New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-08

the same means that Kellogg and his asso-
ciates have used so successfully.
Here is a pretty serious condition OF affairs.
The unquestioned facts-facts of public noto-
rety, about which there can be no dispute
whatever-present q very grave and serious
question for the consideration of Congress.
If President Grant may interfere in the
organization Of State Legislature, az there
is no question that he did interfere in Louisi-
ana, and may use the army of the United
States TO eject members claiming seats, az
the army was used under the Presidents
ORDERS the people of other States ought 10
know it, and to know by how frail tenure
they retain the powers and privileges OF local
sclf-governmcnt. And this is a question that
in the sober judgment OF very patient peo-
ple will not bear being trihed with or put or
or dismissed, as not being Of sufficient
consequence to interrupt tho regular or
der of proceedings. For if members OF
Il Louisiana Legislature may be marched ont
between files Of Federal soldiers mt the Will of
the President, members of any Legislature
in the Union may be" Ii that is to be the
order of proceedings in contested elections,
there is nothing TO hinder the President from
debating the political character of every Leg
islature in the land. And if he may 50 con-
troll Legislatures, there is nothing to prevent
his debating legislation and virtually exer-
cising the functions of law making. That il
the plain logic OF it, and every intelligent
person who has watched the progress OF these
events has observed it. There may be no
danger Of it, There never is any danger oil
anything. If we remember rightly there was
no danger of secession or war till after tho
event.
THIS is commonly understood to b3 "a free
"c0untryn We are fond of calling ii So
We talk about the rights of the people, the
freedom of the ballot, the rule of the major
ity, and all that sort of thing in a certain
large and self-conscious way, as though we
believed in ourselves and our institutions;
and next year we are preparing to celebrate
our Centennial and hold ourselves up to the
admiration of tho world. VIII anybody tell
us before that event, and in the pauscs OF
our self-gratulatiOn over the success of
democratic form Of gOvernment-how, by what
means, through what process tho people OF
Louisiaua can recover control Of their own
State? Just consider her situation. IL Is the
universal belief that Conservative State OH
GERS and Legislature were chosen by the people
in 1872 This is the adml5 ZION of SOM OF the
most prominent and Influential Administration
Senators and Representatives.. That result
WAS reversed by United States Judge who
has since resigned to avoid impeachment. The
usurpation OF the Kellogg party was sustained
by the Federal Administration. The people of
the State bore patiently the yoke until the
4 thnv,,
the arms which the Constitution in so many
words afIirms their right to bear. Then they
rose up and threw OF the usurpation. The
Government intcTicrcd and restored the old
regime.
Still they were patient They waited till
they could have the opportunity again to as
sert their rights by the peaceful agency of the
ballot. Again they elected a Conservative
Legislature. The persons in possession of the
State Government, through Returning Board
which they have constituted as a part OF their
machinery of -perpetuation, deliberately
cheated them of their choice, and under the
forms Of law returned Legislature of their
own selection. Circumstances occurring which
promised to mako this plan abortve, they I'M
hcsitatingly call in Federal troops and eject
from the Legislature u SulucICut HulhpcI VI
Conservative members to leave their own
party in a majority. The least the dcfrauded
people could do under such circumstances was
to protest against the outrage. This they did
with dignity. making no resistance when force
was offered. Upon this Gen. Sheridan asks
the President to proclaim them "oaldtt,"
and leave to him the business OF hanging and
shooting them
This is the state of the case. Will any one
tell Us, in view of it, by what known process
other than revolution the people Of Louisi-
ana can extricate themselves from the clutches
of the Kellogg partyi Is it not worth while
for Congress to look into this matter at once
One would naturally suppose 30. But when
resolution is offered in the Senate courteously
asking the President for information upon
which to base some action, Senator Roscoe
Conkling of New-York interposes frivolous
objections, and has it postponed. The foot of
the President is on a sovereign State, and
Senatorial servants refuse to let the People
ask him why. There Is no way of escape for
Louisiana, and q cringing set of towards in
both Houses Of Congress look on with bated
breath, and never dare lift up voice in her
behalf. What has become of the MEN in the
Republican partyf