National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-28
THE LOUISIANA DEBATE

| opened again this week with increasing in
terest. Johnston, of Virginia, had the
floor on Monday, and delivered himself of
a very prosy speech, covering the usual
Democratic homllies on constitutional law
and fundamental principles. He was fol-
lowed for an hour on Monday, and during
the whole of Tuesday, by Senator Pease,
Of Mississippi, who made one of the most
telling and powerful arguments that has
yet been delivered on the Republican side
of the Senate. Senator Pease represents in
his own person some{of the results of re-
construction. Going Sonth in 1861 with
his musket on his shoulder, he bore him
self as a soldier until the war was over
Being then employed to establish schools
for freedmen in Louisiana, he established
system of free education throughout that
State, and in 1866 had six thousand colored
children under instruction in the old slave
mart on Esplanade street. in New Orleans.
In 1867 he was transferred to Mississippi,
in charge Of the schools in that State, where
he has become permanent resident. In
1869 he was elected superintendent of edu-
cation for Mississippi under the new con-
Stitution, which he took an active part in
framing, and in 1874, on the resignation
of Senator Ames, he was elect
ed to fill his unexpired term.
The Senator has not been obtrusive in
pushing himself forward into debate, and
it was not known until his effort of yester-
day that he possessed the transcendant
ability that he has displayed. The Louisi-
ana question, involving as it does so vitality
the Republican party and its policy, called
from Senator Pease a speech that will long
be remembered. He was not disposed to
handle his subject with gloves on, as some
of our Republicans do, but treated the
White League conspiracy as crime con-
cocted for the purpose Of overthrowing
good government and defying all law and
order in the South. He considered it his
duty to lay bare the condition Of affairs in
all its hideous details. He first vindi-
Gated President Grant and the alleged mill
tary interference in the organization of the
Louisiana Legislature, showing from illus
trious precedents that it was no new thing
for the United States military to be called
into requisition in a State, and that Demo-
cratic administrations had on notable occa-
sions even gone so far as to disperse Legs
lature. He cited the opinion of the Hon.
Caleb Cushing when Attorney General of
the United States to the effect that the
United States military and marines arc part
Of the civil posse and may be called in to
suppress riot, and that when called upon it
is their duty, like other citizens, to respond.
Having established this legal point the
Senator proceeded to arraign the White
Leagues and Southern revolutionists as the
causes Of all the trouble. He produced
facts and statistics to show that murder is
hardly considered as a crime in the South,
and never punished when committed by
White Leaguers. This part of his argu-
ment produced a profound impression.
Passing from this he defended the recon-
struction policy ana its results. He showed
that even in Republican States where cor
ruption was charged the chief benefciaries
were i'll almost all cases leading Democrats,
who now raised the cry of stop thief to
cover up their own villainy. His defence
Of reconstruction in Mississippi was
thorough and convincing. Mississippi
owes no debt and she has 100, 900 children
in the common schools. Her constitution
contains all the safeguards to property and
landmarks of liberty known to any State.
Her administration has been pure and her
debt is not to exceed 100000, which
she owes to her own trust funds. Demo
cratic Virginia, on the other hand owes
upwards of S4J, 100000.
Could the entire country have listened
to Senator Pease's speech they would see
how little of this Democratic clamor is due
to real grievance, and how much to Demo
cratic hate. We wish that all our Repub-
lican Senators would grasp this question
with the firmncss, eloquence and uncon-
querable spirit of the young Senator from
Mississippi.
"Gentle- handed grasp a nettle,
It will sting you for your pains,
Seize 1t like man Of mettle
And It soft as silk remains"