New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-09
HAS LOUISIANA A REPUBLICAN FORM OF
GOVERNMENT

HAS LOUISIANA A REPUBLICAN FORM OF
GOVERNMENT
lErrER FROM THE HON. HENRY C. DIBDLE, REPUB-
IICAN COUNSEL. TO REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER
AN HISTORICAL RESUME OF THE POLITICAL
TROUBLES OF THE STATE FROM REPUBLICAN
POINT OF vIEw-rHE KELLOGG GOVERNMENT
THE PRODUCT OF A NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
TON SECOND TINE PROPOSED.
v,w-ORLEANs. Jan. S-The following letter was
,eni to the Hon Chas. Foster Chairman of the Sub
Committee on Louisiana Affairs:
EEw-ORLEAHs. La, Jan
IN Hon CHIs FOSTER Chairman Of he Sab Committee
on Louisiana AGItrs.
DEAR SIR: 1t WAS made my duty TO appear before
your Committee during its sessions IN NeWorieahS a'
counsel for the State organization OF the RPpnOhcah
party In that capacity have endeaVored 10 90 "haI
could to present the strongest case for our SIDE you
are aware also that have held and now hold an ONCE
uuder the administration or Gov. Kellogg. In this Iea-
aop Ihave consistently supported the State Govern
ent since accession TO power IN 1872 ana nave done
Ehateyer could 20 AID In such financial aud pohuca
reforms as it has been the policy OF this Government 10
effect Consistent and conscientious 10 this course
have no regret to express and no further explanation
10 make; bat to-day, looking at the situa-
zion in Louisiana from higher standpoint
than that indicated by my past relations 10
the Government, considering the troubled state OF
affairs not politician, but as citizen OF the com
1sonwealth feel constrained to offer your Committee
the following suggestions;
II seems 10 NE that Congress and the country at large
will he unable to solve the problem presented by the
Louisiana case unless they consider that everything
that has occurred this State since the election OF 1872
has been revolutionary utterly beyond due process OF
lw aud volttve OF those fundamental rules and prn-
slpes which uoderie republican form OF government
within the purpose OF the Constitution OF the United
s;acs. In contemplating this question VIII not 40 10
lose sight OF the extraordinary condition Of poi al so
,etv in this State III 1872 resulting from the sudden
change In the relations of tue two races and the some
what crude and altogether partisan effort at reconSuc
ton an effort which more or less failure because
II contemplated the establishment OF government
upon abstract theories, ANA lost sight OF the actu"
social political and economical surroundings There
existed at that time aud the close OF the war;
spirit OF intolerance toward black and toward white
Republcaus This intolerance, which too often found
expressOn unhapiuy, acts OF intimidation, OppIes-
,op aud violence had prOdu ed its counter result IN
the enactment by the Republican Legislature elected
ppder The Reconstruction acts, OF those harsh election
Registration, Constabulltory and metropolitan Ponce
laws which have been severely, and In some respects
40 Justly animadvered upon by he Republican press
throughout the country These measures OF the Repub-
hoan party had vested in the Governor OF the Slate
degree OF power scarcely exercised by any sovereign IN
the world and yet the passage Of these Laws was Ju-
fable in gree by the necessity OF ahOrdng protection
10 the weak aud untuOrcd blacks, whose political rights
were constantly threatened by the more powerful class
and large portion Of the whites The Governor elected
under the Reconstruction laws and continued to be
until hls detection the leader OF the Republican party
as represented IN the General Assembly. Up 10 the
time be abandoned his aa iaOn he continued 70 have
the unusual authority to which have adverted therel
fore when be determined to unite h- political fortunes
with the opposition he took them that which made
his accession valuable TO tAem-almost absolute execu
live powers. The Republican leaders IN this state, and
L. among them since sincerely and truly believe that
party had large majority in 1872 and that Gov
Kellogg and his associates the State ticket would
nave been elected 10y such majority had the election
been fair and honest but they actually chosen by
the votes actually cast by a reduced maionty. We
charged them and have since continued 10 charge
and VIC have conclusively shown to the Senate Commit
tee, that Gov Warmoth, in alliance with the DemOc-
racy used MS unusual executive power In the appoint
IDent OF officers who manipulated the registration and
The election as to change and alter the result
To crown all, when the election closed he
attempted 10 pack The Returning Board and TO effect
this end lie overthrow the local judiciary by violence
These first and subsequent acts were beyond
the Constitution and beyond the law They
lutonary the fullest OF the term 1t during
this period that said from the bench, while examining
Cd that OF the disturbed condition OF
affairs that the coup eat is not American nsttu
uoG. Since that time, surrounded as have been by
much violence and wron gdOing have sometimes lost
faith In my generation; bat now, when l calmly and
hopefully look TO the future, and contemplate
the time when these Louisiana troubles shall be
remembered by republican people only as a
horrible dream, still believe that truly comprehend
the spirit OF our republican government Revolution
and violence beget cOunteTrevOluton and other vo-
Out Of these Efforts 10 strange the voice OF
majority OF the people OF the State spraDg the exraor
binary and less revolutionary proceedings which
resulted IN the installation OF the administration OF
Gov. Kellogg. Had the first effort succeeded there
yould have been established government by fraud
and revolution. The second effort did succeed, and
Government was established by revolution ana armed
Intervention OF the powers OF the Federal Government
In this view / believe / am consistent. have never
looked upon the existing Government in any other
hight than that Of a revolutionary government recog-
nlzed. however by the President. by the House OF
Representatives Of the United States and by the
judiciary Of tie State believe its acts should have
fn force and effect, and personally have rendered II
CHI eru obedience and support because conscentiousy
teey that the choice VI majority OF the voters
Passing 10 the events OF 1919 we ind these were
repeatol-the revolutions and cOunerreYOutlOns
which at ended the election OF 1872 During this inter
val OF two years the administration OF Gov Kellogg
carried the Government making and exc
cutting the laws To this Government the
Republican masses gave support while the opposition
yielded ia sueu obedience The spirit OF intolerance
toward their opponents began 20 manifest itself
AN4a.