The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-19
4 slNGuLAR STATE or THINGS.


tive majority in the House of T1tepre-
scntatives, II n. nevertheless, feared
Tint tho articles and influences OF the
! Republican party IRE SO mysteriousand
eductive. so far ~ some OF the mem
beers IRE concerned. that Mr.. Kellogg
and Treasurer Dubuclet and other Rad
icals lately eliminated with them. can
violate the laws ut pleasure which they
have sworn TO maintain, and proceed to
cgtnbljah tho most dangerous and ruin
ors precedent with impunity We
suppose that any gentleman call
ing himself Democrat or Con
aeryatiye would treat tho idca
Of my personal corruption with abhor-
renee aud disdaip. But II Is certain that
there arc doubts prevailing IN some
imaginations. which can only be- ascrib-
cd to an over liberal estimate OF vaunted
Republican power. or to inexcusablo
and maudlin sentimentality In which
the masses OF the Conservative people
of Louisiana do not by any means par
ticipatc. Tho question Is too simple
ono to cmbarrass them in the
least An uncontradicted majority
report of tho House Of Represents.
tiyos. confirmed IN the main facts
reoited by u minority report from NO.
publican member, leave no shadow OF u
doubt az to tho guilt OF tho do faoto
Governor and the Treasurer. The
friendly argument In their behalf that
no money was lost by their illegal ana
most reprehensible conduct IL. In the
first place, not true and, IN tho second
place, Is weakened, II anything, by such
nm attempted excuse. II Is certain that
the interest fund deposited IN the state
Treasury for safe keeping, whose
.inyiolablo preservation, ~ rteW
of the public honor Of nc
State. was demanded by the laws
In tho most serious and marked manner
under heavy penalties, was outraged IN
tho most shameless and defiant spirit
by those who should have been the last
To set such prostitutod aud lawless ex-
ample. IL was seized, too. by men upon
the plea OF paying their political follow
crs In tho city OF Now Orleans. when
they must have been we'll advised that
thore WIS not one citizen In ton Of those
contributing tho tax from their eInbar.
rassed property or harrassing labor. In
order to sustain, ut all hazards. the in
tegrity Of tho State. who would not
have abhored tho purpose for which IT
was illegally taken and risked.
This Is the simple case which the
Legislature, and each member In II, with
the eyes Of the people aud their press
throughout tho State upon them, with
tho indignant and suspicious glance
which only the people can sometimes
give, Is called upon to decide. They can
neither escape IL, nor its consequences.
The result will show whether thcy IRE
true to the people Of Louisiana and to
tho laws, or forget their rightful fealty
out Of complaisanco 10 Mr.. Kellogg. As
for any illegal or irregular interference
In our trial OF " criminal or criminals
under our laws. In the mode pointed out
by the constitution, nothing but the
widest halluoination could have sug-
gested Il. We admit that Louisiana. and
particularly New Orleans, have been ter
ribly treated In the past by the iron hand
OF the Washington Government, ut the
instance OF villainous politicians here,
and many persons cannot rid themselves
Of the impression that tho Radical Gov
eminent at Washington still own two
thirds majority IN both houses OF Con
gress. They have the fearful convic-
ton, apparently, that II they resist the
Republican Dictatorship here. much
less talk OF bringing Mr.. Kellogg and
other violators OF the law to justice, that
Grant, like greedy and fearless hawk,
will suddenly pounce down upon our
flock. On the contrary, we have no
doubt that Grant. at tho present time.
heartily wishes Kellogg were
ut Tophct in endeavoring to produce
tho impression that unless he moves to
his rescue ,ohen he dare not, that he Is
less friend Of the blacks and carpet
baggcrs than Morton or Blaine. Suffice
II to be remembered by all. that the
Washington House Of Representatives
is Democratic by upwards Of seventy
majority, and that the last purpose Of
President Grant, for the sake. either Of
Kellogg or Of Louisiana negroes and
carpet baggers, is to make himself the
victim Of Morton and Blaine, Hayes or
Hartranft, by inviting articles or i'm
parchment which would place him for
months, II not permanently, entirely in
their power.
Whenever any man hereafter insinu
ates us ground for not trying Kellogg,
the State Treasurer, and others, for
proved offenses OF the highest criminal
ity, that Grant will summon the army
Of the United States in Mr.. Kellogg's
defense, only laugh at him with
amused scorn and amiable contempt.
Should we be asked what Is the practi-
cal beneficial result to be obtained from
the impeachment and conviction Of Kel-
logg and Dubuclet, and the proper pun
ishment Of others who have conspired
to violate the laws, our answer is, that
not to seek to punish them under the
circumstances Is an admission Of indie
scribable weakness in both material
and moral sense on the part Of the
proper representatives and guardians
OF the law.