The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-27
Grants Ambition and Louisiana.

| A PRECEDENT INTENTIONALLY ESTABLISHED OF
ARMY INTBRFERENCE WITH LEGIsLATURBs-
THE THIRD TERM TO BE GAINED BY OVERAWlNG
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGES.
To the Editor Of the Netp York Tri5une:
Sir,-There is view of the Louisiana
outrage which / have not seen expressed.
The dispersion of Legislature by force,
the subordination of the civil to the military
authority, the interference by che Executive
in the organization of legislative body,
the entrance of the army of the United
States into State to protect it
against domestic violence in the teeth
of the ConStitution-all these things make
precedents which must be dsavowed, or in
time they will make law. Unfortunately, the
history of the last few years is not without
parallels, and the Commander.in.Chief has
been swift to interposc Federal troops "to
keep the peace and prevent bloodshed ION
every pretext in all the Southern States. But
this particular precedent, at this particular
time, is deliberate, advised, and we'll con;
sidered. 1t is meant to be precedent.
It is meant to pronounce and establish the
law that in disputed elections the army shall
attend as posse to preserve order and to
see fair play.
1t is intended that whenever any elections
shall have been carried by intimidation of
voters, then the army shall be on hand to
see that Justice is done. And 1t is intended
that whenever the Administration party
loses an election in the South it shall in every
such case be charged that it has been lost 10y
fraud, force. and intimidation, and that the
army shall unseat all persons claiming to be
elected by such means, and seal those un-
fairly deprived of their election.
This precedent is for use hereafter, and
the time and place will be when any SOUTH
ern State attempts to vote against the third
term.
The debate in the Senate and the course of
the President demonstrate the fact that there
has been consultation and an agreement and
concert of action. 1t has been agreed that
there is imminent danger of the party in
power going out in 1876; that if the south
ern. States are allowed to vote freely this
danger becomes certainty; that the coun-
try must be aroused to the probability that
the "rebelsD and their allies are about to
take possession Of the Government, and the
public mind must be excited with the old war
fever sufficiently to justify the employment
of force to defeatthe rebels. Inter arnlu silent
leges is again the maxim and the WatchWord.
Then, when the election Of 1876 comes, and
the mass Of the southern vote is cast Tor the
anti.Admnistratio candidate, the army will
interpose, and will eject from electoral col.
leges all those elected by intimidation and
seat those prepared to vote for Grant. For
Louisiana means the third term; and it
means the third term secured by force. Fear.
less.we all know General Grant to be as
man. He is fearless of law and consequences;
his character and career prove it. He will
carry out the programme he has laid down
for himself, and he will make those around
him submit to him and obey. He is their
only hope. He knows it. The elections OF
1874 made him necessity. and he will rule
them as ruthlessly as he rules Louisiana.
B. t.
Richmond, Va, January 13, 1915.