The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-05
THE CaITSE.


sion of an attack upon the people of
Louisiana. white upon those Of Cou-
shatta, especially, it empties its vessels
Of abuse. We can say, very sincerely,
that we deplore this act OF violence, and
condemn without measure its perpe-
traitor Twitchell is bad man; per
haps one Of the worst in the State; he
Is a perjurer, a swipdler, and thief.
He has lorded it over the people Of Red
River with high and lawless hand He
has robbed them abused them oppress-
ed them. and he attempted to organize
"A negro war against them. 1t is strange
that some hand did not strike him down
long ago. Yet his power Of evil has
been broken there was no good IT, be
accomplished, and much harm. by kill
ing him. and the act ut this time wears
too much the semblance Of lawless ven
geancc to be tolerated. His death
would have been no loss to the State.
and by it disgrace TO humanity would
have been destroyed. But there Is moth
ing to excuse the act at this time, and it
amounts to an attempt at assassination
which, if possible, should be punished.
But let us fix the responsibility where it
belongs Every act of violence which is
perpetratcd in this State is maliciously
attributed by the Republican to the
Democrats or Conservatives, and it has
advertised us all over the country as
community Of law breakers aud assas-
! sins. to the great damage OF all our
1 interests.
| It cannot be denied that murder has
become an every day affair in this State,
and we freely admit that, in number
of instances. Radicals have been killed
| in political affrays by their opponents
The law may not have the right to con
slider the social and political conditions
which have led to these killings
but public men and public journals
cannot ignore them. The fact that vio-
lence and murder are become common
occurrences in an enlightened and
Christian country implies that some
deep and terrible evil pervades society,
eneryates the administration Of the law,
and debauches public sentiment. As
public journalists. il is not our province
to vent our Indignation at special crimes,
nor are excited comments upon the
probable effect, particular acts OF
violence. may have upon the Northern
mind, calculated in the least to ronedy
the matter. The question arises what
is the general and all pervading evil,
and what is the remedy? The solution
Of this question can alone give us relief.
Eight years Of such government rs we
have had in this State would uuloose
the bad passions Of human nature any
where. and leave violence and murder
to riot ut large. For eight years the
State has been in the absolute power OF
band Of political plunderers; the
judiciary has been weak and infamo ously
corrupt; the parish officials have been
thieves or swindlers men convicted OF
robbery, 1--WE are prepared to mention
several instances) have been pardoned
before reaching the penitentiary,
and subsequently appointed or
elected t. some important Of
fee: Kellogg has pardoned
murderers. robbers. house burners and
pcrjurers by the wholesale. The law
officers in the country-cowards, ignora-
muses. and rogues--have never had the
confidence Of the people and have used
no diligence in arresting offenders or in
preserving the peace. La New Orleans
it js well known that the police, or at
least their heads. are the confederates
Of bunko thieves, assassns and rob
bers, and that they afford no protection
to the community; and finally. bribery,
robbery. embezzlement, have been ram
pant in all the departments of the
government. We regard the preya
lence Of violence in the State
under these circumstances as en-
tirely natural Indeed, we do not see
how it could not be prevalent we are
astonished sometimes that there is not
more Of it. For this condition Of things
we are indebted solely to the Radical
party and this condition OF things will
continue until all men, who are inter
ested in the welfare of the State, who
are Jealous of its good name, and who
really desire the reign Of law and order.
shall exert their influence to overthrow
the Radical party, and elect honorable
and capable men to all the places Of
authority and public trust.
This is the one remedy, and it is need
less for this or that paper to shrek over
this or that murder; and it is utterly
useless for people to abuse the Cou
shatta community, or any other commu
nifty. The evil which provokes these
murders pervades our whole political
system: and il we wish to check mur-
der, we must unite and make an effort |
to destroy the evil which encourages it,