The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-01-15
LOUISIANA AND OUR SOUTHERN
POLICY.

The following article from the New
York Commercial and Financial Chroil-
icle of the I'd, is fair indication that
the political condition of Louisiana Is
we'll understood by the commercial
community of New York:
The heart of every honest man grows
sick over these continued Southern dis
turbances. What the country wants is
rest, peace; and determination to
know the truth, and hold those who
are to blame to a strict responsibility,
was never more pronounced than now.
This has become Il necessity, even tax
ing the narrowest possible view of the
situation-a view restricted to the per
sonal business interests of each man.
But, besides, and above this, there is a
growing belief that, under fair porfes-
sions, gross wrong is being done, and
the popular mind, if once it becomes
thoroughly possessed of the idea, will
see that it is righted.
A few facts now established tend 60
fix and enforce this idea. Prominent
among them is the admitted truth that
these Southern States have been fear,
fully robbed by their rulers, mere inn
ported rOgucs. Debt has been piled up,
taxes have been laid on, until the bur-
den has become unbearable. AS there is
no necessary connection between good
government and theft, the people see
no reasons for continuance of this
system.
Then, again strangely enough, assoon
as Il State reg,ins the controle of its own
affairs, it at once settles quietly down,
attends to its own business, every one,
white and black, being to all appear
ances increasingly happy and prosper
GUS. Look ut the wonderful change in
Georgia, i'll Missouri, in Tennessee, and
later still, i'll North Carolina and Texas,
and now i'll Arkansas and Alabama,
and compare their present condition
with that of Mississippi and Louisiana,
which still remain without the enjoy
nent of the principle of republican
government. Texas, Il short year since,
was full of strife and bitterness and dis
turbance; now, with Offices duly elected,
that has all passed away, and in place
Of it we find the people intent alone
upon the material progress of their own
common wealth. During the past wear
public meetings have been constantly
held in all parts Of the State tlevisinw
means for attracting emigrants, and in
response to these efforts emiyrants arc
moving in by hundred and by tho.,s-
anus. We think our Northern friends
will bc surprised some day at the wealth
that is being quietly developed in That
wonderful section; we know no State
which has more promising future,
and who would like now to see it re-
tnandcd to it's previous carpct-baw
government? Arkansas, too, furnishes :,
wonderful instance of utter change in
condition by the simple substituting Of
OF the prople's rule. We had almost
been led to think that nothing but
standardization could ever come out
OF Arkansas. But it appears we wrong
Ell 1t grossly, for ever since the band
that Infested it transferred its head
quarters to Washington, all the turmoil
and strife and thcivery, of which we
heard SO much, appear to have gone
with it.
But just now every eye is turned upon
Louisiana. They had an election there
the first of last n ovembcr-this is fact
number one; and fact number two is
that only this week has the result of
that election been announced. A curl
Gus circumstance in the same connec-
ton is that Immediately subsequent to
the election all the reports by telegraph
and mail showed that the opposition to
the Assembly, while the decision now
promulgated gives Il contrary result.
The explanation is probably to be found
in the wonderful provisions of. the
strangest election law ever put upon
the statute books of this country And
when we remember that this lazy was
passed and executed by Il government
which Il committee of the Senate of the
United States, after evidence taken,
found had no legal existence, and that
decision now made virtually continues
its power, one is not inclined to place a
very favorable construction upon the
labors of the Board. Besides, had the
object of this inquest been to elicit truth,
the members constituting it would
evidently have been equally divided
between the two contesting parties. No
such course was taken.
But we forbear entering upon this
subject. The House of Representatives
have appointed Il committee composed
of Mr.. Foster, of Ohio, VIM. Walter
Phelps, and ClarkSon y. Potter. and
they are now in New Orleans. We
have no acquaintance with Mr.. Foster,
tttt his cDttt-Sp il, tho fo>-pn