The daily gazette., 1875-01-11
WHITE LEAGUE
from the n. Y. Tribune OF Saturday.
who are the Randitti:

s'"O uEt tht
General Sheridan is gallant officer,
with small experience and less sue cess
In civil affairs. His official residence
in New Orleans few years ago was
not socially pleasant to him, and with
affairs there since there IL little rea.
son 10 think him specially familiar.
But suppose that General Sheridan
did know something about civil affairs
and the wilcs of politicians Suppose
him to have mind free from preju-
dice. and a sincere desire to let the
people of the country know the truth
about tho State to which he seems to
have been sent as General Plenipo.
Tertiary. To whom. in such a case,
would he, after careful consideration
of late history and the present situa-
ton, apply the imported word "ban-
ditti' in his report to the War Depart
ment ?
WhM Is the White League which
he has been swift TO condemn We
take the reports OF special corrcspon.
sof Independent journals as print
ed months ago, and now fully sustain
ed by such high authority as that of
gressional Committee charged with
the investigation of Louisiana affairs.
1t is no more secret organization than
is any Republican or Democratic ward
club in this city. 1t is no more dan
gerous than are the regiments of the
National Guard which are the pride
of our State in peace and the defence
Of the nation in war. Its member
ship embraces the most intelligent,
the best educated, the wcalthiest citi-
zens of New Orleans; the men whose
instincts and whose interests alike
urge them tokeep peace at all hazards.
With the single exception of the un-
premeditate uprising against the usur-
ping Government of the 18th of Sep.
tember, last year, no act of violence
can be laid TO its account. On the
CONTRARY, it is said by Congressman
Phelps that it is sort of superior
police" and it services in this capacity
have been conspicuously displayed in
more than one instance.
When the streets of New Orleans
were deserted for days by Kellogg's
Metrpolitans, the moral influence of
the White League gave the city a
reign of order, that like of which had
not been known for years. When the
mob which hangs about the heel of
every revolutionary movement clam
orod for the blood of their oppressors,
and kellog, Packard and their satel-
lites covered under the caves of the
Custom-house, fearing every minute
that the next would be their last, ii was
I'm al tnf 8 81 L1 I
who interposed his authority to pre-
vent the revolution from becoming q
riot, and placed guard over the men
whom the people hated, and perhaps
Lad cause to hate. 1t was the White
League taat protected professions
of colorGd Democrats from assault,
and for the first time guaranteed them
the privilege of meeting in clubs
attiliating with any other than the Re
publican party. And the leaders of
the White League, by counseling pa
tiencc, forbearance, and resorting only
to legal means of redress, have done
more to keep the peace in Louisiana
during the late exciting seasons than
has been done by the army and navy
Of the United States under the COM
mand of Lieutenant General Sheridan.
In fine, the only really Objectionable
things about the White League are
its name and IDS original organization
Qong since abandoned) on the color
line.
Who then are the "banditti" in Lou
isiuna, fulfilling every definition of the
word ? They are the men who have
stolen the offices, the public improve
ments, and the revenues of the State
who have made and widencd the
breach between the races who have
added score of millions to the public
debt. and have nothing but lying mes
sages, cooked" financial reports, and
their own suddenly acquired riches to
show how the increase has been ap-
IUoprialcd who, under pretrnse of
being the friends of the poor negro,
have by legislation inhnical to the
down his wages to starvation figure
who have imposed upon the people
Judiciary notoriously corrupt, and
petty executive officers, partisan, igno-
rant and depraved, who have contrivcd
the most ingenious methods of depri-
wing the State of its duly elected Off
GERS, and when these failed to accbm-
plish the purpose, did not hesitate to
put themselves above law, and on
basis of misrepresentation invoke the
sword to maintain their nsurpation,
demanding the lives of their victims to
make easy their road to continuance
to power. These men-the real ban,
ditti"-are Kellogg, Packard, Beck
with and the rest of the "ring" who
are running the usurping Government
in Louisiana, and who have enlisted
President Grant, part of his Cabinet,
and few influential members of Con
grcss in support of their efforts to per-
pctuatc their stolen lease of power. |
The people do not ask that these "ban-
ditti' be declared such by Proclama-
tion of the President or act of Con- |
gress; nor yet that they be turned
over TO Lieutenant-General Sheridan |
to be tried by drum head court-martial,
and dealt with according to military
law. But in the protests now arising |
Governors and Legislatures and mass
meetings of indignant citizens, they |