The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-14
RETRIBUTIoN.
TIE voIcE or LOUISIANA.
A Grand Article nom tia. Grand state.

A Grand Article from that Grand state.
From the New Orleans Democrat. November III
Yesterday afternoon the editor OF the
Cincinnati Enquirer telegraphed the Demo
crut that the election OF Tilden depended
upon Louisiana. The dispatch concluded
as follows: /" The northern Democracy pray
that you acin not permit as to be counted
omt.'s
Later dispatches show that It Is univer-
sally believed In the North that this State is
to determine the great issue, and that the
eyes OF the whole American people are
fixed with the most intense interests upon
the little spot OF ground which has for eight
years been plundered under the shadow OF
the American flag by the Kelloggs and
Packards, and the bosom OF whose fields
have been trampled into sterility by the
armed heel OF the soldiers OF the republic,
marching from parish to parish to arrest
and dragonade our free citizens in the in
terests OF the plunderers.
The position OF Louisiana to-day is
grandly dramatic. Her situation presents
q theme for the noblest epic that has yet
been written. With the shackles OF eight
years Of cruel slavery just dropping
from her limbs; with the rags Of
her poverty still clinging about her,
the fate Of the republic hangs upon
her utterance in this crisis, and the great
Democratic party, the millions Of men who
long for reform and the preservation OF
free institutions, with clasped hands pray
to her to save the country. Few peoples
have before in the history Of the world oc-
cupicd position so trying and yet so SUBJ
lime. We doubt ii in the history Of the
world there has ever been so striking and
so splendid an example Of poetic retribu-
ton.
In 1872 the Democratic and Conservative
people OF Louisiana, trusting in the guar
antees OF the Constitution and in the good
faith OF the American people, went into the
national canvass and carried their State
election and elected full State Government
by over 5000 majority. The presidential
election was determined by the great ma
iority Of the other States, and the result in
Louisiana affected only the property, COM
mercial and industrial interests of her own
people. The party in power stepped in,
nullified the will Of the people, aud
with the power Of the army and
navy installed over us a usurpation the
most lawless and infamous that ever cursed
the earth. The country was startled at the
audacity and magnitude OF the crime
Louisianians were indignant, but trusting
in the generosity Of their countrymen and
the love OF the American people for consti-
tutional liberty they struck no blow, but
made their appeal to the people and to the
Congress for redress. How was their
appeal answered ? How was their pro-
test against this great national crime
met? Literally with derision and con-
tempt. Helpless before the armed power
of the Government, powerless before
the hate OF the North and West, they
submitted as best they could to the out
rage. Under the law Of the State another
election was held in 1874 for State officers.
After ten years Of peace; after they had so
patiently borne contumely, robbery, and OPP
preston at the hands OF wretehes protected
here by the General Government, the peo-
pie OF louisiana felt that the vengeance Of
the North was appeased, and that they
would be protected in their conStitu-
tional rights and against a crime
similar to that of 1874. They went into
the election hopefully, resolved to do
their best to emancipate their State through
the peaceful and constitutional medium of
the ballot-boX. Again they carried the
State by over five thousand majority. What
was the result? The crime OF 1872, with
aggravated insult, was repeated. 1t is need
less to recite that dark, shameful, infamous
story, in which the names OF Grant, Sheri-
dan, Kellogg, and Packard figure so dis
gracefully, and in which the American flag
and the American arms were wrapped in a
cloud Of dishonor and cowardice.
From one end Of the republicto the other
q cry Of indignation went up. In New
York, Boston, and Philadelphia monster
mass-meetings were held to denounce the
outrage upon the constitutional rights OF
Louisiana by the President. But each
speaker wound up his eloquent arraign-
ment Of the illustrious criminals, and each
journalist wound up his editorial with the
admonition to the people OF Louisiana that,
il in the borders of that State q hostile hand
were lifted to strike at the perpetrators OF
the outrages, the whole North and West, to
man, would rise up to Join the criminals
and crush the State forever under the heel
Of Grant. .......... ..-
Silently, patiently, and mournfully we
submitted. Almost hopelessly we saw that
the reign Of lawlessness and plumber was
to go on under the protection Of the Anne
rican flag, and that all that was left us was
the spirit and the heart to curse with bit
ter, burning curses, the scoundrels whose
heels were on our necks and in our halls.
Again the election for President came on.
Strange to say, the people OF Louisiana rail-
lied for the struggle. In every neighbour
hood within her borders her chiefs rallied
her people, and her people came forth to
make one more effort for the preservation
OF their constitutional existence. Twice
had they won the victory, and twice
in the presence OF the whole repub-
lie had it been wrested from them
at the point OF the bayonet, and their
State given over to their bitterest enc
mics and most ruthless plunderers. But
reared in love of liberty, and realizing
that every vital interest OF the Common
wealth was at stake, they went into the
campaign, and have again carried the State
by at least six thousand majority.
, And now it seems that the northern peo-
Die feel that the determination Of the presl-
Dental election depends upon the protection
of the people OF louisiana in the exercise OF
their constitutional rights as we'll as the
people OF New York or Indiana. The north
ern Democracy now appeal to the people
OF Louisiana almost prayerfully to main.
tain what they have constitutionally gained
at the balot-boX at any and every hazard.
Had they made this appeal to US and stood
by us in 1872 and in 1874 there would be
no danger to the republic now; had they
stood by Louisiana in 1872 and 1874, when
only the interests OF poor, doWn-trodden,
crushed, ruined Louisiana We're threatened,
their own liberties would not now hang on
the weak arm Of one little crushed but,
thank God, heroic State. - -,
mn, So, l,,,t ,,,hIi,,, n i5no NJ inpvorahlp