New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-12
A CANVASS WITH CANNON.


and Colfax. 1t has exchanged from the
infantry into the artillery arm of the SER
vice. The shotgun was valuable lmple-
ment in the suppression of suffrage, but
men became more or less accustomed TO
it, SO they lodged at the flash like SO
many didappers, and so exercised pre-
carious right of political and personal
existence. Observing that from bad shoot
ing, and the shelter afforded by federal
troops at elections, the colored Repub-
lican voters of Louisiana had become
quite bold, the Democracy of Mississippi
adopted different and far more efficient
means of bringing firearms to bear against
those ''snow flakes" the ballots. They
decided the election, not by inviting their
friends to the polls, but by warning
their opponents to stay away. When
the campaign commenced the neighbor-
hood caucus assigned the various offices
among gentlemen skilled in the manual
and maneuvre of the field piece. To each
pIOulucut ciuulttate WAS hSSlo hcu u ocC-
| ton of battery, with its lieutenant Of
| the piece and its numbers to the gun.
Loading, swabbing, aiming and pulling
| the lanyard, passing the cartridge from the
caisson to the piece, all was organized.
There were artillery horses, or mules, and
riders, and the command having made its
appointments for discussion, set out on
the canvass. Arrived at the appointed
places the political argument was COM
menced by the command in battery
| and forthwith the piece is brought into
position, loaded and pointed in the direc-
ton of the enemy, the gunner stands by
his lanyard for orders. The discussion
then commences. A few rounds are fred
into the tree tops. This brings down
branches which fall, it may be, in to the
cotton patch. where the enemy is toiling in
fancied security. They betake them
selves to the swamp, where they abide
until the election is over and the danger
past. It is at this point that the Mem
phis Cotton Exchange reports "forty-fve
per cent as mot working WELL in Mis-
sissippi. Twenty-seven report political
excitement as the cause" and we may
presume that any accidental damage by
grape or bits of shell are counted in the
twenty-seyen per cent cF sickness"
Such is the effect of artillery practice
in the tree tops. There are spectators
who fancy themselves safe under the pro-
lection of an inter gering tree. They are
speedily disabused of this delusion; the
gunner is ordered to lower his aim, and a
few we'll directed shots cut off rail cut
or two, and these suffragans are con-
WINGED that all flesh is grass. The per-
lection of this election theory, however,
consists in the shell or shrapnel prac-
tice. The captain of the piece calculates
the time and distance of the missile, and
the fuse is cut accordingly. The pro-
jectile rises through its parabolic curve
and explodes in the quarter cabins of
Gotten estate some miles of. AS the in
mates are unaware of the origin of this
meteoric messenger, they crouch in con-
sternation, and when it is announced that
such visitations may be expected. until
after the election, and are particularly to
be apprehended IN all colored accumula-
tons around the polls, it is very natural
that these superstitious believers in the
supernatural remain with their loins
girded and hoe cakes baked ready for
instantaneous departure.
These orators then fill their appoint
ments. They utter their defiance. There
is neither opposition nor reply. Having
gone in procession to all the appoint
ments; having taken political possession
of the country, by sound of trumpet and
discharge of cannon, the canyassers re-
turn triumphant There has been no
domestic violence in the campaign, the
election is profoundly quiet, and as order
ly as a Quaker meeting. The whole
State has been Swept" within the range
of the field pieces.
We should think that this improved |
canvass should be prepared for exhibition
at the centennial. 1t will show the |
progressive genius of the American, and
how he can evade the intent of the law.
1t will show Democracy employing
threatening display of force to intimidate
the voters qualified by the constitution.
1t will show a party that processes devo-
ton to the rights of the people, and the |
freedom of speech and suffrage, deciding
by force Of arms that which, upon theory,
should be determined by comparative
numbers. The old, the timid, the un-
armed, have no place. at Democratic
polls. A few warlike and skillful men,
with section Of artillery, can canvass
district with few discharges of cannon,
and by judicious explosion Of a shrapnel
over, or into. apolling booth, can decide the |
future laws or politics of an entire State.
The extreme versatility of Democratic
tactics is, however, to be noted. So soon
as we depart from Mississippi and cross
the line into communities which as in
Ohio, are prepared to meet force with
force, the Democracy leaves its shotgun
behind the door, limbers up its fieldpiece.
and gallops with it to the rear Discre-
ton, said an undoubted authority, is the