OF honor, and his adher.
ents made no promise for MIN or themselves
TO Pnchback. except that Witt, n elected
Speaker, would, Ia appointing oricers OF
the House, give = fair share OF thu
ofices to colored men. PnchoacK probably de-
serted Witt at tine instance OF General Sheridan
who is known to have conversed with MIN on Fri
day morning on the other side, Estilletes al
herents insisted only on a solemn engagements
rom Kellogg that ne would aid them IN All reform
measures.
The DISAPPOINTMENT OF the Witt men Is very
great, and that OF the corrupt republicans is even
greater, and with reason; for, unless Governor
Kellogg should be weak ana wicked enough
to falsify his pledges and ding himself
once more into the bands or the corrupt part OF
his party-which means. do not hesitate TO say,
the very great majority OF It's white and blacE
leaders-tnese left out In the cold Those
publican leaders, meantime, who sincerely desire
honest igovernment-and they are not very
merous-hope that they have split the white mans
party In the State, and that the result OF thu
Speakers election Will be inal breaking down OF
the color line. II they can achieve this they
will, OF course have done the people or Louisiana
an inestimable benefit; for good government is
not possible until this accomplished But even
II they fan In this movement Is is sure 10 be
done, II only the federal government wiz
atop It's interference IN the internal politics OF tho
State ana leave the people TO manage their own
affairs.
THE WEAK POINT IN TIE SITUATION.
The weak point in the situation, so ar as tho
reform republicans are concerned, is that they
have TO deal with two men, both OF whom ara
weak and both nave corrupt allies. Estete, tho
Speaker, is too deaf TO carry on business 10 tho
House. has little strength OF character or personal
presence, and is said TO have for friends one or
two men known corrupt. Governor Kellogg Is
generally acknowledged, even by his oitlerest op-
ponents, 10 be a man OF amiaoe intentions, bus
he is constituuonally trimmer. He seems TO me
almost incapable or direct course. and Tor such q
movement as he now heads he lacks courage ana
determination. II Marshal Packard were Gov
ernor ne would succeed, but Packard's interest Is
that Kellogg shall succeed, for he A. KeIlogga
rival Tor the United States Senate.
Meantime, so sore are the white people OF the
State over the too long continued misgovernment,
that they view every movement and every man
with suspicion; and only the most answering,
bold and determined course, the most vigorous
punishment OF corrupt men, could satisfy the
state sufficiently to gain the new combination
prolonged life. You cannot travel far In Louisiana
without discovering that the politicians Who IN tho
name oil the republican party, rule II, aud have
done so for the last seven years In all tue depart
menIs OF It's government state and local, are
venementy and unanimously dctested by tho
white people. l have been amazed 10 see
how all white men, and many blacks, 10
my own neutrality-suspicious. rich or poor;
whether merchants, mechanics or profess
sional men; whether Americans, French. Irish.
German or Italian BY birth; absolutely alt
except the oflce-holders ana their relatiyesunIto
in this feeling OF detestatIon OF their rulers. IL
expresses Itself so vividy at the polls tnat AZ
noticed before only 5000 whites over
$1,000 supported the republican ticket Az the last
election and It is a fact that most OF these 5000
ONCE holders; the greater part are strangers
IN the state, and very many o! them may Justly TO
called adventures. IL Is universal senu-
ment that nave found scarcely coiored man.
ont OF ONCE, who did not complain 10 me that the
repub lean whites are AS ialthless 10 their duty
as they belle I've the other side would be.
Now inis small band OF white men have for
more than six years monopoized all political
power and prelerment in the state. they have
laid collected and spent Tor rather misspent or
stoepl all the taxes, local as well az STATE; they
have not Gully made all tue laws, but they have
arbitrarily changed them. and nave mlseraply
tailed TO enforce any which were for the peoples
good; they have openly ana scandalously cor
rupted the colored men whom tney have brought
into political life; they have used unJus. laws to
perpetuate ana extend their own power, and they
have practIsed all the basest arts OF ballot
suning, false registration and repeating &C
election after election. In the last election
IL was proved before a committee OF Congress
that the republican leaders mad, IN tho city OF
New Orleans alone, made not less tnan s. zoo ialse
registrations. A lev DAYS ago 1 went Gown tho
river attend court, In order 20 see the WORKING
or q negro jury. The court had TO adjourn for lack
or jury, and no panel had been drawn. because.
the names being taken IRON the registration lists
or the parish, thirty.sIx out OF forty eignt were
found TO be ncutlous-and this In country
parish. The republican Returning Board was con-
demned as a transparent fraud by two Congress
sional committees, ana has, so lar as Know,
defender In LOUISIANA or Ia the country. except
the President, who has just given federal once
Ia New Orleans TO Mr.. weHs. VINO chief OF
the Board. 1 know OF one case la the last
election where, the conservative ticket being
elected, the records OF the election were carried
by the supervisor from the parish 10 New Orleans
aud concealed In house OF prostitution, one Of
whose inmates was sent 10 drive a bargain with
the conservatives for their return. 50 common Is
corruption aud unblushIng stlu that the Grand
Jury OF New Orleans, only the other day. began an
Investigation TO discover VINO nad altered. after
its passage, an important Appropriation Oil.
passed by the Hahn republican, Legislature. ana
the discovery OF So gross aud daring raad
scarcely excited attention IN New Orleans. where
i have myself seen colOred members OF the Legis-
Iature-men VINO we're slaves but ten years ago
ana began lie with nothing at tnat time-now
driving magnificent horses, seated In styisE equi-
naUes and wearing diamond piuR
Whatever we in the North may tniuk OF tho
white people OF ths South, We cannot ior-e: the
fact that Louisiana has a long established and
wealthy community, vita large and complicated
business and social interests aud a great accUmu-
lated capital invested not merely Ia lands. but
also in machinery aud important puDus works.
New orleans is one or the largest commercial