The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-18
How shall Leuisi.n. y. Relieved

How Shall xeuisiana he Relieved
The HERALD, while making allowance for
the force OF party temptations, deeply regrets
the prospect that Louisiana is to be left, for
two years longer. the helpless victim of
usurping governm sustained by the federal
army. The party politicians, on both sides,
are looking forward to the Presidential cleo
ton; but the HERALD, caring nothing for par
ties, except so far as they may secure the pub
lie interest, desires to sec the iron heel of
despotism lifted from the PROSTATE State at
once. We deprecate a continuance of the
present state of things for single unnecessary
day. If q ravenous wild beast had seized and
carried off favorite child the parents who
had followed him to his den and saw the
child palpitating under his paws, would
think chiefly Of methods Of release
and make it their first care to rescue
their child. Must Louisiana continue
to be victim while contesting parties play
their game for the next Presidential election?
Early redress can come only from the repub-
lican majority in Congress, and we should re-
joice to see them perform in this conjuncture
great act of justice and magnanimity, even
though it might insure their continuance in
power and extinguish the rising hopes of the
democracy. If the republicans in Congress
could rise to broad survey of the situation,
if they could exercise foresight and magma
nimity, if they could be made to see that fair
ness and justice will be the winning cards
in the next political contest they would
rectify the blunders of President Grant
and lose no time in making Louisiana self
governing State If the democrats are true
friends of that oppressed community they |
should be willing to make it easy for their |
political opponents to lift up the PROSTATE
State. The practical question is whether
these great wrongs shall be redressed by the
republicans now or by the democrats two
years hence; and all who care more tor the
interests of Louisiana than for the success of
the democratic party must prefer to see the
grasp of military despotism loosened at once.
But if Congress adjourns without striking off
the military letters the democrats are entitled
to the full advantage of so stupendous mis-
take, unless they obstruct and defeat practi-
cable scheme Of relief.
Bearing in mind that the paramount object
is the early emancipation OF Louisiana, and
not the success of the democratic party, and
bearing also in mind that more than two
years must elapse before the democratic party
can be in position to break the chains and
set the captive free, the HERALD has a
strong desire that this crushed and PROSTATE
State may receive justice from the present
Congress 1t is certain that this Congress
will not censure the President for the military
interference with the Louisiana Legislature,
which he disavows; it is certain that it will
not direct him to withdraw the army from
that State while its affairs are so unsettled;
certain that he will continue to support the
usurping government unless Congress takes
some action; and if the democrats care more
for Louisiana than for perpetuating her
wrongs to serve as q party cry they should
put no obstacles in the way of substantial
redress, even though offered by method
which their own party would not adopt We
concede the advantage of having this in
Hammatory topic kept alive during the next
two years, but consideration so purely part-
san ought not to be weighed for moment
against the rights of Louisiana.
We wish that both republicans and demo-
Gratis in Congress might rise above party con-
siderations and restore to Louisiana the
great blessing Of government which rep
resents her people, instead of leaving
her to be the football of party politics for the
next two years. But redress now must be
redress by a republican Congress, whose sem
timents are divided between justice to Louisi-
ana and fealty 10 the President; and in this
division of sentiment the democratic members
can turn the scale It depends on them
whether Louisiana shall have early redress or
writhe for two years longer under an odious
usurpation. Now, as the President processes
his willingness to accept the guidance of Con-
gress on this subject, why waste precious time
in denouncing and pursuing him, instead of
adopting practical remedy? Only six weeks
remain before the close of the session, and
there is no time to be lost IF there is no
legislation things will remain as they are.
The President will continue to uphold the
usurpation by his authority as commander-in-
chief of the army. The people of Louisiana
will be misgoverned, plundered and degraded
for the next two years as they have been for
the two last If there is any chance, how
ever slight, of redress and justice during
the remnant of this short session,
we should be sincerely sorry to see it squan-
dered by a refusal Of the democratic members
to cooperate with such fair-minded republic
cans as admit the existence of the wrongs
which it is the duty of Congress to redress.
1t is, unfortunately, too evident that the
most direct and efficient remedies cannot be
applied If the democratic party held control
of the federal government it would simply
withdraw the army and leave the people of
Louisiana to their own solution of the prob
lem. But no man Of sense believes Congress
will adopt that method, and it would be futile