The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-05

ALI profess ~ desire, ana all should desire.
Sion 10 81 he viii u the people. and protect every
ballot-box and every suhragHn from fraud Of
violence
| This Is brief extract, on very i'm
portant subject, from Mr. Kellogg 3
almost inexhaustible message. 1t would
seem honestly TO recommend the repeal
OF that part Of the election law which
relates to the Infamous Returning
Board But on a careful exami-
nation we find that he makes
no such distinct recommends
ton. On the contrary, he argues in
favor Of the necessity OF having such q
Board, or one like 1t, In order to protect
the weak. timid and VIGOROUSLY non
oombatant class" tho blacks, OF
course from the outrages and cruelties
"of armed bodies OF men meaning the
whites which have by VIOLENCE pre-
vented ''the expression Of the will oftbe
voters.' II is really singular that any
man should thus have the hardihood to
address legislative body in such
terms in the face of the his
tory Of the present Returning Board
as presented officially, and after thor
ough Investigation by Republican
committee of the United State Senate.
We have recently had occasion to
quote their published language, and
whether 1t be the Office at fault, or the
persons In the Office Of the Returning
Board, the evidence before Congress
shows that it's powers have been prosti-
tuted, II unrepcaled they may be
again. In the most Infamous manner.
Il Is impossible that anything could
have been more outrageous than this
conduct.
But in CHANGING at Mr.. KelIogg's
written language transcribed above,
how excessively virtuous he becomes
in his moderation and advice in
favor Of an equal and just election
law, and how palpably inconsistent
with himself He Is. this very hour,
tho official creature, according to the
highest authority Of the United States
Senate, Of a gross fraud perpctrated on
the ballot-boxes Of Louisiana by a Re
turning Board. IN favor of whose con-
temned life he incidentally puts UP plea
In his message on the ground Of thefr
being necessary for the protection of
the negroes, "tiInid. weak and nom
combatant," against the violence
of EARNED bodies Of the whites.
We fear, however, that his doubt
full words amount to nothing more
than a profession. Wrecked and
ruined in his past history in con
nection with the State in everything
that makes men In a similar position
respected of their fellow citizens
ing, no doubt, that circumstances re-
quire to certain extent change of
features, and that he is no longer able
successfully TO "ply his avocation lin
the language OF Beast Butler) In the
same old track, he seeks an apparent
reconciliation with honest men, imagin-
ing the great heart of this people to
be "a House Of the Good Shepherd"
where even political offenders aud out
casts like himself are taken in
No, Mr.. Kellogg, all OF the Radicals.
or Republicans, SO called by way Of an
anti-climax to truth and reason, do
not even profess" to want u good cleo
ton law. We think IL more than doubt
full whether yom want good election
law. But all good men do not simply
profess" bit really desire It. The mass
Of had men are too candid to give ex-
preston to the idea, for it would de-
stroy their occupation.
1t Is only the worst of bad men occu-
plying the gubernatorial chair and other
high positions in the State, procured by
usurpation. tyranny and corruption by
other stronger arms than their own,
who profess. In this class "profes-
sions," as we have cause for knowing,
are mere blatant hypocrisy, and the
truth is not in them. il you are in favor
Of Diminishing the Returning Board and
the odious act, we wish you
had said 50 without such unnecessary
waste Of veruAge. As IL is, let us say
to you, with perfect candor and dis
tinctness ut once, that there Is not a
single paragraph in your long message
worth a pinch Of snuff that does not
inter into the spirit Of reform content
plated by the Democratic and C0nserrd-
tire majority Of the House. 1Ia5