The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-03-18
THE LEVEL OF MEXlCANIsM.


assertion" This paper has never
taught anything save opposition to He
gal power and hostility to system Of
political profigacy which probably has
no parallels except in countries like
Mexico. The Republican. with its usual
efIrontery, charges its own and its par
tvs bad teachings upon the DEMOCRAT
and the Democratic party.
There is, beyond question. an evident
tendency in Louisiana politics to de-
scend to the level of Mechanism; but
it is a tendency which Louisiana poll
tics have derived from Radicalism; and
the Republican, has been the able and
unscrupulous advocate of everything
which has transpired in the State to ia
cilitate that tendency. The Radicals
| first impoverished the State by levying
and exacting excessive taxes and steal
ing the money. They next displayed an
utter disregard of the constitution and
the laws: stocked the bench with cor
rupt and subservient politicians; falsi-
fed the election, and appointed the worst
men In the country to the various OIL
oes as a reward for brazen rascality In
the service of the party.
For the present condition of the State
the Radical party alone is responsible !;
and the present condition Of the State
is bad enough-indeed, 1t is not many
removes from the level Of Mexicanism
The people have ceased to look to the
law for protection, and consequently
they have ceased to respect the law
Assassinations may be perpetrated with
impunity in tho light of day, and city
and country swarm with thieves, muir
derers, ropers and swindlers, who depre-
date upon society with as much conf
dence as II they were engaged in honest
and legitimate employment. Who has
brought this about? Not the Demo
Gratis and Conservatives They have had
no power or influence in the govern
ment for eight years. What paper
defends all the raids that have been
made upon the treasury. and all the
vicious laws which have been passed !?
Not the DEMOCRAT. We have denounced
the men in authority, from constables
to Governor and Chief Justice. The
Radical party must be held responsible.
Mr. Kellogg and his ring hold the gov
ernment: they have control Of the Me
tropolitan army Of New Orleans; and
two thirds Of the sheriffs, judges, con-
stables and justices in the parishes are
Radical officials Yet thieves dens
flourish on the public thoroughfares,
men are assassinated on the streets in
daylight. violence rears it's crest in the
country parishes, and corruption, law
lessness and poverty prevail everywhere.
At another time we shall show that
the exorbitant taxes collected from the
people and squandered by the Radical
officials have Impoverished the State. 1t
is beyond question that tho practices Of
Radicalism have destroyed all respect
for law, encouraged turbulence and
IawIessness and very nearly reduced the
State to level with Mexicanism. And
it seems that, unless Radicalism
is whipped out OF the State, we
are to be sunk still lower
in the social and political scale. Every
brave and generous people abhor muir
der, arson and assassination. Where
these terrible crimes can be perpetrated
without invoking upon the guilty the
vengeance Of the law, or where their
perpetrators can find favor and toler-
ance from the government, society is
rapidly tending into the lowest depth
of degradation And such is the case in
Louisiana now. The criminal tender
ness Mr.. Kellogg has displayed,toward
convicted murderers, house burners,
burglars and thieves has shocked the
American people ,and inspired with con-
fidence all classes Of malefactors in the
State.
Under Mr.. Kellogg's reign a new in
dustry has been developed brokerage
in pardons. individuals now follow the
occupation Of obtaining pardons for a
livelihood, and it is said to be lucra-
tive business. One Of these pardon
brokers engages with convicted felon,
or with the friends of q convicted felon,
for consideration, to obtain his par
don. The broker then makes out
piteous and sentimental petition to the
Governor for mercy, and familiarized
by experience with the class of men
who will sign anything and everything,
he sets vigorously to work to get an
list Of signatures, which is
always possible, and with this he, or
else, presents himself to Mr.
Kellogg; and whether Mr.. Kellogg is
touched by the piteousness of the ap-
peal, the respect he entertains for the
wishes Of the sieners, or the portion Of
the brokerage he is allowed. he usually
grants the pardon. Vast numbers of
the grandest scamps in the State-men
Of murder, highway robbery,
burglary, arson and rape-have been
pardoned out Of the Penitentiary and
turned loose upon society. This
has gone to such an extent that
.he law no longer excites fear
n the hearts Of the scourges Of society.
Only few days ago Alexander Newton,
sentenced to death for having perpe-
rated murder, or assassination, which
would have shocked the Italians In the
lays Of Francis Sforza, had his sentence
'ommuted by Mr.. Kellogg to lmprison-
nent for life, and everybody believes
With n view of an finn a a rorJn, 80 -