New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-03

j
have dated its investigations further back
than the second Of last November. If il
really had respect for the law and The
right of the majority of voters to rule. i,
would have gone back to the time. early
last summer, when the White League
commenced to organize IN Northern
Louisiana for the avowti purpose. through
means Of violence, of defeating the Repub
lican party. But that paper, like all
| others ia the interest Of the Democratic
party, when speaking of the last election
! il this State, very naturally avoids allud'
| ing to the horrible means used to bring
about the result at the polls whereby they
claim that the Democratic candidates
were elected. They do not wish to allude
to the many political murders that were
| ba1barously perpetrated on the persons OF
white and black Republicans in order
that reign of terror might come to pass
that would etfectually prevent anything
| like nh organization OF the Republican
party. and keep from registering and from
| the polls very large number of Repub-
| lican voters. oh, no, This is something
| they would not have investigated, because
| it shows the unlawful and outrageous
| means used by the Democratic party and
its White League allies to defeat the will
of the majority in many parishes Of this
State, yet the law directs wherever VIC
Ience has been res orted to as means of
intimidating voters and keeping them
from the polls, that upon the proper evi-
dence OF such facts being produced the
Returning Board shall judge Of such mat
ters and come to such conclusions as will,
i'll their judgment, come nearest to arrivs
ing at the will Of the majority of voters
had such an election been held in every
parish and at every poll as the law con-
templates. The notorious fact that armed
bodies Of men existed in many of the
parishes months previous to the election
for the avowed purpose Of driving out
white Republican officials and intimidats
ing black and white Republican voters, is
something that no amount of skill in the ip~
tricacies Of the law or denials on the part of
men who expected to profit by such all
Infamous course can successfully gainsay.
Incidents such as occurred in this CITY
and other parishes of the State. wherein
attempts were made through violent
means &c supplant lawful government and
institute mob rule in its stead. are backed
up by too much eyidenceand are too strong
ly imprinted in the minds of men all over
this country to be successfully contra Dict
ed by any amount Of artifice or rebutting
testimony that unprincipled and lawless
partisans can produce in substantiation of
their claims to Office. And it is we'll to
remark in this connection that men who
vii! conspire TO rob voters of their right
to vote. even to the extremity Of commit.
ting wholesale murder when that course is
necessary to compass their ends, will 90
still further if it be necessary. and pile up
proof Of their innocence. But, as We have
before" said, no amount Of rebuttine testis
mony can wipe out such bloody incidents
as took place in this State, during last
and fall, and upon and after the
day Of election. The Coushatta tragedy
and the bloody revolution in this city on
the fourteenth Of September show how
savaSely in earnest We're the opponents Of
the Republican party to defeat the will of
the majority.
That these bloody incidents. and the
many others Of minor character which |
took place in majority of the parishes
had the effect to intimidate very large
number of Republican voters and keep
hem from the polls We do not believe the
Times will deny: and We: that paper. with
! knowledge that State and federal laws
provide against the success OF party |
through such dishonest and disreputable |
means. boldly proclaims the action Of the |
Returning Board infamous, because It has |
obeyed the law and defeated those who
:twith determination to defea.
he rule OF the majority in Louisiana. The
course of the Tines in this matter may be
approved by the men who hoped to gain
political ascendency in this State through
evolutionary means. but it will new er be
ndoEsed by the American people. nor can
t. 10 our estimation, influence the con-
,ressional committee that is now hereto
investigate and do justice in the prem ises.