New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-09
PARTY NALIaHIfY.

The aame indifference to human suffer-
ING which has caused the Coushatts De-
mocracy to say in effect that Pierson PAID
with his life the proper penalty Of voting
the Republican ticket which has ridicrled
the misery of the mutilated Twitchell' ana
intimated that this mutilstion and the
murder of his brother and bSothers-ln-Iaw
was nothing more than Republican Office
holders had right to expect has been
manifested in regard to the Big Horn mas
sacre. That signal misfortune has been
made the theme of ostensible regret, but
has been seized on as party capital.
One White League journal has even at
tributed to what it calls . conference be-
tween the President and Republican lead
ers neglect of providing force adequate
to the Indian campaigns. It actually at
tempts to hold the President responsible
for the Custer massacre. We were sur
prised to see an officer whose command
suffered so much in this massacre stig-
matized at this moment as ''dog Merrill"
It would seem that the slightest respect
for human reason would have withheld
such warton insult at such moment
The anti Republican press Of New Orleans
would intimate that the government keeps
troops in Louisiana that are wanted in the
Indian war. If it were the case that the
portion of the federal army stationed in
the South impaired the ability of the
government to wage an Indian war,
there would be some responsibility at
taching to those whose avowed resistance
to the laws had rendered such assignment
Of troops necessary. It is not true that
any material portion Of the federal army
has been assigned to Southern duty. The
standing army of the United States num-
bers something over twenty thousand men.
The country is in profound peace except
in the few localities where the State gov
ernments can not enforce the federal laws.
Among these localities we may assume
some parts of Louisi ana to be the chief.
There are soldiers enough to perform gar
rison duty in the federal stations of Louis
lana. but no one could say that the troops
stationed here, or those that may be nec-
esnry to suppress any instruction, would
impair the ability Of the government to
wage any Indian war. There have been
three attempts to wrest the State govern
ment from the hands Of the officers elected
by the people.
On no occasion has there been as much
as two full regiments in the State, and
the revolution of September, 1874, was
composed by q couple Of federal COM
panies. We cheerfully certify and testify
that the most violent White Leaguers
have no purpose TO- fight the federal
troops, nor, indeed. any force as well
drilled and armed as themselves. The
masses of the white people, foreigners
and citizens, have no motive to risk their
life in civil strife for Office. The name
of the United States is power Of strength,
and it will not be necessary to weaken the
national army to suppress the White
Leaguers. It is, therefore, mistake to
suppose that the military force Of the gov
eminent is not sufficient to protect the
frontiers and enforce the laws within
the Union. The defeat of the gallant
Custer was not due to the weak
ness of the federal force. There
was ample strength at hand, but owing
to the fearless temerity of General Custer
this force was not within supporting dis
lance of his command. A cavalry march
of seventy-eight miles in twentyfour
hours not only placed him beyond in
fantry support but delivered him, with
horses too much exhausted to charge or
retreat, into the power of an ambushed
enemy armed with the best rifles. It is
not for as to courtmartial the gallant
dead, but no administration could be
held to answer at Washington for the.
disasters of an expedition nearly two
thousand miles away in the heart Of
hostile country.
It will be seen that Congress has under
consideration q call for volunteers; q
tender of aid has already been made.
The very Mormons offer twelve hundred
men, and the Indian tribes could be
wiped out in twelvemonth by the hardy
and courageous soldiers Of the Union.
They do not pause to calculate whether in
going to aid or to avenge their country
mep they will help or hunt a political
party. Indeed, we do not suppose "a. me
most inveterate Democrat would dare, for
the sake Of party advantage, to withhold
protection for the frontier against
savage enemy. The nation is not so weak
that in defending Der citizens she will be
left without the force to enforce her laws
in districts where no other consideration
restraints the turbulent spirits.
We have said this much to prevent the
idea that there is body of disaffected
men in Louisiana who only await some
foreign complication to throw off their
allegiance to the government, and attack
those with whom they disagree politically.
It might do mischief at home, if the peo-
pie believed that the government can not
conduct an Indian war and protect the
colored voters at the same time. We
have demonstrated the absurdity of any
such supposition. The government can
nrotact tho RIGHTS IF its citizena within