New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-11
TEE LATE COUsHATTA TRAGEDY

The simultaneous attempt of the Demo-
cratic papers to throw the blame Of the
late Coushatta tragedy upon Republi-
can, upon the vague rumor said to have
been brought down by the officer of a
steamboat, throws more light on the dark
mystery than its authors expected or de-
sired. It places them in the light of accu-
sers Of the Democracy. Such haste 10 de-
fend betrays such a knowledge or sus-
picion Of guilt as-to make it now reasona-
bly, certain that the Democratic party Of
Coushatta are responsible for the murder
Of King and the wounding Of Twitchell,
| and are anxious to lay the odium at the
doors of the Republicans. For this pur-
pose they have published a charge, which
they credit to Senator Twitchell, that
the late supervisor Of DeSoto parish,
Thomas Bean, did the shooting.
This monstrous falsehood was yester-
day promptly contradicted by advices re-
ceived from Mr.. Twitchell himself. as well
as the well ascertaiped fact that Captain
Bean is in the city, and has been here
every day for three months Or more.
Senator Twitchell is reported to be en-
tirely Ignorant of his assailant. Either
this is true or he fears to speak, sur
rounded as he is by bloodtLirsty and
cowardly enemies. Even his surgeon has
been threatened. The Democracy are dis
satisfied, perhaps, with the skill that has
saved at least one arm, and perhaps life,
which the public sentiment Of Coushatta
White League Democracy wished to have
destroyed. The surgeon who has inter-
posed his successful services between
them and their victim has incurred, their
wrath, and perhaps stands il some dan
ger Of his life.
Until this sudden outburst, this attempt
to screen the gull y by accusing the inno-
cent, we had nothing but the well known
bad character Of the Coushatta Democ-
racy in proof that the murder Of King
and the attempted assassination of
Twithell were dictated by political hatred
and policy. We regard the subsequent
Developments as very strong circunlstan-
tial evidence of what before We could |
only surmise. If we look at the apathy |
of the people when the murder was
committed-so interested in the alleged |
arrival of mail ct little country
postoffice that they had no inter- |
est to spare for crime which is
enough to shock the sensibilities of
the world-then the Indifference which |
permitted the disguised murderer to
ride casually through a town in which
perhaps every white man was armed; the !
tardy pursuit by the sheriff and his re-
turn, after slow ride of three miles, on
the ground that if the stranger were
Overtaken somebody else might be killed.
And finally, the confused attempts of the
Democratic papers to partly deny and
partly palliate the crime, lead US up to
m irresistible conviction that the white
people of Coushatta know all about the.
tragedy, and had full fore-knowledge Of
{ when they repaired to the postofice.
Heretofore the REPUBLICAN has not |
charged this against the Democracy. It
$ true the Bulletin says we have, but it is
n error. We admitted at first, upon
UGH evidence as came to hand and
rom pretty accurate knowledge Of
Red river policy, that there was
round for reasonable presumption, but
We have RETAINED from making direct
barge until the evidence should seem to
7arrant it. We now consider this evil
ence as having come to hand. We see it
4 the approved suggestions that this CON-
lunity should not regard the crime with
eelings of adherence because the slain
Ian and the wounded Senator were Re-
ublicans. The satisfaction manifested
y Last Ditch Democrat whenever Re-
ublican is murdered has been manifested