New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-05
NEW ORLEANS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY s. 1875
Brief Review Of the Situation.


Brief Review Of the Situation.
EDITOR RRPUBIlcAA:
JOAQUIN Miller, in one Of his Wild and sub.
lime poems. descriptive of the plains Of our
great Northwest, says:
That wide domain of mysteries.
And signs that men misuRderstaDd."
Aud this is precisely what is the matter,
In great measure, with the Louisiana case,
and with Southern affairs generally.
And ia this Louisiana case ever to be any
better understood than it now is and has
been for Aong time pas.i Are the investi-
eating powers of congressional committees
likely ever to illuminate the dark winter of
our political discontent9
Judging the future by that safe rule of
what has been, should say not.
Congressional committees como down
here now, at the national expense, almost as
often as we have new moon, to pass upon
the question Of our ''sovercignty." and after
hearing both sides-that Is, both sides of
our ''sovereignty," return more thoroughly
befuddied than ever.
Meantime, anarchy reigns supreme here,
and human life is as cheap % human honor.
do not pretend to know OF say what the
Democrats may be enabled to do in show.
ing up their Case properly and fairly and
decently before the present committee; but
the Republican evidence having closed,
Judgment may be somewhat entered upon
that side. And Notwithstanding I could
ennmerate and specify several palpable,
and l fear, willtul falsehoods that have
been sworn to on this eide of tho question,
in regard tO the condition Of affairs in that
portion OF this State whore reside, never
theless the Republican testimony has been
Of tuch character in the main, ss would
seem sufficient to convince even the most
prejudiced mind, that very bad condition
of things exists in this State, calling for the
interposition Of the most active and well
applied ramedy-a remedy that shall vim.
dicste the right ard put down the wrong.
But who shall apply this remedy, and
how shall it be applied When and where
is this miserable business to have an end.
ings And ehall it be said that all the
wrong is on one side1 can not say 80.
We talk Of y compromise, by which more
honor and more honest intelligence may be
thrown into the scales of legislation; but
how is it to be effe cted9
What say the honorable members Of our
present congressional commitseei Let
them ''be not deceived
Is the Kellogg government to be sus-
taineds And howl II evidently should be;
for if any State government was elected
here in 1872, it was eleoted. But how is it
to be sustained and maintainedi That is
the question. And there 10 NO use for gen.
tlemen on either side to "get mad" and go
into spasms. Practical statesmauship does
MOI 60 into Gts ia looking at knotty ques-
ton; nor does it yield to passion over rear
son.
The so-called Kellogg government of Lou
'slana, however rightoOusl entitled to rule
and reign, can not exist without the most
stern aud rigid and continued national in
terierence; unless there can be some AMIGA
bic compromise Or adjustment here at
home that shall bring together and mutu.
ally combine elements and interests which
are at present dispordant and conflicting.
And to which horn of the dilemma shall
We olinss I am in favor Of the latter, and
10 that end am roady to make any reasonar
bio sscritice, official or otherwise.
Now, Mr. Editor, write this neither to
nor dictate. but to give my candid
'ie~s Of the practical phase Of the situation.
We must have peaoe and quiet in this state
IT speedy and irretrievabie ruin. 1t has
7ery nearly reached that already. And NO
congressional committee report will do
much good to either side. We have been
'urdened with this sort Of thing ever since
reconstruction began, and it any practical |
'ood has been the result the people do not |
NOW it. For myeelf, 1 am thoroughly
irsd Of all sush patchwork, and believe
uch to be tho feeling and sentiment of |
very Intelligent man in the State, of what
Oer party. If We are to have national
Interference, lot it be 1irect and positive,
nd in such form Of authority rs will com.
land obedience if not respect.
Tue tArobblnR loyal heart of Louisiana
'ants peaee and rest that = common pros
erity may ensue; and the heart which does
ot desire this. whether loyal or rebellious
to any particular phase Or type or gov
rnDeRt, Ia not Tt to beat in an American |
Jsom.
w. JASPER BLACKBURN.
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