The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-15
A nENErlCENr REVOLUTION.


really amount to u civil and political
revolution. But happily revolution
which Ia calculated To establish reign
Of Inv, and peace, and contcntmcpt.
where We have had high handed lawlcss-
moss. civil commotion aud rancorous
discomfort.
The Republican party inaugurntcd n
revolution in tho passage Of the En-
forccment net and it's other reconstruc-
ton measures Designed to establish n
mopgrcl despotism OF arms. and lgno-
rance and cupidity. over n large section
of tho Union, and in this evil work they
enlisted tho maevoont passions Of tho
North; tho eager services OF hiroling
alIco holders. and all the bad aud liz.
norant elements OF the Southern popu-
lation. Ten years from now men will
read of tho efforts Of tho Grants. the
Mortons, tho Blainos, tho Conklings,
and all their followers TO establish tho
despotism OF carpet Imagery and scala
waggery over tho Christian civilization
of the South. with wonder, horror and
disgust. Tho Republican revolution.
however. has failed. IT. was unphilo-
sophical. Il WAS tho organization Of
malevolence. cowardico and cupidity.
not OF wisdom, Or OF hatred OF
wrong. or OF purpose to promote
tho happiness Of mankind All tho
great and bud men OF tho world, leading
tho worst elements of society. ana back
cd by formidable armies. could not per
nanently establish tho order OF things
tho Republican party attempted to
establish In tho South tho dominance
OF tho ignorant. scrvilo and venal olo-
mcnts over the intelligent. thinking and
progressive classes or the community,
and 80 tho Republican revolution proved
failure. Tho Southern people resisted
IL until tho American people began to
realize the magnitude Of tho crime that
movement lost its vgor and force and
dcgenerated into spiteful puorie
struggle.
BY It's recent decisions In tho cases
referred TO, tho Supreme Court inaugu-
rated u counter resolution. wise, philo-
sophie and just. because II reassorts
and re- establishes tho soundest prinoi-
ple OF tho Constitution. and eliminates
from our governmental system vicious
and disturbing legislation. Says tho
Court
Tho equality Of the rights of ctizona Ia a
principle Of ropublicansm. Every republican
government IL In duty bound to protect all Its
eiti5cna in tho enjoyment Of this principle II
hat Hn anyaI n q
stuned tv he States, and IL stM remains there.
Tho only obligation resting on tho United
S'atea IL 10 that tho States do not deny tho
right This tho amendment guarantees. but no
more. The power of the National Government
Is limited 10 The enforcement Of this guarantee
This language recognizes tho real
authority OF the States and fixes tho
limits of tho power Of Federal interior
enco in their domestic affairs. The
Constitutional Amendments have not
conferred upon any ono tho right OF suf-
frage. but have only forbidden tho
States to abridgo It by Determinations
on account OF race. color. or previous
condition Of sorvitude. The duty OF
protecting tho citizen In his rights was
originally assumed by tho States. and,
says tho Court, it still remains thero.
Wo know Of no State that has refused
to perform this duty wo know of none
which proposes to decline IT, The Log
stature Of Louisiana, in particular, upon
this matter Is ample. Neither Mr. Nor
ton nor Mr.. Blaine can examine tho
statutes OF Louisiana and conscen-
tiously affirm that the State has neglect.
cd to provide all the necessary laws
to protect its colored citizens in all their
civil and political rights. Tho State,
then, having fulfilled Its whole duty in
tho matter Of protecting tho equality OF
tho rights OF its citizens, and the power
and duty of tho Federal Government |
being limited to tho guarantee that the
States shall provide for this protection.
there IL no cause and therefore mo au-
thority for Federal interference In the
political affairs OF Louisiana
The troubles in this State did not /
originate in any effort to discriminate
against tho negroes, or to deprive them
Of any OF their rights; nor has there
ever been hostility. here to the Constitu-
tional Amendments as they stand Tho
hostility has been to the illegal and OPP
pressivo acts perpetuated by Federal
officials under tho authority Of an in
famous law, said to be based upon those
but which, as the Su.
preme Court has determined, Is not in
accordance with them. Tho En-
forcement Act was never designed
to protect the negroes; It's purpose was
TO accomplish just what 1t did accom-
plish a bitter hostility between whites
and blacks. and condition Of turbu-
lcnco in tho South which would furnish
\ pretext for constant lawless Federal
In our politics. 1t was
measure OF persecution aimed against
.he whites, and it provoked resistance
to the vigor and malig-
nancy with which it was enforced.
II was designed to appeal to
he race prejudices. insolence
md cowardice OF the negroes, and it
aroused them. 1t Is not strange, there
ore, that under the Enforcement act
We have had disturbed state OF society;
hat there has been bitterness between
he prosecuted whites and the insolent
md overboaring blacks; that there has
been in some localities u sort OF smoth-