The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-23
Shall, LOUISIANA DE LIBERATED !

mt j few DAYS more and the Legisla
ture must adjourn. Upon Its action
nor depends the peace Of our aii'icteu
State. The people have borne the eviis
OF bad government until patience mas
ceased Go be virtue. They have been
onpressed and robbed and outraged
until there is nothing left OF Individual
right or political freedom. In 1872 anu
IN 1874. by peaceful means. they elected
honest officials, only TO see them eS
cluded by the Returning Board ana the
wrong enforced by the federal courts,
President, and military. They have
been patient and forbearing. hopeful
ever that the night OF their bondage
would soon wear away. After all OF the
outrares which disgrace the history Of
the Federal government since 1872 had
been inflicted, and after the browning
infamy Of expelling with federal troops
the peoples representatives, the
wheeler adjustment was accomplish
ed, and IL was pledged by the contract
inp parties that all the wrongs OF
which the people complained should be
| remedied.
In January. 1876, the Legislature be-
gan its session, and what has been
done2
Kellogg still names the supervisors OF
election. and the supervisors appoint
the election officials. The Returning
BOARD still exists, without a check upon
Its capricious or despotic powers.
A false census enumeration has been
made to base the calculations OF the
Returning Board, when Kellogg " 20
shall again assemble 1t to annul the
will OF the people, as expressed al
the polls.
We care not to ask what has been done
by the Legislature as long as the cleo
ton Returning Board law stands on the
Statute book. with 1t unrepealed. and
the peoples right Of election kept at the
mercy of the unscrupulo,is. periured
partisans who have composed the Kadi
cal Returning Boards OF the past three
wears, all hope Of peaceful deliveranc'
from our ills as people is dead.
In vain do we appeal to the courts
and Go the Federal government. In vair
may we expect reformation from keilogt
and his associate usurpers.
There is no peaceful remedy II ou
House Of Representatives refuses to re
move the guilty officials who have heap
cd all these wrongs upon the State. AM
vet there is determination In thu
hearts Of the people that they hav'
suffered long enough, and that they vii
be wronged and outraged no longer.
The people of Louisiana are peaceful
are law.abiding, and all that they asl
Il Justice. They demand the right Q
self government, and they have submit
ted to ,,surpers for the last time.
They demand an election law that vii
place their right to elect their officer
beyond question from any source.
With this they will be content. Ii TIL
demand be refused, then they deman'
that the House Of Representatives i'm
peach and remove the usurpers, an
place the power Of the State government
in hands that can be trusted.
And but few days Of the session n
main. After the third Of March It vii
be too late. The Speaker of the Hous
can be trusted for the faithful execution
Of the laws. Kellogg. Antoine and Ar
derson cannot be trusted for anythin
in this respect.
There is not day to be lost. We hop
that our representatives will comprt
bend the fearful situation in which
are placed as people, and will fe'
that the destiny OF our State Is In the
hands. They can strike the letters froi
the limbs of their fellow citizens, II tho
= will