The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-12-20
NOUS yERRoNs =

|
another opportunity to refer to the
subject Of one Of our articles last
week. The writer of the communi
cation misunderstands and misinter-
prets what we then said and advised,
and we might very well dismiss him
and the subject together with this
simple statement, if the subject it.
self were not worthy of another no
tice at our hands. We have compared
our article and the criticism of
''Nous Verrons'' and are unable to
attribute to the criticism more weight
than is due to gratuitous play upon
words or substitution of form for
substance. We have given it place
in our columns, because as public
journal its columns are open to the
public on all questions of public in
terest, but when the communication
opens with the charge that we edo
not reflect the sentiments of the peo-
pie of the Parish" we are bound to
take notice of the charge.
Now, let us see what we did ad-
wise, promising that the text from
which the article was written, was
furnished US by the address of Gov
ernor Nichols, published in the came
paper and alluded to in the article
Governor Nichols says: "Your good
sense, your judgment tells you that
the salvation of our State and the fl.
nal triumph of right and justice, rest
and depend upon allowing results to
be worked out by quiet legal me-
thods. The sole moving considers
ton with every citizen should be the
good of the State and perpetuation
Of Republican institutions. All &C
ton based on any other idea is un-
worthy of the occasion. Need re-
mind you that there are moments in
the history Of every people when the
highest courage and the most exalt-
ed devotion are the best exemplified
by anoble self control"
Taking the heading of our article
from this last sentence we said:-
"They have fairly elected their State
ticket by an undoubted and over
whelming majority, and together
with their brothers in the South and
their allies in the North, have chosen
a President in whose hands they felt
that their interests were safe. They
have seen a baud Of perjured conspi.
rators backed by the United States
army overcome that majority by cast
ing out their votes without excuse
and in fragrant violation of law, and
yet they are called upon to submit to
the outrage and seitAhoM their hand
that could crush the usurpers and
conspirstors at one blow and to let
the matter be tried in another way
and before another tribunal than that
of force" Lower down in the same
paragraph we say-"and (when) a
discreet dcquiesceace pro tempove is
likely to break our chains and loose
our cords, then patriotism and duty
both combine in requiring our sub
mission"
To "aeithhold' their hand how
long? "Pro tempore;;" in dead Ian.
guage and in italics expressly to call
attention to the time. Why with
hold their hand and submit even
temporarily to the fragrant outrage
which had just been committed "by
band of perjured conspirators back
ed by the United States army?'-|
Because, primarily, our lawful Gov
ernor, Nichols, appealed to" and
enlarged" US to do so-because re-
sistance to the United States army
would be futile unless we had first
exhausted all other remedies and
were not only supported but led by
the people of the North, the House of
Representatives of Congress and
President Tilden-because at this
time such resistance would over
shadow the frauds committed and as
Governor Nichols says-"thus di-
vert from themselves to you the at
tentlon of the country" Before
what other tribunal than that of force
were we to carry our cause? To
quote again from Gov. Nichols:
"the heart OF the American people
is now moving in your be-
half and in that of free government
and constitutional right"
Now, that is the position taken by
US, precisely similar to that Of Gov
ernor Nichols and, in fact, but mere.
ly paraphasing his very words and
When then "Nous