New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-23


Attorney General give promise that there
will be an end put to the recurring acts of
violence and murder in the Southern States.
1t makes no difference who begins or Who
is in fault in these disturbances, the negroes
are the victims. Occasionally a white man
is killed; but for every white man there are
score OF negroes. The President, in his
letter to the Attorney General, thus clearly
expresses the judgment of the country:
The whole public are tired out with these
annual outbreaks in the South, and great
many are ready now TO condemn any inter
ference on the part of the government. |
heartily wish that pr ace and good order may
be restored without issuing the proclama-
ton; but it they are not, the prC ciamation
must be issued; but il it is, shall instruct
the commander of the forces to have no
childish play. If there is necessity for
military interference, there is Justice in
such interference as will deter the evil
doer."
The Attorney General supplements this
instruction of the President by writing to
Governor Ames as follows:
~ suggest that you take all lawful means
and all needed measures to preserve the
peace by the force in your own State, and
Il. the country see that the inhabitants of
Mississippi, who are largely r, publican,
are favorable to good order, and have the
courage and manhood to fight for their
fans who murder the innocent and un-
offending freedmen. Everything i. in readi-
ness. Be careful to bring yourself strictly
within the constitution and the laws, and If
there is such resistance to y0Hr State au-
thorltles as you can not by any means at
your command suppress, the President will
swiftly aid you in crushing the lawless
traitor to human rights
The people of the North are, as the Presi-
dent says, becoming tired of this business
and the Attorney General clearly expresses
the universal sentiment of the country
when he suggests that the law abiding peo
pie OF Mississippi, who are in a majority,
and who have all the authority and ma
chinery Of the government in their hands,
should have the courage and the man
hood" to fight for their own rights and pro
tect their own persons and property. The
rutfian who wars upon the rights of others
has wholesome respect for the man Who
will defend himself when attacked. In
fact, courage aud manliness are the only
things which an assassin and Ku.Klux
either respects or breads. He stands in
the revolver, and they are the only law for
which he has the least dread.
The people of the United States have
clothed these cOl0red men with the rights
and Liberties of white men. They have all
the political and personal privileges which
the white man has, especially the right of
selfdetense. Have the American people, in
making the negroes citizens and freemt n,
enfrancaised race of sheep or of men
No nan is fit to be a freeman who will not
deiend his freedom. His ability and his
readiness TO do this are the best assurances
that he can give that his freedom was not
bestowed. The American In-
dians are supposed to be below the negro in
the scale OF civilization; nevertheless, the
n, ,,,,l,
collision with the savages. Despite the
rapidly decreasing number of the Indians,
they have never lost their III inhood, their
courage nor their readiness TO defend them
selves. How is it at the South When
have these uewl y-made citizens made any
defense OF themselves, or of their families,
or their property, or their libertya Does
any person imagine that the negroes could
organize themselves and make midnight
" war upon the whites, numbering. assassinat-
ing. burning and pilAgingl Were it at.
tempted, would not every white man with
his rifle be on hand. making common cause |
for the common defense Why do not the
black men of Mississippi arm themselves. |
and, placing themselves under command of
but pursue their white aesailants, bringing
them to justice! .
The seeming cowardice of the colored |
men invites outrages. 1t prom otes the rut- |
] ianly instincts. 1t invites assassin alton.
Non nresistance is the delight of the ma
'auder. 1t encourages him, when knowl- |
edge that he would be met with bullet, or |
. dozen of them. would cool his ardOr. |
When the scOundrels who engage in these J
,loody trays become so strong that the |,
stats is overwhelmed, and when the Gov |
'rnor is really to plead that his people will
lot fight in defense of their own persons
md property, ths n he may appeal to the |
rational government for aid. Let there be |
10 more appeals for governmental aid until |
hese people whose rights and persons are |
exhibit willingness to defend |
lot sheep; and show that they are worthy |
he freedom which they would have pro-
chicago Tribune.