New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-24
THE MEANING OF THE LOUISIANA
COMPLICATION.
Political History Of the State
Since 1865.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF FACTS
WHAT THE DEMOCRACY WANT

A BRIEF SU&MAkY OF FACTS
WHAT THE DEMOCRACY WANT
The following statement, We are in
formed, was prepared by an independent
Democrat of this city, and was presented
to Hons. Stanley Matthews, John Sher-
man, James A. Garfield, and others of the
distinguished citizens now here from
other States: ..
The history of Louisiana snd of other
Southern States since 1865 proves to the i'm
partial ana candid observer of men and
events, that the white people of the South
have never honestly accepted the recent
amendments of the federal constitution as
final settlement of our &c ctional differences.
They did profess to accept them, it is
true, because they ratified them in the
manner and through the forms Indicated
by the constitution, but the public speakers
and writer's of the South have always con-
tended that this ratification was made
under duress, and the evidences are numer.
Gus that the white people in their hearts
utterly repudiated thoee amendments and
the statutes passed to enforce them, and, 60
far az they have obeyed them, have done
so under compulsion only. The proof of
this is to be found in their denuncistion of
and opposition to the reconstruction acts of
Congress, their practical denial of the suf-
frage conferred upon the black people by
bringing to bear upon the IN not only all the
means of coercion possessed by the su-
perior race, even to murder, but by their
enforcement of a petty and CALLING 81 stem
of persecution of white citizens, native or
adopted, who we're suspected even of lean.
ing against the Democracy. It was not
only publicly announced by the newspapers
of the Democratic faith during the cam
paign just ended. that any white man who
acted with the Republican party was to be
excluded from social recognition and bust
ness patronage, but was to be regarded as
public enemy. See the New Orleans
Democrat and other sheets.] This ostracism
has been practically enforced against the
native and adopted white citizens of Louis
lana who merely disapproced of the policy
and plan of campaign pursued by the Dem
ocratic- Conservative party.
Now. as to that policy and plan of cam
paign it has been no secret. 1t was simply
that pursued 60 successfully by the Demo
Gratis of Mississippi, which turned Repub-
lican majority of over 10000 into Demo.
cratic majority of over 80 600. In Louis.
lana the plan was confined mainly to five
parishes, viz: East Baton Rouge, East
Feliciana, West Felicisna, Morehouse and
Ouachita. These parishes have hitherto
been Republican by about 5000 majority
and it was supposed by the leaders of the
Democratic Conservative party that by So
curing those parishes majority futicien,
for their purposes would be obtained
Their plan differed from that pursued il
Mississippi to this extent-that compiled
suppression of the Republican vote wal
not desired, as in Mississippi. They knew
or believed that the policy of the Fedora
administration as to the Southern State
had been changed since the Mississippi
election which proved to Republican
the erroneousness of the policy of AT
torney General Pierrepont as applie'
to that State. They knew that tn
law of Louisiana creating the Return
ing Board authorized the throwing on
of the returns from any poll or precinc
where riot, intimidation or fraud had ex
listed; that this board was composed of Re
publicans, who would execute the law
supported by the authorities of the Unite
States. 1t was therefore thought to be in
expe1ient and unnecessary to apply tn
Mississippi policy to every parish. Th
proof of q certain kind of intimidation il
these FIVE parishes is overwhelming
Whether it was or not illegal intimids
ton is another question. To satisf
myself as to Morehouse parish an
tho conduct of the Democratic eampaig
there, inquired about it of young ma
who is q law student in New Orleans at tn
present time, but whose home is in More
house. He was at home for several month
prior to the election. / asked him if an
disturbance had taken place at Repui
lican meeting held in Bastrop in Cctobe
He said, "Yes;" that Mr.. Leonard was i.
terrupted while speaking by one OF th
audience, who said, THAT'S damned Ii,
and if you don't take it back I'll kill you,
or something like that. Weapons xer
drawn by Republicans and DerAocra,
simultaneously. and if Federal office
who was present, had not ir.terfered, tt
probability was that tloodv confli,
would have ensued. Ny informant state
that he knew OF republican meeting a.
pointed to be he I'd twelve miles below Ba
trop on Inc came day or the day afte
whicn WIS not held because the intimid
uon >ad been 80 Thorough there was not
| e..ngle person in attendance. l askeA tn
young man to give me on idea OF the vs.
in which tbs intimidation" wes pEstSice
why" said he, laughing, at was in q
ait. 1t was not visible, but ever
hydy felt it, My informant is Den
! crat, and ia now reading law
the Office of q respectable lawyer Ia Den
craft in this city. His name l can not 81
here because l have no authority from
to do SO, and it might injure him. But
vouch for him and for the correctness
my report OF his words. Another sta
,nent was made to me voluntarily by p
sonal friend in New Orleans with regard
the preparations of the White League