New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-28
NV Qe1EAbA lnl1l IloAF 9DsDAE DEdEBR u.s. 1919

NV Ms
staaeds On Tusaday in repl1ao EsssGIin!
terrogatory from Senator Howe, that the
sggound0of 3AfG mot from poGiii
tive information or facts, but from what
he has observed IN the past. The diff.
Guilty with the witness is he has mistaken
the results for the causes. Every politi.
cal riot in Loulsiana since the war has
been conducted by the Democrats against
the Republicans. In all, except those Of
Colfax and the fourteenth Of September,
the assailants escaped without loss. Re
publicans only were victims. Two Dem
ocrats were killed at Collar, and q many
in New Orleans in 1874, - Republicans.
But the ultimate results Of these troubles
have always been in favor of the Repub-
icans. The riot of 1865 haatened the
adoption of tho reconstruction measures,
including the amendments. Those of 1868
secured . Republican State government,
while greater or lesser losses have attend
ed the efforts of the Democrats to seize
the State government by force ever since.
Colonel Patton is not alone in his belief
that the Republicans have taken advan-
tage Of the strong predisposition for vio-
lenoe manifested by the average Louis.
lana Democrat to lead them into crime
that profit may result to them. The al
most invariable outcome Of the numerous
acts Of violating the State peace laws has
been the discontinue of the guilty parties,
and consequential gains to the side Of law
and order. 1t may be noted here that it
has always seemed an easy matter to pro-
woke the Democracy into hostiities. They
have generally kept standing army in
their rife clubs, White Camelia and White
League associations of armed and drilled
men, ready to respond at moments no.
lice to . call to attack unarmed Repub-
licans. The gentlemen who now erro-
neously attribute the inception of all the
guerrilla warfare which has been EN-.
ployed in political campaigns to tho Re-
publicans seem to forget that just such q
policy was threatened before the collapse
in 1885. '.is case the South should be con-
9uered." The riot account then stands
about thus: The Democrats have incurred
no loss of life nor gained any political adj
vantage BY their frequent resorts to vio-
ence. The Republicans have lost many
lives, but no political ground, by
he armed warfare that has been waged
against them.
Colonel Patton's theory of this matter,
md, as We remarked above, it is not ex-
his, is not very complimentary
70 either party in this State. It assumes
he Republicans to be cold calculators Of
'xpected gains from the acts Of bloodshed
md murder to which they appear to be
.ble to incite the Democrats whenever
he party interests require. On the other
land, suppose the Democrats to be
UGH egregious asses as to provide
With costly arms of pre-
ision, fixed ammunition, and 60 to the
rouble and expense of organization and
Irill, for no better reason than to turn out
nth whoop and bound to massacre a
ertain number of defenseless Republi-
ans, whenever the interests Of the Re.
ublican party require the blood of few
nartyrs for seed.
Whatever any gentleman may think
bout it, neither of the opposing political
arties have yet descended SO low as to
ut such figure. There is, doubtless,
nough of q fatal disposition in the Dem
cratic party to lead them into many ex-
esses, but it is incredible that they
hould ever have stood ready to burst !
orth as an armed band to serve the be- |
ests of the Republican leaders. Where
,ere oil the astute Democratic advisers
vhile the Republicans were thus using the
ank and file Of the party for cats paws
ust think of the abundant gush and SEN
ment that have been poured out upon
hat acute trick which the Republicans
layed on the fourteenth Of September,
874. Heretofore the credit (?) of that af-
air has been given to several parties, but
ever in terms to the Republicans. The
verage ward hummer has believed that
lis influence contributed no small share
0 the emeute; the petroleum paper pre-
erred constant claim to the honor; the
orators, who gushed gilded
reason at the Clay statue, fondly believed
heir eloquence brought out the armed
lans, while Rev. Mr.. Markham, with
be proverbial ignorance of the cloth in
his city, preached sermon to prove
hat God did it. 1t is certainly a novel |
to place all this credit at the
DOR of few Republicans. We may adj
nit that the general results of the riots
ave been more favorable to the Repub- |
cans than to the Democrats, but it is
living us rather too much credit to sup
ose We have been able at any time dur
ng all the troublous times to call forth
be armed hordes of the Democratic clubs
Or the purpose of making political capital.
MEXICO AS A SHOCKING EXAMPLE.
Endowed with native wealth and