New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-04
A SIEGE TRAIN CAMPAIGN.


The gentle voice OF the shotgun, the
soothing roll of the drum and the assur-
ing rumble of the siege train have pro-
duced the expected results in Mississippi,
and ga glorious Democratic victory" is
announced. 1t is the only gain in the
election of 1875 which the Democracy
have to show to Offset the loss of Ohio
New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts,
and Wisconsin. Virginia and Maryland
remain as before. Maryland is called
Democratic, while the Old Dominion has
christened her successful party Soon
sentative" thus ignoring the name which
has been borne on the war banners of
Mississippi.
The sole victory won by the Democracy
this fall has been gainid by force as surely
and completely as Grant took Vicksburg
by the same means in July, 1863. The
Republican majority of twenty-five thou
sand or thirty thousand could not be over
come by any Of the ordinary means which
it is proper to employ in elections, so the
shotgun tactics were adopted. For this
purpose the operation of both national
and State laws, so far as they extend pro-
lection to voters, was virtually suspended,
and the rule of the mob was substituted
Governor Ames at no time had it in his
power to rally a force, not even q con-
stables posse. The following of an
average Democratic politician in Missis-
sippi would have numbered more than the
Governor could muster, ten to one. At
the critical moment in the campaign he
applied for help to Washington, with the
result which is already known. The
Democrats, we'll knowing that anything
which would inspire courage or confidence
in the colored voters, raised the cry of
alarm and resorted to every possible
means to prevent interference by the gov
eminent. The farce of Offering service
to the Governor in the interest of peace
and good order was resorted to. A mum
Der of Senator Alcorn's postmasters we're
bullied into signing certificates that
nothing was the matter with Mississippi,
but great calamity would follow if troops
were sent. Attorney General Pierrepont
hesitated, and suggested difficulties
which could not be solved until
the State was lost. Any State
in the Union may be carried by similar
tactics. An armed force, with banners
flying, drums beating, and well provided
with guns of all calibre may we'll intimi-
date ten times the number of unarmed
ppdrilled, defenseless people. There has
been blunder somewhere. The State Of
Mississippi as principal, and the national
government as surety, have failed to
extend the protection Of the laws to some
forty or fifty thousand colored voters, and
they have, for the purposes of the late
election, been completely disfranchised.
The election laws were abolished and the
enemy walked over the course. A more
fragrant outrage upon American liberty
has not been successfully practicsd since
the war. And yet it is. and will continue
to be heralded as great Democratic VIC
tory. A Democratic robbery, with the.
State of mississippi and the Attorney Ger.
isfal 1oofing 81 without rsiAin2g' !, hand b.
help win Do Tie verdict ia dis ,s,ss b.
Republican party both North and South. Q
The policy of the late Attorney General Of
the United States did afford some slight
protection, and even doubtful States we're
saved, while Mississippi, with its thirty
Thousand Republicanmajoity, ID prostrs-
ted by pure physical force. The moral Of
this lesson is that rural people, engaged
in agriculture, unused to arms, simple
and humane in their habits, absolutely re-
quire the protection Of the law in the pur-
suit Of their rights. When that fails them
they are RENTED to the conditioned ssrfs,
and the blame rests with those who might
have helped them and did not : naig 4.