New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-05
WHY THEY OBJECT TO TROOPS.

Why is it the Democrats object t.
United States troops being sent into tn
South pending the political canvass ant
election:
This is question worthy of careful con
sideration, in order to ascertain the tru'
purposes of the Democrats in the cam
paign.
The object of United States troops il
those districts where outrages have beer
perpetrated, or where there are indica
tons there will be violations of the law
is to aid the United States civil authori
ties to enforce the United States laws, ant
to aid the State civil authorities, where
they are unable, alone, to enforce tht
State laws.
The use Of the United States troops car
have no bearing on elections, except to
assist in enforcing the laws bearing or
the elective franchise, where they have
been violated.
The history of the country shows there
have been organized in the rebel States
since reconstruction the Ku-Klux and
White Line organizations for the express
purpose Of intimidating the colored voters
and white Republicans, to prevent them
from voting the Republican ticket or
compelling them to vote the Democratic
ticket against their will.
The prosecutions against these organ
izations for violations of the criminal
laws of the United States bearing on the
elective franchise, and the conviction of
great numbers of them, who are now serv-
ing out their sentences in the peniten-
tiaries, show hey ond any cavil the exist
ence of these organizations and their
objects.
Every indication now exists that these
or similar organizations are now in exist
ence in these States and for similar pur-
poses to operate in the elections this fall.
With the examples Of former election
years from 1868 to the present time, and
with present indications, would it not be
criminal in the United States government
not to provide against similar occurrences
during the present canvass?
But the point We wish to come at is,
why do the Democrats oppose this timely
precaution on the part of the United
States? Does it deprive any man. whether
he be Democrat or Republican, or of any
other political creed, from voting accord
ing to his wish and judgment. Certainly
not, for the very object is to protect this
right to every voter. The presence of
the entire army of the United States in
Louisiana would not deprive any DEM
ocrat of voting just as he though best;
in fact, if he was under any restraint in
doing SO it would protect him in this right.
Why, then, we ask, should the Dem
ocrats oppose the sending Of United States
troops in this State, as they are deprived
IF no legal right by it? The answer is
obvious. 1t is this: Those United |
States troops, in aid Of the civil authori-
,ies Of the United States, will prevent the |
Democrats from exercising their Ku-Klux |
md White League outrages against the |
by which they would be in
undated and prevented from voting at
IL, or be compelled to vote the Democratic
icket. This is the true, and when it is
nalyzed, the only reason why opposition
$ made to United States troops being sent
nto the State.
The Democrats complain of govern
nent in Louisiana maintained by United
tates bayonets. This is separate thing.
t can not be pretended that bayonets are
sed to prevent Democrats from voting.
his is not the complaint. But they COM
lain that the United States troops pro-
ect the Republican State government
'hich the Returning Board has returned
lected, when they claim it did not re-
GIVE the majority of the votes at the cleo
ION, and not that any Democrat was pre-
ented from voting by the bayonet or
ne United States troops Such thing
unheard Of, and not even alleged by the
democrats.
Keep away the United States troops
nd the Democrats will do as they did in
the Republican party
} as to prevent them from voting in
ouisiana. In that year in some thirteen
arishes there was no Republican vote at
], and but little in any part Of the State;
lere were no United States troops then
jed in the State to enforce the laws and
fotect Republicans; in fact, the enforce
ent acts were not then in force.
All the Democrats want is to keep
way the United States troops, and they
N carry the State by terrorism, which
'esent appearances indicate they in
nd to do, even if the troops are sent
re for protection.