The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-09-28
BAYONET RULE.

Active measures are being taken by
the attorney generals Office to strictly
enfoSce all the provisions of the national
law, not only in the south, but in every
part of the country. Great care is to be
taken in the selection of supervisors, and
all the officers of the United States re-
sponsibIe in any degree for insuring
quiet, and enforce fair election, are to
receive specific instructions through the
department of justice. A circular on
the subject will be issued in few days
Prosecutions are to be at once instituted
in Alabama against those who perpe-
trated frauds in the late state election,
and others who were prominent in exer-
cising intimidation at the polls in various
parts of the state. Special counsel have
already been appointed to assist in the
work, and arrests and trials will take
place at an early day. Steps are also
to be taken Immediately to give
greater efficiency to the United States
marshal's Office in several of the
southern states Some changes of prin-
cipaIs and quite a number among the
deputies have been ordered.
New York Herald.
Many members of congress made a
strenuous opposition to the bill authoriz-
ing the enlistment of twenty-five hun.
bred additional cavalrymen to serve
against the Indians. The ground of OPP
position was that there are abundant
troops in the south that might be EN-
ployed against the Indians. Even with
"ut any minute investigation this allega
ton would seem to be well founded. 1t
is preposterous and incredible that with |
an army Of $4,000 men the government
cannot muster a force OF more than three
or Jour thousand for active service in an
emergency. Acting on this presumption
we could have caused careful inquiries to
be made, and the result is stated in de-
tail in our correspondence elsewhere.
The reader will find full and authentic
statement of the number of federal |
troops in the southern states, with the
name Of each company and the place
where it is stationed. The conclusions
from these detailed statements is that
five regiments might be spared from the
military posts in the south to reinforce
Crook and Terry in their campaign
against the Sioux.
The order from secretary Cameron to
Gen. Sherman shows that the admins
tration has had a very definite use to
make Of these troops all the time, and
we Mt once see why Crook and Terry
have been deliberately left without ade-
uate support. 1t is expected the five
regiments will carry four of the south
ern states, by whipping the negroes into
line who have either become listless in
politics or wandered off to the democra-
cy, and by terrifying the fiendish
white liners into subsection. By keep.
ing the outrage mill slowly grinding,
and sending platoons of cavalry hither
and thither, it is evidently hoped to re-
viyc the bitterness which has been rap
idly disappearing between the races in
most parts % the south. We wish to
see all citizens protected in their rights,
but this turning of the army of the
United States into bands of drummers
for the negro vote is pushing partisan
ship 20 far that it would he grotesque if
il were not infamous. This is doubtless
the work to which Gen, Sherman re-
ferred when he said the " highest author
ity" must answer why the troops could
not be spared 10 fight the Sioux.
The desperation Of move which
darcs to saddle the country with the
expense of extra soldiers while keeping
nearly four thousand idle for political
purposes is apparent, and adds another
stigma to the rule of the party in whose
namo and for whose aid it is uublushing-
ly done.
New York sun.
As far back as the second Of this
month, we warned congress that II would
be unsafe 10 adjourn leaving a free OPP.
portunity for the exercise of unrestricted
power in the hands of such president as
Grant. Our warning Is already more
than justified.
Grant and the senate have lately been