The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-28
An EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.

The letter OF Antoine, just now acting
rs Governor of Louisiana, in reply to
[thareeent note OF Col. /. W. Patton,
Chairman OF the Democratie State Cen
trail Committee, Is significant paper.
1t is q matter of little consequence
whether this letter was the composition
Of Antoine himself, as it purports to be.
or OF the chiefs OF the party, as Is gen
orally believed 1t is very i'm
portant fact, however, that such a
document has been promulgated by the
head OF what claims to be and is recog-
nized by the President as the State gov
ernment of Louisiana.
We are entering upon political can
vass which Is to result in general
National and State election. Under the
extraordinary system organized in Lou
isiana by two successive Radical admin
istrations, the party which happens to
be- in power may conduct the election
so completely In it's own interests as to
entirely defeat the will Of the majority
Of the voters It is not only in the
power of the dominant party to
do this, but the dominant party
has, in every election which
has been held done it. In view of
this fact, Col. Patton, the chairman
OF the Democratic Central State Com
mittee, recently addressed a very cour-
teous note to Antoine, requesting him
to give the Democrats and Conserva-
tives representation in the appoint
ment OF clerks Of registration. 1t was in
reply to this note that the letter OF
Antoine, printed in all the city papers
Sunday morning, was reply. We shall
not in this article comment upon the
disgraceful manner in which, in this
letter, the Acting Governor evades
definite answer to request for
justice made to him on behalf OF fully
one-half the votes OF the State, and that
half representing nine-tenths OF the
intelligence, wealth and respectability
of the people OF Louisiana. The people
to such ss s treatmenf and they
astonished by it. In this respect the
letter is simply stererotyped piece OF
Radical insolence and injustice.
1t embraces, however, an entirely new
and startling feature; feature which,
seen in the light OF the Boutwell, report
and the Presidents recent order, as
sumes malignant aspect. The letter
in fact is little else than an official
announcement OF the Inauguration OF
the bloody-shirt campaign in Louisiana
and an Endorsement by the State gov
ernment OF all the bloody shirt lies
| which have been or may be told In the
next two months within the borders OF
this State. tits part and parcel OF the Ad-
ministration plan Of the canvass which Is
to be one Of perjury, violence, blood,
revolution and usurpation. The little
| negro whose name Is attached to the
letter. is an insignificant, ignorant and
stupid creature. But just now he Is at
the head of the government Of Louisi-
ana. and Campbell. Dibble & Co., re-
ceiying their instructions from Washing
ton. have used him and his position to
open the peculiar campaign OF their
party in this State. This letter Is the
signal for the work to begin. But we
think the programme may be checked
right where it Is by bold and Judicious
action. The letter says:
frankly say to you. as the representative OF
the Democratic party OF this state tnat, IA n,y
| oninion the principal obstacles now existing 70
a fair expression OF the will OF the peopie at tne
| next election consists in the system OF terror
ism which members OF your party, hoI ioa Ut in,ns M
able class have established. unreDuReo oy you.
in some OF the parishes Of the State. wnere D acK
men are nightly whipped and shot at Or eyrn
kiIled. where they are prevented from holding
politicaI meetings, and are deprived OF all free
dom Of political action.
This is a bold, open and official charge
that system Of terrorism prevails in this
State, organized by the whites against
the negros; that black men are nightly
,Uhipped, shot at tand euen killed, and that
they are prevented from holding politi-
cal meetings, and are deprived OF all
freedom of political action. Now
then, il this be true. 1t is disgrace te
the civilization of the age, and clearly
indicates that the white people OF Lou
isiana are brutal, ruffians and murder
era. or that we are cursed with State
government so corrupt, imbecile anc
weak. that it will not, or dare not, en-
force the law against the riotous anc
brutal elements OF our population. Or
, behalf of our citizens we demanc
, TO know the truth Of this matter We
demand that the authorities shall nov
take steps to ascertain the truth, thai
r the country may know, first, il Antoine
, and the leaders Of the Republican
party, through him, have, in makinf
these disgraceful charges. 30 prejudlcia
to our interests and good name, LIED
: second, If the white people OF Louisian'