New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-10
THE DUTY OF THE 00vERBMENT TO PRO
TECT LOYAL CITIZENS.

THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PRO.
TECT LOYAL CITIZENS.
Are all citizens to be allowed to exer.
else the same privileges in Louisiana, and
to be protected in doing so?
We believe there has been no material
political disturbance in the parish Of
Ouachita since reconstruction until within
the last two weeks
That parish has shown Republican
majority at every election since 1868,
ranging from eight hundred to one thou
sand. No one doubts but that there is
this clear Republican majority there now.
There has not been, so far as we have
heard, any armed political organizations
in that parish until recently, say since
June, 1876; certainly never at any time
an armed Republican organization.
About the ninth of June, 1876, and
since that time, there has been organized
in that parish two or more armed political
| Democratic clubs Some Of their arms
were shipped up in cases to the chairman
| of the Democratic parish committee, and
distributed to the Democratic military
club.
The distribution of the arms was made
about Saturday or Sunday before the as
sassination Of Dinkgrave, which took
place on the Wednesday following, and
about the day the Republican barbecue, six
miles below Monroe, was disturbed by
Democratic roughs, and day or so be-
fore the alleged shooting into the houses
of Garrett and Faux, when these armed
Democratic clubs were called on and
patroled the parish for several nights, be-
sides large number of armed men from
the adjoining parishes, numbering several
hundred, also appeared in the parish and
rode over and through it on the day sue
eeeding Dinkgrave's assassination.
1t is confidently asserted, and is no
doubt the fact, that not single colored
man, much less companies of them, was
found with arms in any part Of the parish,
nor did they do anything to excite any
suspicion that they meditated any harm
of any kind against any person. The re-
ports to the contrary are the slimest fabri-
cations; so that, so far, no negroes have
been killed, and the Democrats take great
credit to themselves for extreme forbear-
ance and compassion on the negroes for
not killing any of them under such cir
cumstances.
Now, suppose the Republicans, ma
jority Of whom are colored, had acted
just as the Democrats have done-frst, in
getting up political clubs and arming
them; second, disturbing a Democratic
barbecue by their roughs; third, charging
the Democrats with shooting into their
houses; fourth, assassinating one of the
leading Democrats; and finally, by send
ing their armed clubs, with large numbers
from adjoining parishes, to patrol night
and day all over the parish. What would
have been done by the Democratic Would
they have fled from their houses into the
woods and hiding places to avoid the con-
templated violence, as the Republicans
have done? No; they would have taken
up arms, and the consequence would
have been q civil war. Yet we see that if
were to do as the Democrats
would have done, the cry of negro insur-
rection would have been raised all over
the land. and civil war would have been
the consequence.
The Democrats, composed almost ex-
clusively of x-Confederates, do not con-
cede the same rights to the Republicans,
a large majority Of whom are colored, as
they assume to exercise themselves.
They assume the privilege of supervising
the private and public conduct of the Re-
publicans, and if it does not comport
with their prejudices or interests, they as
sumo to control it by force.
This is the greatest outrage that can be
on American citizens, who,
under the constitution and laws are emit
tied to equal civil, political and public
rights, and calls for the prompt action of
the government to suppress it, particu-
larly when it is done to defeat the ines
Unable right Of free suffrage.
The Federal government has been re-
miss in its duty to the old loyal as well |
Is newly enfranchised people of the |
South since the war, in permitting the
sx-rebels to domineer over them and de-
orive them of their dearest rights and act
;oward them as though they were con-
1uered rebels. |
A greater anomaly in government, per-
laps, was never presented than what ex-
SITS in the Southern States. In conse-
luence of the lenity exercised toward
hose ex-rebels in restoring them to their
.ivil and political rights, they have been
placed in condition to control most of
he State governments, having majority
n them; and in those States where they
,ave not majority, by the exercise of
'iolence, such as Ku-Kluxism, they have
educed the loyal element to almost
condition of vassalage, and they are pro-
cribed and prosecuted in all possible
Ways, just as though they had been con-
luered during the rebellion. In other
words, the conquered assume to be the
'onqrerors, and in every way possible
the men loyal to the Union
turing the war. Was ever such an an