The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-28
MAaNANIMl1Y IN VICTORY.

MAIN AAfMsAA kH sNSsuhts
The final triumph of right and justice
In this State is 50 near at hand, the
opinion of pessimists and cfoakers to the
contrary Notwithstanding. that Ii is not
too early to speculate upon the effect
whiuh that triumph viii have tpott
the relations between people released
from thraldem and those who 90 recent
.ly lorded II ever them. For many years
past Louisiana has been infested by as
ruthless band of plunderefs az ever
disgraeed civilization or thwarted the
benevolent purposes OF Providence. In
turbulence and cynical contempt for the
laws Of humanity, their historical pro.
tetypes, the Roman prescensuls who
were sent forth to fatten upon the sub
stance OF conquered provinces, were az
much inferior to them as mere violence
and robbery are lesser evils than grad
ual confseation and slow torture. They
carried the art Of spoliation and subju.
cation TO the highest pitch OF perfec-
tion, and watched with tiendish glee
the contortions Of their victims, Truly,
they were masters OF their art, and will
receive from history the palm Of gu
premaey In their infamous calling.
Wrong and injustice have been prac-
tieed since the world began, but those
who perpetrated them have not often
sought to cloak their acts In the garb OF
patriotism and humanity. Tyranny is
no new thing, but the tyrants OF other
times and other lands have boldly
ayowed the arbitrary character OF their
rule and not resorted to Hypocrisy
''the respect which vice pays to virtue"
to conceal their purposes. nor pro-
fessed Intentions which their every act
belied. II was reserved for the latter
half of the nineteenth century to pro-
duce breed of parasites upon the body
polite who, with o pretended regard
for the interests of their victims,
which was bitter mockery. and
with professions Of affection, which
were an insult, have ever since their
pernicious advent drunk the blood
Of the people and grown sleek and fat
world furnish no parallel to the Lousi-
ana carpet Dagger, and we shall never
| look upon his like again. But his glory
has departed; his doom Is sealed by the
triumph Of law and justice, and now
| the question arises: "What shall we
do with him ?"
The experience Of the world has
shown that, as none command 30 well
as those who have learned to obey, 30
none are SO mereiful as these who have
suffered. How poignant have been the
physical sufferings and privations, the
humiliations and mental torture OF the
people of this State, all chargeable to
the carpet.baggers who have made OF
them the sport Of their malignity and
the udder of their cupidity, the whole
country well knows: but 1t remains for
us to confound the calumnies and re-
flute the ISLANDERS which have been
heaped upon us In the past,
by exhibiting magnanimity In
the hour OF victory equal In
degree to the brutality with which we
have been treated. And we intend to
do 1t. We know that we reflect the SEN
timents and purposes OF the white peo-
pie OF this State when we declare that
great as have been their crimes against
our liberties and our dearest rights, no
harm shall befall the arpet-baggers
who may remain in this State and pur
sue an honest livelihood. The Nichols
government is based upon the votes
and the will of the law-abidine
and peace-loving citizens Of Louisi
ana. Its constituents will demand that
it enforce with the utmost rigor and i'm
partiality the laws enacted fer the pro
lection Of all citizens alike, native o,
adopted, colored or white. We canno
afford to, and will not tolerate, any vic
lation OF personal or property rights
and we shall be as jealous Of the civi
and political privileges of our late. op
pressors as of eur own. No govern
ment worthy OF support would for
moment make any discrimination in tn
| enforcement of the laws, based upol