The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-09-22
THE OUTRAGE BUSINESS.

THE OUTRAGE BUSINESS.
The late outbreaks in Georgia and
Mississippi are attracting very nat
urally good deal Of attention. That
in Georgia is alleged to have been a
part of movement in which the ne
groes Of several counties contempla-
tied a general rising. The miscarri-
age of a letter written by negro.
ringleader appears to have been the.
cause of the exposure Of the attempt,
and this was followed by such cner-
getic steps on the part Of the men
aced clement that no serious difficult
ty occurred. If any general rising
was contemplated by the negroes, the
intention was effectively frustrated
BY the yigorous.action Of the whites.
The Yicksburg, or Clinton Difficult
ty has but just occurred. So far as
I the facts can be obtained, they are to
the effect that a political-republi-
meeting was being held at Gin
ton. Some white men had a bottle
| OF whiskey, which the colorcd mar
shall Of the day undertook to take
| from them. The result was a gene
raj fight, in which several whites and
ia large number orncgroes were killed.
In several cases, the killing Of the
whites was accompanied by q mutt
lation Of the bodies of the slain,
whose only parallel is found in SINH
lar acts committed by Indians.
1t is question Of some impor-
lance as to what is the meaning of
these outbreaks. 1t is worthy of
consideration as to whether or not
/ f. g =
they have any significance beyond
that which attaches to any common
place riot. Whether OF not they are
social or political occurrences, is a
matter Of no small Importance.
The country is familiar with the
fact that outbreaks in the South
have regular tidal flows. They are
at an ebb soon after state or gene
raj election, in which condition they
remain until the approach of another
election. Then the waters begin to
rise and usually attain the flood just
| before a resort is had to the ballot
box. There seem to be two kinds
of those periodical Gibbs and floods.
| There is always q small tide that
rises just before state election; and
then'there is.a much large one that
reaches its full on the eve ola presi-
Dental election. The former is
drawn into existence by the gravity
emanating from the state capital;
1.-THE other owes its existence to tile
more powerful influence originating
in the great central power at Wash.
4 ington. When the central power
and the State power are in operation
at the same time, and exert their in
I fluence in the same direction, the eff
feet is, of course, vastly increased. y
These annual and quadrennia
| tides are not the same in many es
sential respects. The former are 10
cal in their origin. They are nj
more than are similar disturbance
in other States during the occurrcnc
of local elections. The others, how
,, ever, have much wider meaning
1t is probably to this class that be
) long the Georgia and Mississippi
outbreaks. The presidential cleo
ton is close at hand. The gran
quanrennial tide of outrage is risin
: and the country may soon expect I
, see it's waters dashiDg over almos
: every state in the south.
/; This outrage business was bsgu
: by The New York Tribune some z
7 years ago with reference to 'sBlec,
y ing Kansas" Its success was ,
, pronounced that it has been resortt
: to by the same party that used
S then, at the approach of, and duril
every presidential campaign sin
That period What is occurring, M