The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-01-06
THE CRISIS OF OUR FATE.

pOSGS, auu Uue GuIGc utlCdGCu htttlCdl
candidates. who have been counted
in by the Returning Board, were also
there. Each one ofthem has for two
months admitted his defeat. Each
one has time and again disclaimed
any purpose to pretend to represent
a constituency that repudiated them
by majority of near four hundred
votes. They have falsifed their own
voluntary declarations, have thrown
aside the mask Of duplicity and now
stand confessed before this communi-
ty in their true colors.
The Returning Board gave the
House of Representatives to their
party by a majority of only two. Its
members would not have increased
their infamy by an increase of sufi-
Gent number for a quorum. It is
noticeable that neither party can of
itself organize the House as neither
has quorum in its own ranks. If
all the Conservative members Of the
House, counted in by the Board, alb
sent themselves or refuse to 90 in,
the Radicals cannot organize, and it
is equally true that the Conservatives
cannot organize if the Radicals stay
out. Here is a chance and a proba-
BILE one of a dead lock. 1t is under
stood that the policy of the Conser-
vatives would not be determined un-
til full consultation was had by the
returned members and their attend
ance was desired some days prior to
the fourth in order that such consul
tation might be had.
One thing however we take for
granted was resolved, that there
should be no present armed effort to
take possession of the Government.
Opinions on this matter widely diff
fer. They are as far asunder as the
poles. On the one hand, the magni-
tude of the outrage inflicted on the
people and on representative govern
ment seems to some to justify and
even to demand overt resistance
These argue that the submission of
70 produced no fruit but rather bit
ter ashes, and like submission now
would rivet the chains gradually and
forged for our enthrall-
ment.
But it is said in reply and with
great force that no freeman in LOU
isiana counsels or contemplates sub
in that sense. Resistance
now and forever to the usurpation
both of '72 and IA is the watchword
of every true man in this State. But
how is that resistance to be made eff
fectual? Is it not rather by the in
exorable logic of facts, the continu-
Gus demonstration by argument and
appeal of the injustice, fraud and foul
wrong done to US, and through US, to
American government, than by arm
ed assertion of our rights, that resis-
lance is ultimately to accomplish re-
lief? The subcommittee of Con-
gress is now sitting in New Orleans,
whose mission is to learn the truth
about the action of the Returning
Board. 1t has been determined to
take up four Of the country Parishes
and investigate the facts concerning
the election in them and the decision
Of the Board upon them, using them
Is samples or criteria by which to
Judge of the decision made by the
Board in general. Rapides has been
selected as one of these four, and no
better one could have been made.
There is not a voter in this Parish
hat does not know the election here
20 have been certainly free from any
hing that could vitiate it as to the
Republican vote. The Republican
officials asked and obtained u. S.
roops to be stationed at the four
polling places where their main
strength is. A squad of Cavalry
ode hither and thither through the
Parish for days Immediately prece-
ling the Election, and were in this
Town on that day. Intimidation of
negro or of a Radical of any color
vas neither attempted nor accom-
1t is not equally true that
here was no intimidation of Demo-
rats. Marshal Packard had scat
cred his deputies through this part
f the Red River country many weeks
efore the election to intimidate Con-
ervative voters through apprehen-
ion of arrest. 1t is no answer to
his nor excuse for it, to say that
ersons charged with crime should
ot fear arrest if innocent. Two men