The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14
SHERIDAN AND THE WHITE LEAGUE,

Editor of the New Orleans ;Bulletin:
After the extraordinary dispatches sent +
Washington by Gen. Sheridan since his al
rival in this city, can't say that am as
tonished at the labored defense which
appeared in the Times of Monday, the It'll
inst, under the fimsy gerb OF being a re
port OF "Another Interview with Sheridan,
but certainly my disgust at the ignorance
brutality and unparalleled impudence of thu
fellow has been greatly increased and in.ensi
fed
Would it not have been well for the re-
porter, before entering upon the purpose O.
lis interview, to have asked of Sheridan
some explanation of the following language
which occurs in his dispatch to Belknap
under date of January Sth:
, During the few days in which was in
the city prior to the 4th OF January the gen
eral topic of conversation was the scenes OF
bloodshed which We're liable to occur on that
day, and repeatedly heard threats of assas-
slnatlng the Governor. and regrets expressed
that he was not killed on the 18th of Septem-
Der last. Also threats OF assassination Of the
Republican members of the House in order
to secure the election Of q Democratic Speak
er." Why was this man not asked, where, bv
whom, and under what circumstances were
these threats made? Now will ask, is there
man, woman or child in the United States
with intellect above idiocy who believes this
statement CULVER Munchauseli, and even
Kellogg, whom Beckwith emphatically pro-
nounced to be the greatest liar he ever knew
in his life > are utterly thrown into the shade
by the mendacity of this low fellow.
Reviewing the interview, it is d tficuIt to
know where to begin to unravel this tissue of
brutality, hate, stupidity and mendacity: nor
would the game be worth the candle, had the
trash not been the reported utterances of one
high in the confidence Of the Executive of the
nation, and who aspires to be the supreme ar
bitrator, not only Of our political destiny, but
OF our liberties and lives also.
Quoting some passages of this document,
which by the by possesses literary power,
superior to anything that has yet emanated
from this great Chief he says:
That "the White League is secret
military organization in contravention
Of both State and Federal laws. Its mem
bers when they resort to overt acts, are all
liable to the penalties of the Enforcement
Act" This passage has been evidently in
'pired by some carpet-bag pettifogger
2. "The White League is secret politico- |
military domination, having purposes, which, !
+ they are not intended to be accomplished |
~ revolution and violence, there is no reason |
u sense in the military character the combi-
nation has assumed"
3. 1T has been charged that there was, or
5, Black League. AS yet l have seen no
evidence Of that fact"
black, "engender a spirit of lawlessness, and
t is my opinion no peaceful condition can be
cached as long as they continue, nor until
re'y species Of business and social ostrocism on
ccount Of political sentiments u.s. broken do,rn."
5. II one party is permitted to enter q con-
est, which should be peaceful, with arms,
heir opponents must be allowed the same
rlvllege, and it does not require the wisdom
I Solomon to know that such an array of
arties would soon end in drenching our State
nth blood, and endanger the peace of the
hole country. The simple arming of one
ortion OF the people is practically declara-
on OF war against the rest.
q. 'In other sections of the country a
lan's views on political questions do not
feet him favorably or unfavorably in BUSH
ess or otherwise. 1t is not SO here
z. II have q list of murdered men in this =.
tate, which may well startle the nation The !
'regoing are the most material of the alleged
tterances OF this ignorant partisan, who
sgerly longs for a pretext to shed the blood
our citizens. and who frantically bowls be- g
ause he is denied that pleasure
In reply, Sheridan knows, or is culpably 9
,norant, as it was proved before the investi-
ating committee, by witnesses Of the most :
character, that the White Leoque
not secret organization, but is an open mill !
ry association for defensive PURPOSES alone.
s 1t was formed only after every and all other !.
eans had failed to secure a recognition of :,
olitical and personal rights, and in defense
our lives and property, threatened and !
ailed by armed and organized negroes, in .
igated by unprincipled white men, for their .
xn selfish ends
This organization is not political, in the or t
mary sense of the word as it has no political t
rinciples to be carried into effect through
e agency Of candidates, members Of the or.
lnization. It aims to secure political rights,
:cause they are essential to the security OF
rson and property-now entirely at the
Grey Of gang of characterless adventures. l.
famous scalawags and ignorant and corrupt
2roes. through whose agency every indus