New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-17
THE END BBeINs.


The indications furnished by the de-
cision of the National Commission render
it probable that the electoral vote will be
awarded to the Republican candidate. 1t
is encouraging, though not strictly speak
ing decisive. We have to deal with
party whose leaders have proved them
selves utterly unscrupulous. 1t is neces-
sary to recapitulate their violation of
every compromise, from that of Missouri
to this of the National Commission. The
indications are now that if enough des-
peradoes can be drummed up to defeat
the probable award and bequeathe the
government to anarchy, it will be done.
We hope no such national conspiracy
can be formed, but in view of the
probable attempts to nullify the ap-
plication of the award to the
government of Louisiana, it may be
proper for Republicans here to consider
and prepare for any such outburst of dis
affection. A few days will determine
whether President Grant will sustain the
administration of Governor Packard. 1t
will be the duty of the Federal govern
ment to guarantee government repub-
lican in form in this State, and the pres
ent obstruction to oil lawful administra-
ton certainly does not comply with the
constitutional form. Not only does this
obstructive opposition to law hold armed
occupation of courts and offices which it
has assumed, but there is abundant evil
dence that the White Leaguers and Last
| Ditch leaders have determined not to
let go their hold upon office without a
violent and, perhaps, bloody struggle.
This purpose has been repeatedly an
nounced in the White League organs. 1t
has lately been commended that the De-
mocracy here has never submitted to the
decision of the State election as a conse-
| quence of the presidential contest. In
its issue of yesterday the Picdylne modi-
fies somewhat its previous intimation
that the Democracy here will not abide
by the decision of the commission. The
Democratic organ, however, persists in its
declaration that such q decision will not
be regarded as conclusive of our State cleo
ton. It assumes that ''the constitution
of the United States is dead, and argues
that
We of Louisiana are RENTED to the law
of elt-preservation-the first law of ma
ture-and it behOoves Us to prepare for the
enforcement of our rights by the most eff
feotive means which that law suggests
force. We have the power; let us use II.
If the fraud which has been attempted
upon the natiOa be attempted here, We be-
lieve the people of Louisiana will not hest
tate how to meet and overcome IT,
We have no comment to make on this
save as an indication of the violence to
be expected when the electoral decision
shall have been declared. For this Re
publicans and Conservatives should be
prepared. The last spasms of political
desperation may be, perhaps, fatal to in
dividuals. Assassination has been vindi
Gated by the Democratic party in the nu
merous cases within the few past years
The Nichols party is an organized insur
rection. There will be nothing more il
legal in the forcible attempt to continue
than to commence its existence.
The Republican party will then be calm
and firm. It will commit no act to ok
cuse this intended violence. To our owl
mind the attempt to combine the people
of Louisiana in resistance to the United
States will be in one respect failure, il
another success. 1t will present al
issue between the White. League and Con
sentative sentiment, and will terminals
that unnatural and ill-starred combination
Let the Republican administration
here and at Washington be prepared tt
offer to this Conservative and Union senti
ment of this State class of men AM
measures which will satisfy these inter
ests; that as Republican principles are tn
settled doctrine of the government thei
execution will be intrusted to none bu
men capable of giving honest and abb
effect to these principles.