New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-12

4ss.ssssxsags. T&OUBLEsl IN RAPlDES.
The law does not seem to be very well
enforced in Rapides parish just now, il
the report of an UNPUBLISHED violation Of
it, and wanton outrage on its officers be
true. 1t seems that Monday, May 3, a
man named Joseph Texada met Judge
Osborn entering the district courthouse
10 open the term, struck him in the face
and knocked his hat off, Although a
number of persons must have been pres
ent at such an hour, Texada was allowed
4 to mount his horse and ride away. Why
he was not arrested, or, if he resisted,
shot, does not appear. On his route he
met the recorder Of the parish and tried
to ride over him. This failing, he dis
mounted and beat the recorder with blud-
geon. This second feat was probably seen
by fewer persons. The sheriff was there,
however, and did-nothing. The deputy
postmaster of Alexandria was there too,
| for Texada is stated to have fourished his
revolver in his face. Nobody did any
thing, and Texada is now free to boast of
his exploits in the midst of some admir-
ing community.
It does not mend the matter that Texada
was considered a desperate man; had
been in many disreputable ARRAYS; was
such character that his brother had
once shot him, or that he had been a
White Lacquer. He ought to have been
checked all the sooner. Republican
who insulted . Republican judge would
certainly have been punished instanter
and SO should he.
The direct consequence, not of his
action, but of his escape, was another
outrage. Robert Wilmington met the
recorder soon after he was beaten, drew
his revolver, and shot at him, remarking,
so it is said, "the Republicans are walk
ing the streets too boldly; the times must |
be made hot for them again; they
must be made to look out for snakes"
Wilmington was evidently mistaken,
for no one did anything to him for his
offense. Complaint is mads that this
proves compromise has not produced
quiet, but lawlessness, as both of these
culprits are under indictment in the Grant
parish case and were noted White
Leaguers. This is a wrong way to look
at such offenses. There is nothing polit-
ical about them. They were open, I'M
provoked and contemptuous violations of
law, and nothing else If the first offense
had been promptly corrected, none of the
others would have followed Just so long
IS they are UNPUBLISHED they will be re-
peated.
The result of compromise may be ad-
Vantageous or injurious, but in either case
such characters as Texada and Whiting
ON are not affected by it. The political
situation is quiet but there are always
regular soldiers in political party who
hink it necessary for them to keep up
heir political prestige by acts of violence.
They generally commit these acts after
he main question has been decided and
u CouASC OCACCG oOluC Uillu ulduuSToO man |
# the opposite party. There is only one
way to convince them they are wrong, and ,
hat is to punish them.
The law may be slow, but it contains an 7
excellent maxim for its own protection. &
nd that is, when one, in the commission c
# crime, resists an arrest, he becomes
n outlaw, and, while he resists, is beyond {
is protection. These two men committed /,
everal acts, any one of which authorized =
ny bystander to arrest them. If they
esisted, at the time of the act, they would
e in the same position as one who unlaw-
ully resists warrant. But the fault was q
n the bystanders, the judges, the recor- 6
er, the sheriff and the postmaster. In s
tead Of walking the streets too boldly"
hey all appear to have been very much t
fraid of one man. If one desperate can t
0 awe community, they had better get c
id of him, legally, very soon, or he will Il
ct rid of all of them.