National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-02
SOME TRUTHS ABOUTTHE WHITE
TRAGHK

General Ogden, Of the White League
army of the city of New Orleans, has made
some startling admissions. de appeared
before the Louisiana Investigating Com
mittee of the House, and swore to a num-
Der of statements so conflicting that we are
led TO disbelieve his testimony in many
particulars, He starts out by saying that
the White League is not a political organi-
cation, but admits that it is wholly COM
posed of white Democrats. he states fur
ther that the League is not a military or
ganization, but admits that each member
carries arms, and that his command is
divided into two regiments Of infantry and
one of artillery. He also states that he
acted on tie bloody 14th of September I'M
der the orders of Governor Penn, prov
ing conclusively That his command partook
of both military and political character.
al do not know that any Republican is
"memb0r of our club is the frank way
he puts it, and adds that on the day Of the
November elections he "put out. e.,
detailed-men to prevent disturb
canoe" In other words, this man
assumed authority to direct his co-conspira-
tors to be present at the polling places on
the day of election the same as he would
have done if he had been the commander
of a legitimate militia body, and swears
positively that ''the White League is not
can organization formed for the purpose
"of helping the Democratic party" "On
1.-THE 14th of September" he says, 1--WE
event out on the streets to get arms be-
"longing to us that were on board ship;
''the police were on the levee, and as we
"were &C G to get arms, was informed
"of the advance of the police; then formed
"my line Of battle"
The brazen GOODNESS of all this will strike
the average law abiding citizen as some
thing strange. In any other country than
this such a man as Ogden would receive
the punishment he merits as a conspirator
and a traitor. But we are rejoIced that
his impudently sublime faith in the recti-
tude of his purpose has induced him to
make so many exposures. We do not sup
pose that all of his statements are true, or
that he has told one half that he knows.
Il could not be expected that man who
acknowledges himself to be an outlaw, to
be the chief of gang of outlaws, and
that he is responsible for the step which
precipitated the riots of the 14th of Septem-
Der, would tell the truth regarding those
features of his career; regarding which, in
his conception of duty, any secresy ought
to be preserved. But he has admitted
o,z,,nk 80 doy,,, hin, foravar in tho ar-ac nf
honest, law-abiding men, and enough to
arouse the apathetic people of the North
to a stern realization of the truth Of our re-
peated assertions that rebellion is again
rife in the South. The determination Of
the leaders, as well as the rank and file Of
this new rebellion, TO accomplish their
heIlish designs-the overthrow of legally
constituted governments made more ap-
parent now than it was before; and the
earnestness with which they have entered
into the conspiracy is asserted in the fact
that while they complain Of poverty they
have purchased arms of the most improved
pattern, have sustained expensive organiza-
tons and continue to maintain them
even during the comparatively peaceful
interim between the election and the in
stallation of the officers elected. No mat
ter how much inclined the investigating
committee may be to excuse this condition
of affairs, or 10 tincture their report with
partially toward the Democracy, the facts
as we have given them-and they came
tc us through the partisan agency of the
Southern branch of the Associated Press
are sufficient to prove all that has been said
about the condition of the South. Even
those of our people who sympathiLe with
the political aspirations Of the conspirstors
will feel compelled to denounce their re-
course TO arms, and the entire country will
unite in an imperative demand that Con-
gress and the Administration shall act
promptly and decisively TO remedy this
deplorable situation. In the meantime let
us be thankful that Phil Sheridan is in
New Orleans.