The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-12-22
GOV. PALMEl
He Tells His Fellow-CilizemsA All About
Louisiana.
Especial to tho Chicago Times.l

Especial to tho Chicago Times.l
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Dec. LEX
Gov. John NJ. Palmer appeared at his
Office to-day, and was welcomed by a
great number of citizens Of both parties,
who were anxious to hear the result of
his observations in New Orleans and
his views of the situation. 1t is per-
haps unnecessary to say that in this
city, and in this part Of the State, if
nowhere else, Gov. Palmer is regarded
as an unprejudiced observer, and as "A
man capable of stating the facts coming
within his knowledge clearly and with
out bias. There was no formal inter
view held, nor would he submit to
any, as he said that whatever lie had
to say might be said anywhere, ut any
time, and to anybody.
He says the condition of affairs in
Louisiana is most deplorable. The
State administration maintains itself
by the force of the army and navy
only, and Is in no sense the choice OF
the people of the State. The Return
ing Board Of Louisiana is composed
wholly OF men whom he compares to
the most bitter partisans and the most
INSCRIPTIONS local politicians Of Spring
field or Chicago, and these are elnbit-
tered by the recollectionS of the war
and the events of reconstruction. There
should also he considered the fact that
il they should have made up a return
which failed to satisfy Kellogg and
Packard, to say nothing Of the Rcpub
lican leaders at Washington, their
lives would not have been safe in the
State. 1t appears that when the COM
fnittee of which he was y member ar
rived in New Orleans, it was the pun
pose of the local Republicans to throw
out only enough Democratic votes to
give the State to Hayes, and to elect
Packard Governor. For this purpose
it was requisite only to throw out
about 5000 to 1000 votes from the five
parishes which have been known as
the bulldozed parishes. But afterward
there was received dispatch purport-
ing at least to be from Chandler, at
Washington, directing that the vote
must be SO arranged as to count in a
majority of the Republican candidates
for Congress. In obedience to this dis
patch the throwing out process was en-
tended to seventeen parishes, so that
about Is 900 voters were disfrs,nchised.
But it is not to be understood that the
whole vote of the parish was in all
cases thrown out. On the contrary the
exact observance of the State law
the State law any voter of any parish
may vote at any poll in the precinct.
Taking advantage of this law, the ne
.roes who proposed to vote the Repub-
lican ticket were notified to vote ut the
central poll, or parish seat.
The cOnseq uence was that the CEN
trail poll showed a large Republican
majority, while all the Democrats,
white and black, voted at the outside
polls; thus, in the case of Ouachita and
other parishes, the vote of the central
poll was counted, and the votes of the
outside polls were thrown out. This
process was continued till the desired
result was reached. In relation to the
Pinkston story, lie says there is no
doubt great outrage was committed,
but there is not the slightest reason to
suppose that there was any political
motive for it. There was no opportunity
to discover the exact: facts of the case,
for the Returning Board insisted that
it was not their purpose to discover any
other than the political bearing of the
matter. AS to intimidation, he says
'here was no evidence showing that
there was any more intimidation ut
any poll in the State than there was APP
parent at the Second Ward polls in
this city on election day. He has been
invited to go to Washington, and also
to go back to New Orleans with tht.
Congressional Investigating Commit
tee, but has decidedly declined both i'll
vitations. He within n few days, make
IN address here, when his ideas will be
more fully expressed.
SUNDAY EVENING SUICIDE.