Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-17
louisiana .

cinnati Enquirer telegraphed the Democrat
that the election Of Tiden depended upon
Louisiana. The dispatch concluded as follows :
The Northern democracy pray that you will
GOT permit US to be counted out.
Lator dispatches show ttat it is universally
believed in the North that this State il to de.
termino the great issue. and that the eyes Of
the whole American people are fixed with be
most intense inieres. apoD the little spot of
ground which has for eight years been plum
dered uDder the shallow of the American flag
by the KolIoegs and Packards, and the bosom
OF whose fields has been tramped into sterl-
ty b7 the armed heel of the soldiers of the
Republic, marching frem parish TO parish to
arrest and dragouade our free citizens in the
interests of the puodcrers.
The position OF Lou!saua to-day is grandly
dramatic. Her situation presents theme for
the uoklest epic that las set been written.
With tho shackles Of eight years CT cruel
slavery just dropping frcm her imbs with the
rags of her poverty still cingios about her,
the fate of the Republic hangs upon her utter
snce 10 this crisis, aud the great democratic
party, the millions Of men who long for reform
md the preservation Of trcs Institutions. with
clssped hands pray to ber to Save tho ccuary.
Few peoples have before, in the history of the
world, occupied a position 50 trying and yet so
sublime. We doubt it Ia the history of the
world there has ever been so striking and so
splendid an example OF poetic retrbutiop.
In 1872 the democratic and conservative peo-
PIC of Louisiana, trusting 10 the guarantees of
Of the Constitution and in the good faith of the
American people, went into the national oap-
vasS and carried their State election and elect
ed fell State government by over five thous.
aud majority. The Presidential election was
determined by the great maj orlty OF the other
States, and the result io Lousiara affected
only the property, commercial and Industrial
interests OF her own people. The party 10
power stepped 10, nullltie9 the will Of the peo.
Pile, and with the power Of the army and navy
Installed over US usurpaton the most lawless
aud Infamous that ever cursed the earth. The
country vas startled at the audacity and mag.
Uitude OF the crime. Louisiaraus were iudg-
nant but trusting in the generosity of their
countrymen, and the love of the American
people for constitutional liberty, they struck 90
blow, but made their appeal to the people and
10 the Congress for redress. How was their
appeal answered? How was their protest
against this great national crime met Literal
ly with deriSion and contempt. Helpless be-
tore the armed power of the Government. pow
eress before the hate Of the North and West,
they submitted as best they could to the out
rage. Under the law Of tho State another
election was held in 1874 for State officers.
After ten years of peace; after they had SO
patiently toroe contumely, robbery and op.
preston at the hands Of wretches protected
mere by the general government, the people
Of Louisiana felt that the vengeance of the North
was appcased and that they would be protected
10 their constitutional rights end against
crime similar to that oflS72. They went iu,o the
eiectiou hopefully, resolved to do their best to
emancipate their State through the peace
iu aud constitutional medium Of tie bal
lot box. Again they carried the State by over
five thousand majority. What was the result2
The crime Of 1872 with aggravated insult, was
repeated. 1t Is needless to recite that dark,
shameful, Infamous story, in which the names
ofGrant Sheridan, Kellogg and Packard figure
50 dsgracefu!ly, and 10 which the American
hag and the American arms wero wrapped in a
cloud of dishonor and cowardice.
From one end of the Republic to the other
cry of indignation went up. In New York,
Boston and Philadelphia monster ruass meet
lags were held to denounce the outrage upon
the constitutional rights Of Louisiana by the
President. Bat each speaker wound up his
eloquent arraignment of the illust,ious crimi.
nas, aud each journalist wound up lis editorial
With tho admopiton to the people of Louisiana
that. if in the borders of that State hostile
band were lifted to strike at the perpetrators
Of the cutrcges, the whole North and West, to
map, would rise UP TO ioin the criminals and
crush the State forever under the heel OF
Grant.
Senty, patiently aud mourulully we sub.
m!ttet. Almost hopeIessy We saw that the
IL, MI NIL IN % n n
under tho protection of the American tag, aud
that all that was left us was the spirit aud the
heart to curse with bitter, burning curses, the
scoundrels whose heels were on our necks and
lu our balls.
Again the election for President came on.
Strange to say, the people of Louisiana rallied
Tor the struggle. ln every neghborhood with
10 her borders her chiefs rallied her people,
and her people came forth to make one more
effort for the preservation of their constitu.
tlooal existeGce. Twice had they WOO the VIC.
tory, and twice 10 presence ofthe whole kepub.
lio had il been wrestcd from them at the point
OF toe bayonet and their State given over to
thslr bittere,t enemies and most ruthless pluC.
larers. But reared 10 love of liberty, and
realizing that every vital interest Of the COM
monweath was at stake, they went into the
campaign and have again carried the State by
at least six thousand majority.
Aud now it seems that the Northern people
ee that the determination Of the Presidential
election depends upon tho protection OF the
people of Louisiana in the exercise Oft heir con
s,ituIonal rights as we'll as the people OF Ne"
York or Indiana The Northcro democracy
now appeal to the people Of Louisiana almost
prayertully TO maintain what they have constl
tuuoDaly gained at the ballot box ct any anc
every hazard. Had they made this appeal to
US and stood ty US 10 1872 and 10 1874, there
would be no danger to the Republic now bad
they stood by Louisiana in 1872 and lS74,When
only the interests OF poor, down troddeno,
crushed, ruined Louisiana were threatened,
their owo liberties would not now haog on the
weak arm Of one little crushed, but, thank God,
heroic State.
The awful but sublime idea ofpexcrable tate
controlling tbs acuons of mee. and even OF The