The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-30

| v.
upon whom rests the responsibility for
this disgraceful and barbarious condl.
tion OF things ? Antoine and his party
chiefs have preferred the charges. and
they have also very clearly Axed the
responsibility where 1t belongs.
The reader will observe that Antoine
says that this "system OF terrorism"
ect., has been established not by the
most numerous and the most rssrecta-
BILE class Of the Democratic-Co Conserva-
tive party. This is simply a concession
that a reign OF terrorism, Ia which
negroes are whipped, and shot, and
killed, has been established In Louist-
ana by the wicked AMI lawless ele-
ments OF the population. The Act
ing Governor distinctly exonerates
the larger and better class OF our people
from all completely In these terrible
deeds, and charges them upon the
vicious. riotous and lawless minority Of
the population. Now We resume 1t
will not be disputed tha there is
vicious, evil disposed anil riotous ele-
ment in every population, ,en In those
of New York. Vermont, En- Gland and
France. We fully concede that such
class exists In our population as it does
in those OF all enlightened or other CON-
munities.
The control and restraint OF the
vicious propensities OF this element Is
one Of the most important duties Of
government In every country. Where
there Is u vigorous administration OF the
laws, this bad elem ent Is kept in bounds;
its propensities for lawlessness and
murder are restrained by the terrors Of
the law, and II they occasionally break
out, the hand OF the government Is
promptly stretched forth for the protec-
tion of society; the law breakers are
arrested, tried before the courts, and, II
found guilty, punished.
Is this the case in Louisiana? Have
we q government here which promptly
arrests the rioter, the murderer and the
disturbcr Of the peace? Have we q
State government which protects So
ciety and Is the shield OF every mans
life and property? The head OF the
government we live under tells as that
we have not; he tells us that under his
Illustration the iawless elements Ut
the Population, though small portion
OF the whole, have become dominant;
that they have overridden the laws
and the lawabiding people; that
they have established q reign OF
terrorism; that they nightly whip.
shoot and kill peaceable citizens who
happen to be black; that these ele-
ments have become so active, bold and
powerful TN Ter his administration that
all freedon Of political action has been
destroyed.
All this , clearly confessed by An
tome In his .etter to Col. Patton, and SO
far as it COZ esses imbecility on the part
OF the Radical State administration, 1t
IS true, literally true. But IL it not
q little startling that the Act
ting Governor Of Louisiana makes this
confession OF the impotency OF his ad-
In letter In which he
refuses to accord the Democratic Con-
servative party, which is laboring to
establish reform State government,
under which the laws will be enforced,
and all classes protected, any represen-
tation In the appointment Of the
officials who are to conduct the
registration and election? Is it not q
little startling, in short, that this con-
fession is made in letter which is de-
signed to indicate to the people of the
State that the head and managers Of
ibis corrupt, imbeeile, rotten and infa-
nous administration are determined to
prolong its existence, even by violence,
Il necessary?
We have never perused so malignant.
and at the same time so puerile and
abJect State paper, as this letter Of
Antoine to Col. Patton. To sum up it's
substance in few words, 1t is q confess
sion that the government, OF whom H..
author is now the head, is so rotton and
mbecile that 1t dares not lift its arm to
protect the weak from the violence Of
he wicked, and declaration that it Is
he purpose Of those who constitute
hat government to prolong their power
1y swindling, violence and falsehOod.
-.
We owe special amends to the memory
II Dick Turpin for having compared
lin to Packard in the head lines OF the