New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-10
RECONsTRUCrION IN LOUISIANA.

Reno" writes the following letter to the
Chicago Tribune, under date of December
81, from New Orleans:
1t is one thing to seek to defend ones
party weaknesses and shortcomings before
an outraged, though possibly still indulgent
public. 1t is quite another to expose an I'M
scrupulOus enemy in seeking, through such
salient points, 10 effect an entrance into the
strongholds of ones friends. There may
be, as there undoubtedly is, much in the
past of Louisiana Republicanism, one, in
common honesty, may neither seek to pal
late nor excuse. There ia certainly much
in the present of Louisiana Democracy to
occasion theusand-fold more apprehension
and alarm. l have no defense to make of
that which, at best, is indefensible. might,
if SO disposed, perchance, effect something
of diversion in favor of that certainly
well-abused class usually denOminated car
pet-baggers, as found even in Louisiana.
might make an indisputable showing, for
instance, taking them up in detail, in proof
that a large majority of those having
brought the party organization into dis,
repute were actually natives of the South,
instead OF. immigrants from the North, as
generally imagined. l, might go even fur
Their, perhaps, and show that those gener.
ally admitted as most Objectionable were
born and raised in Louisiana itself. At
most, however, it would probably be one of
those labors of love the appreciation of
which is only to be measured by the abuse
and calumny heaped upon ones head in
return.
prefer rather, for the present at least,
to leave the past of Louisiana Republican
ism, and deal with the present of Louisiana
Democracy. Had our friends in the North
adopted the same rule some months since,
there would likely be somewhat different
political status than is presented to-day.
How they have allowed the enemy to steal
into their hitherto Invulnerable stronghold,
under cover of a smoke raised at their own
expense, they are undoubtedly beginning
to see. How much of it, so terribly blind
ing in its effecr, as waited from Louisiana,
was but the effluvia, so to speak, of a ram.
pant rebel Democracy, it would be we'll
perhaps, to begin to inquire.
The spectacle of an armed and bloody
revolution, and the people of a State held
in fOrcible subsection by federal bayonets,
is assumed, by Louisiana Democratic poll.
ticians at least, as chiefly instrumental in
carrying the Northern elections. However
their assumptions may have been borne out
in actual fact, the effects were certainly
palpable enough to all. The effects ad-
mitted, one naturally seeks something of a
satisfactory solution of the causes tending
to their production. They have been rung,
in all their changes, as attributable wholly
and solely to the administration and party
in power. Trace the labor of love to its
fountain head, and you are brought home
to the Louisiana Democracy. Perhaps it
would be as we'll, in this connection, to
trace something of the history of that self
same Democracy from the opening of the
campaign. If it afford a somewhat differ
emit version of this Louisiana case from that
generally understood by the public at large,
it is simply that the facts as presented speak
for themselves.
Beginning with the Louisiana Democracy,
then, at the date of the convention, we find
that from the frat there could be no mis-.
understanding as to either it's status or pur-
poses. 1t was an incOntrOvertible fact, as
demonstrated in the convention, that the
White League extremists were decidedly in
the ascendency. They had possessed them
selves of the whole party machinery as
opposed to the Republicans. They were in
almost complete and absolute control of the
enginery OF the press. The Picdyt,e, as
the organ of the more respectable elements,
alone held out. 1t was in vain, however,
that it sought to stem the tide. With the
press and party machinery in control of the
old school Democracy, 1t was simply q
question of time with any and all opposition.
As in 1861, the various dissenting elements
must needs fall in with the stream. AS
before, too, though far from instrumental in
its Inauguration, the conflict once imminent,
those of the more respectable classes must
needs assume the lead. They must lead the
rabble they might not otherwise control.
They must manage the elements by riding
the storm.
The alternatives, as presented to the
Liberals, were athliation with the Repub.
licans, OF to be overridden and literally
ground to powder by the Democratic hordes
they generally affected to despise. There
was little of inclination, as there was GER
tainly lacking the moral courage to brave
the public pressure by resort to the former.
There was a natural repugnance in the
matter of cOnsenting to the latter. They
had committed themselves, too, through a
participation in the convention. The con-
ventiOn, to be sure, as might have been
expected, had turned out something of a
fraud. In the expectation of participating
in so,called "People's," instead of a
Democratic convention, they had been
decidedly taken in. 1t was too late, how.
ever, to mend the matter now. There was
no resource for the Liberals but 20 fall into
line. Naturally enough, in so doing, their
wOuld-be leading representatives sought TO
gain control. In 80 doing, as naturally, too,
they must out Herod HerOd in their zeal for
the masses they would lead. Their course
once decided on, there was little hesitation
in the premises.
The Picayu,,e, the old, reliable, staid and
orderly organ of the respectability, led off
recognized organ of the old time Democracy,
suddenly found itself far eclipsed in its
own peculiar field. Rave as it might in it's
somewhat tragieal delineations of Radical
enormities, the PicGylac would invariably
go it hundred better.
The Bulletin had the disadvantage of
being q new, while the PicayitHe was an old
ana established organ. The Bulletin had
sprung into existence, as it would seem,
rather as a mOuthpiece for the extremists
than as filling any recognized vacancy in
the journalistic field. The Picayltae, with
its superior prestige, had but to come down
from its pedestal of respectability as it
were, and identify itself with the masses
the revOlutiOnists-tO be recognized as in
the lead. The contest between the two
would have been simply amusing but for
the seemingly almost inevitable results that
must follow In It's train. The Bulletin would
seem as labOring for permaneney and
power through constant and persistent ap-
peals 10 the prejudices. The Pieayune as
evident, would master the elements by play
| ing upon the passions. The one would stir
up well of hatred. The other would in
cite to action. Both, from their own peeu-
| liar standpoint, we're playing upon the
| weaknesses of the masses they would con-
troll. The Picdyulte, take it all in all, con
| sidering, TO use an expression of it's own,
"the mercurial nature of our people, =
played the stronger hand. 1t gradually
drew ahead in the race.
To ride the elements of revolution there
must needs be central junta in recognized
| control. There must be a thorough and
/ proper organization of the force in the field
| There must be something like q defnitivC
purpose in view. So fsr the Committee OF
Seventy had been the only recognized head