The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-03-03
The Attitude of Louisiana.
IN q. DrluOcrat.t

tional Capital aud the tone of the
Eastern press very Clearly indicatc
that the Democratic party has ex-
haustcd it's methods of resistance to
the fraudulent counting ont Of Gov.
Tildeu, and that it is prepared to
praceahly acqnie>cc in the inangn-
ration of Gov. Hayes. The party,
as now organized, will be inevitably
disrupted, and its prestige for the
present is utterly destroyed. This is
what we anticip"t IT vi 9 T., rrpesent
ed in the person of Mr. Hewitt, it
stood tinlorous and submissive be
fore the threatening Republican, as if,
like Strrne's ass, it We're saying
"Don't thrash me--but if you will
you may"
There has never been a more dis
graceful overthrow than thnt which
the national Democratic party has
met with. The greatness Of its for
tunes ; the mighty trusts it held the
| magnitude OF the lsslles it represent
cd its noble Isi>tor, aud heroic coin
tests, only serve to show the pltltul-
ness of its fall, and the coward'cc
which paralyztd it's arm in the sn-
prrmc hour of its destiny.
The recent election was clear and
emphatic Reputation of the Rrpnb
lican party 10y the American people ::
the election of 1'iIdcn was, as We have
said before in these columcs, the
eraude~t civil victory ever worn over
advancing centraliSm. Ent the par
ly which won it was not cqna! to TIE
greatness of its fortunes. The mo-
nent the leaders OF the defeated par
ty began threatening to maintain
their power by. force, the leaders of
tne triumphant party began to p'atc
of the necessity Of peace and of deter
mining the controversy by Il nnw
e,cction. The hiil creating the Flee
tora| commission WAS a cowarl|y sub
! tc,fuye of the triumphant party to
cya.ic the responsibility OF maintain
ing its victory, the supremacy of the
constitution, and the well settled
usagcs of the Government. And
finally, when the Commission, which
the Democrats created themselves, by
it's bold and arbitrary rulings rever-
sed the result of the election, WITH
out leadership or courage, they liter.
ally abandoned the struggle and sub
mitted to the lrand.
The South must now look to her
own interests. Louisiana has NJ
longer any tie that binds her destin-
les to Tire fortunes of the National
Democracy. The party has abdicoied
the powcr she u"d the other Southern
tStutes eieuted hcr to. Abdicatcd it
not lis Dioclttiau or Charles Y. alb
Dictated their imperial thrones not
in the day of power, when there wer"
no great duties to desert but in the
face of danger in the manner of Il
coward; aye, it skunk out of power
to escape the responsibility of main
tanning the great cause that was III
its hands. From such II party Luu
isiana has nothing to expect.
The Republican party upon the
other hand holds the government By
lawless means, except in SO far as the
folly of the Democrats lcgalized it;
lawlessness through the electoral bill
Mr.. Hayes will hold the presidency
by fraud his Administration will
be tainted to the end with fraud. Blu
if we were forced to choose between
d government whose title was baset
in fraud, and one inspired by COW
ardice, We should choose the former
Cheat and beneticcnt policies have
sometimes been established by gov
ernmcnts based on force, bnt we know
of no great or benetcrnt thing tina
has ever emanated from c"Wardcc il
government, though that govern
mtnt were fortified by constitutions
legitimate SUGGESTIONS and undlspu
ted majorities ofthe people.
If then Gov. Hayes shall be made
President through fraud, though Gov
Tiden was fairly elected, and tn
government, based in fraud, sha|
adopt a wise and liberal policy to
ward tho Sonth, recognizing tn
Hampton government in South Caro-
lima and the Nichols government
Louisiana, in view OF the t,m'dlty
cowardce and want of leadership dis
played by the Democratic party "
are not prepared to say that the re
suit will be unsatisfactory or nntor
tupate to this section OF the unl't
f Had Gov. Tilden been made Pres
ideut, the Southern States would,
the nature Of things, have bee" 'de'
tilted with the National Democrat
party and it, policy. With its wea
and timorous spirit, displayed in tt,
great crisis of it's destiny, and large!
: holding the prejndices of all N"rt'
ern people against the rebel South
it would never, We fear, have dare
Il ID give us the legislation our RUNE
"a fASxlon requires !; it would not ha,
;, ,SS'ltd to peril its own fortunes III II
4 .fhH,rthern States by giving US i'll al
: preparation for the Mississippi 'evee
: ooff'fot tic Texas and Pacific Ra'lroa
aid it's Branches, OF for any OF OF