The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-05
THE l4th OF SEPTEMBER, 1875,

We are in no way surprised at the attempt
of the organ of the usurpation to belle the
motives distort the chronicles and caricature
the actions of those white gentlemen of Lou
isiana who were members of the White
League in September, 1874, or who sympa-
thized with that organization as to its objects
and spirit.
In its issue of Saturday morning, in one of
its characteristic illusions, the Republican
makes an elaborate attempt to set the citizens
of New Orleans, who belonged to or sup
ported the White League, in false and
odious light. disappearing the components
of that organization, misconstruing their &C.
ton, and endeavoring, by miscoloring and
exaggerated representation, to make them
appear as mere mob or faction of the people,
a set OF turbulent revolutionists and audacious
rebels against constituted authority.
Everybody knows the situation here just
preceding the dramatic events of the four
tenth of September, 1874. The political and
personal rights of citizens had been invaded
inch by inch until endurance was no longer
possible. Indignities, outrages and viola
tons of right had become so frequent and SO
fragrant that there was no longer any safety
for property or life under the laws as admins
tered by the Radical officials. The courts
were bribed, or corrupted, or intimidated
into positive obedience to the usurper, and
there was no power except that which he
welded, his agents being his tenants at will
of minor positions, and his instruments the |
ruffians who constituted his little State
army of metropolitan militia He had ped |
died out executive pardons to all who |
could pay for them, and every offense or
crime committed in his service passed SCOT
free. Wholly without rational excuse and |
without the shadow of legal authority, he
had seized and confscated the property of
citizens and merchants. The arms which
white citizens had secured or ordered for the
defense of their houses were ruthlessly stolen,
while the negroes here and in the country
we're industriously supplied with weapons,
equipments and ammunition, as we'll as horrid
and bloodthirsty suggestions as to the base
use to which they were intended. All the
bad passions of the colored race were inflamed.
The ladies of New Orleans in many wards
we're excluded from the streets by fear of as
'aults and insults. Bruised and bleeding
citizens reported to US the wanton attacks to
which they had been subjected. Stores were
'obbed in broad daylight, and even the YES
els at our wharves were boarded and searched
o prevent hardware dealers from receiving
heir usual consignments of guns and am
nunition. All Of this was carried on with
unparalleled insolence by the usurping Gov
rnor and his agents, who joined him in the
insulting boast that they could not kick the
,eople of New Orleans into resistance. They
reated the white people of this city and State
s serfs and slaves. They t0ent too far
In pursuance of call issued on Sunday,
september Is, signed by fifty or more we'll
,nown law abiding and highly honorable citi-
ems, who represented the sentiments and
ceilings of vast majority of the men and
vomen of New Orleans, meeting of indigna-
ion was held around the statue of the i'm
nortal Clay on the morning'of September Il
he purpose of that assemblage of twenty
housand citizens was unmistakable. In the
lords OF the call they knew that they were, of
ght ought to be and meant to be free They
new that the most sacred right guaranteed
y the Federal Constitution had been in
inged-the right to keep and bear arms
What followed need not be related. The