The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-19

autles perfectly clear in dealing with
the affairs Of Louisiana, giving assur-
ance at the same time that. Whatever
may be done by that body in the prem
lscs will be executed according to the
spirit and letter of the law without
fear or favor.
herewith transmit copies Of docu-
ments containing more specific lnforma-
ton as to the subject matter Of tho
resolution.
(Signed) US. GRANT.
H4EcurlvE MANSION, Jan. IA, 1875.
An Interview With Sheridan. =!
The New Orleans Times contains the
report of an interview with Gen. Sheri-
dan' from which are taken the follow
ing extracts. In relation to his ban
dlttl dispatch, Gen. Sheridan said: 81
do not believe that there is a sensible
man in the State who really imagines
that meant that all the people were
banditti. That particular phrase was
used for a technical reason. In An
opinion of the bureau of Justice on the
provisions of the enforcement act for
the suppression of unlawful organiza-
tons or combinations, the terms siav-
hawker' and 'banditti' were EMPLOYED.
The White League is secret military
organization, in contravention of both
state and Federal laws. Its members.
when they resort to overt acts, are ali
liable to the penalties of the enforce.
mcnt act. The term :jayhawker' could
| not be used, for the Leagu ers are not
plunderers and robbers. therefore
had no choice but to use the word con-
tanned in the opinion referred to-
Reporter. But, General, whatever
else may be said, we are not bandits.
Gen. S. Oh, Of course; the people
generally arc as good as any people. but
no one will deny that the white league
is a secret political military combina-
ton, having purposes which, if they are
not intended to be accomplished by
revolution and violence, there il no
reason or sense in the military charac-
ter the combination has assumed.
r. would like to know what are
your intentions with regard to the
league!
Gen. 5. 1t has been charged that
there was or is a black league. As yet
l have seen no evidence of that fact but
it there is such an organization, I shall
find it out, and whether these combina-
tons be white or black, they cannot be
tolerated. They are at the bottom of
much of the trouble in this State.
They engender spirit of lawlessness,
and it is my opinion no peaceful condi-
ton can DO reached as long as they
continue, nor until every species Of
business and social ostrac:sm on &C.
count of Political sentiments is broken
down.
r. l think you attach too much i'm.
poroance to this matter.
Gen. S. 1t is not denied that the
League is an armed organization, exist
ing outside Of the law. for political
purposes.
R. Not so much for political purposes
~ to defend political rights.
Gen. S. There is no use dividing the
question. If one party is permitted to
enter a contest which should be peace
full, with arms, their opponents must
be allowed the same privilege, and it
does not require the wisdom of Solo
mon to know that such an array of
parties would soon end in drenchine
your State with blood. and endangcr the
peace of the whole country, The SIM
pie arlning Of one portion of the people
is practically a declaration of war
against the rest. It is an abandon
ment of the logic Of reason for the logic
of force. These are not peaceful meth
DDS. Peace may, indeed, follow these
'srcss, but only after they are through
with their work of desolation.
r. You have said in some of your
dispatches that human life is too lightly
estimated in this State, but have you
any reason to believe that one party is
more culpable than the other in this
respect?
Gen. ST. have not specially assign
ed this evil to any class exclusively. It
has occurred to ME that many people
here have not been conscious to what
an extent this is true. Many have
known it and declared it. Manv were
persuaded of the dangerous policy of
secret and armed political bodies, but
such people did not openly proclaim
their conviction, and indeed could not
afford to meet the ostracism which
would have been their reward il they
had done so. In other sections of the
country mans views on political
questions do not affect him favorably or
untavorably in business or otherwise.
1t is not SO here. Many of your
best citizens have said so in a private
way, and would say so now if forced to
answer, or if they felt that they could
afford to do so. Do not nearly all cit
liens carry arms, and is it not the ex-
pectation that MISUNDERSTANDING al
tercatiOnS and 0narrels esneciallv