The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-21
MARSHAL pITKIN'S WAR AND THE
LUMBEKMEN.

itary. Strange and startling stories are
told OF his deeds both In the Federal
and Confederate armies during the
great civil war. Indeed. the DEMOCRAT
has itself recorded some OF this valiant
soldiers achievements. The nation
ought not, therefore, to be surprised at
the attitude ho has assumed toward the
lumbermen OF Caloasieu. The Marshal
has evidently studied the policy OF tho
French rulers. Threatened with official
decapitation and expulsion from the
Custom House. with the President NOV
ing on his front. and Col. Jack Wharton
with his Spitz dog on his rear, the re-
doubtable Marshal with Napoleonic
courage, sagacity and dash. has organ
lied war on the Calcasieu lumbermen.
Possibly this movement upon the
ragged and laborious woodsmen Of the
pine lands OF Western Louisiana may
diver. the attention OF the President
from the grave matter OF the distribu-
tion Of the patronage OF the New Or
leans Custom House and direct II to the
awful and terrific movements OF Mar
shall Pitkin on Lake Charles and the
Caleasieu river. and thus save the lat
ter's official head.
The refractory lumbermen referred to,
IL seems, have cut q considerable num-
Der Of pine trees on public land In Gal
casieu parish without permission or the
right to do 30. The pine timber OF the
region enoroached upon Is, compared
with the number Of people there, inex-
haustible. and though II furnishes the
hardy and industrious lumbermen u
livelihood, 1t 10 OF no earthly value to the
govern ment. But great men like Pitkin
only require an excuse for making war.
The avocations OF peaceful life are
not copgenial to the temper OF minds
OF their heroic mould; the ordinary
drudgery OF official life IL too low to 90
cupy their mighty intellects, and 30, "
soap, Which fathers ,oeil, be plentiful
and cheap, they lose no opportunity to
let loose the dogs Of war or to imperil
the last drop OF the blood OF the blasted
fools who will espouse their quarrel.
We understand the Marshal has en-
listed quite large number Of Pack
ards Metropolitans with whom to move
upon the lumbermen, and that the late
defenders of the st. Louis Hotel are
jubilant at the prospect OF campaign
against q few poor devils who, to sup
port themselves and families, have cut
few worthless pine logs on govern
ment land. The Metropolitans indeed
expect an easy victory and large
stock Of glory.
We don't care much about the Metro
politans. Indeed, IL we are bound to
have war with the lumbermen. we
don't know any class Of men New Or
leans could better afford to sacrifice In
such q campaign than the Metropoli-
tans. But II we were a Metropolitan,
we would demand to know II the gallant
Marshal was going to lead the expedition
himself. The plain truth is, the lumber.
men are not the boys to be fooled with.
A dozen Of them In cypress swamp or
o pine woods, can hold their position
against six times their own number.
They are peculiar race Of men their
business and habits have made them a
distinct race--they are hardy, accus-
toned to habits OF Incredible frugality;
they are lawless. courageous and reck-
less, and, as q general thing. would
about as leave as not fight posse conf
tat,,s. and when they do 80 they gener-
ally get the best Of It. II Pitkin and
his Metropolitan bummers actually
move on the Calcasieu lumbermen. they
will find their hands full Of business be-
fore they get through with their job;
some OF them will never get back; and
Pitkin will, before he sees town again,
wish that he had given up his Office to
Jack Wharton.
The logs are Of no value to the gov.
eminent, while they represent great
deal Of hard work on the part Of the
choppers. and their pillage represents
not one hundredth part as much ras-
cality as Pitkin. the Metropolitans and
the Customs officials generally have
been engaged in In this State for years.
Upon the whole, we are for the Turks
against the Russians, and the lumber
men against Pitkin and his ragamufflns;
and though we can't Ia prudence bet on
the Turks. we will bet odds that II
Soapsuds Pitkin leads the Metropoli-
tans against the lumbermen he gets
whipped out Of the woods and out Of
his boots.
SOUTHWARK TIE MARCH OF emil
GRAFTON TAKES ITS COURSE.
A colony Is In process OF organization
-, tu - t.