The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-05-31

hS CoiC' dio dht III Ucdl my SpiliG vi
the people Of Louisiana toward their
plundcrers and traducers has embol-
dened the Republican to continue its
villifications, and they must thank
themselves for having built up, or
permitted to grow up, among them a
malignant sheet which has adver-
tised them from Maine to California
as murderers and rebels.
The audacity Of the Republican
has never been more consplcuously
displayed than in its misrepresenta
lions of the recent ARRAYS in West
FeIiciana and Wilkinson county.
All the lying henclimen Of the Rad
ical party in those localities have
swiftly sent to it their falschoods,
knowing that in its columns they
would be blazoned to the country as
the truth. We happen to know that
the Republican has received from the
lips of gentleman of the highest
character and most unimpeachable
veracity, the real truth Of the riots
referred to. But it has preferred to
publish the lies it received from the
white and negro instigators of the
attray; men utterly unworthy of
credit, and who, instead of being
Senators and Representatives Of
Louisiana, should be in the Louisi-
ana Penitentiary. h.
In few words. the whole story of
the West Feliciana and Wilkinson
riot may be told. Ever since the
planters of that portion Of Louisiana
and Mississippi took active and efli-
cient steps to break up the Illicit
traffic in seed cotton and stolen cat
tie, the evil-disposed negroes Of the
county have been sullen and threat
ening. Mr.. Weber, the Radical
State Senator from West Feliciana,
encouraged and built up that trade,
and made large sums Of money by it.
AS the action of the planters was
injurious to him, he has fomented
the discomfort of the negroes and
studiously cultivated their bad feel.
ing toward the whites. The night
before the murder Of Mr.. ,Aranson
Swazie, Il negro politician and bosom
friend Of Weber, was in the neigh.
borhool making intlammatory
speeches to the negroes and appeal.
ing to them to defend their rights
Some trouble had recently occurred
between Aronson and negro wht
e had been concerned in stealing his
TIT Aronson's) cattle, and in rough
f and tumble fight the negro got wei
5 whipped: (Such affairs occur daily
: in every city and neighborhood ii
: the Union. Incensed at the drub
e bling their companion had received
e influenced by the incendiary har
t argues of Swazie, and it is believed
y supplied with ammunition by Swat
}, and Weber, a band Of negroes, a
e has been related, visited Aronson'
e house and murdered him. Til
It whites assembled, cal tlrtd two O
!; the murderers and, after being pei
!, fectly satisfied of their guilt, hum
II them. The other members of til
e gang escaped into Mississippi; bu
e the Felicianians, having discovere
g the names of all Of them, gave ther
a to Mr.. Noble, the Republican sberi
Re of Wilkinson county, who summone
% posse and went in pursuit Of th
8. murderers. The negroes Of til
'e whole country belonging to the co,
% ton seed and cattle stealing ring!
s. assembled to protect the assassin
"a and fred upon the sheriff and hi
% posse, killing two and woundin
J. several; fight then ensued, in whic
% the negroes were badly worsted an
'e driven off.
I'd And this is the truth about q
rs affair which the Republican is persi
y tently claiming was a wholesa
re slaughter of innocent negroes by II
IS murderous whites.
I'd All that we desire, all that o,
10 people desire, is that the whole trut
er about these affairs shall be told, ar
ar we insist that the Republican shs
e hereafter tell the truth about ther
a. We are determined that it shall ,
lie so in this canvass. But if it st
ut persists in its infamous policy
he incorporating the white people
is Louisiana, we shall follow it
81, step by step exposing its falsehood
m and if there survives any sense
ry honor N its editors bosom, /,
IN shall force him to the truth, or
ir skulk through this city brand