Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-04-28

IF The Sentinel has been guilty OF
momentary weakness of supposing that
Southern Democrat of the period
could be equal to an act of honor and
good faith, it now retracts and apollo.
gizes. Il fell into some such error
In commenting on the recent compro-
mise in Louisiana; but it will avaid it
In the future with the scrupulous care
that is only learned by experience.
The facts need not be recited al
length, since most of them are recent
and all Of them fam lar. The politics
Of that State had reached degree of
complication from which it seemed i'm
possible to extricate them. But there
were two main issues in the imbroglio.
There was Republican State Gov
ernment, which the Democrats claim
ed was not legally installed There
was Republican Legislature, some
members of which, the Democrats
claimed, were not legally seated.
Such was the situation which encount-
cred the Congressional Committee that
Was sent there to make an investiga-
ton. To follow the affair into its de
tails, and to do exact justice in every
case, was impracticable. Under these
circumstances the best thing to do
seemed to be to effect a compromise.
A project to that end was agreed up
on by representatives of both parties
IN conference with the Committee;
this was reported to Congress and ap-
proved. 1t contemplated that the
Republican members of the Legisla,
ture who, it was claimed, were improp-
erly seated, should be displaced, and
their seats given to the Democratic
contestants, thus putting the House in
the control of that party and that the
Republican State Government should
not be disturbed
The compromise was consummated
in perfect good faith on the part of the
Republicans, Hon. w. A. Wheeler.
one of the members of the Congress-
slonal Committee, going to New Or,
leans to see that it was done. The
Republican legislators whom it un
seated, one after another retired with
brief remarks, all breathing the spirit
Of reconciliation and an aspiration for
unity and concord. And when their
successors had been seated, and the
Assembly was Democratic body,
resolution was adopted affirmng g
the terms of the compromise as
follows:
Resolved, by the General Assem-
by of the State of Louisiana, That AS.
ssmbly, without approving of the same,
will not disturb the present State Gov
ernment, claiming to have been elect
ed In 1875. known as the Kellogg
Government, or seek to impeach the
Governor for any past official acts,
and that, henceforth, we will accord
to said Governor all necessary and le-
gitimate support in maintaining the
laws and in advancing the peace and
prosperity of this State, and that the
House of Representatives, as to its
members, as constituted under the
award of George T. Hoar, W. A.
Wheeler, W. T. Frye, Samuel F Mar
shall, Clarkson VI. Potter and William
Walter Phelps, shall remain without
change, except by the resignation or,
death Of members, until general cleo
ton, and that the Senate, as herein
recognized, shall remain unchanged
except so far as that body shall make
charges or contest
This was scarcely week ago. AL
most Immediately the Democrats show
ed the cloven foot by bringing suits
against Gems. Sheridan and De Tro-
BRAND for damages in expelling GER
tain Democratic contestants at the
time of the organization of the Legis.
lature in January last. This was per-
haps not violation of the letter Of the
agreement, but it was certainly vio-
lation of its spirit. But the Demo-
Gratis mad grosser act OF pertidy In
contemplation. They proceeded to ex-
pei tour Republican members of the
House who had been confirmed in
their right to seats by the compromise;
aud this for the obvious and uncon-
cealed purpose of securing majority
on joint ballot of the Legislature
more intamously treacher-
Gus is not written in the History of
American politics. Says Hon. W. P.
Frye, one of the members of the Con-
gressional Committee, in dispatch to
Mr.. Packard: "By agreement and
award the seats Of your Legislature
were to remain as we left it. The
Democrats violate good faith and their
plighted honor in their outrageous at
tempt to change it,"
One of the condition of the settle
ment as set forth in the resolution
quoted above was that the Legislature
Twill not disturb the present State
Government" In the face of this the