, 1877-01-20
The Louisiana Fraud.
rFrom Harper'. Meekly. !

election Is so dOubllui llaL the uu'S
of the committee Of the two Houses
of Congress to provide harmonious
method Of declaring it is most i'm
reraliye. The republican leaders 10
Congress Gust not misappreheGd the
sentiments of The country. The action
of the returning boards in Louisiana
and Florida has undoubtedly covered
the declared vote Of those States With
suspicion. The republican party has
certainly not gained strength since
the election, and il the action in those
States should be followed By the ex-
ercise of doubtful powers by the Sen
ate, We do cot arprehend any violence,
but the leaders in such a coarse would
be responsible for tie total overthrow
Of the party. They declare that no
misfortune could be so great as demo
cratic control Of the administration /;
but they have made that control here
after absolutely certain. Those who
believe with us that democratic sue
cess Would mean the practical suSpen-
sion Of the colored vote in every
Southern State, as il is now virtually
extinguiShed by the white democracy
in Georgia, that il would be the tn
umph Of the least American and least
intelligent and patriotic sentiment in
oar politics, and that power OF the
patronage would give the democratic
party a hold upon the country which
could not be shaken OF for an indet-
mite period, must also feel with rs
that nothing would so certainly secure
that control as the Inauguration Of a
republican President under 2 c.ord Of
suspicion.
We hope that the report Of the
Congressional committees from FlUri.
ia and Louisiana may show thai there
is substantially no question left. But
we can hardly expect it. 1t will not
he enough to show intimidation.
Democratic intimidation in Georgia
is absolute. But is tie vote Of Georgia
TO be questioned Moreover, the
whole subject of intimidation should
be carefully considered by republicans,
1t cannot be doubted-tor it is not
only essentially probable, but it is
proved 10y eXperience-that the ne
groes have been often cruelty Oppress
in the States where they have been
freed. There is no more reasonable
doubt that they have been 50 than
that the Bulgarian Christians were
oppressed by The Turks. But there is
something else which is often forgot
ten by republicans. II is that selfish
politicians, without the least sympathy
for the negroes, would not hesitate 10
turn this oppression to their own ad-
vantage. OF this we have 70 more
doubt than OF the suffering of the ne
groes Look, for instance, at the re
publican brief laid before the Congress
SIonal committee in Louisiana. Il af-
firms that the republican vote was
abridged by conspiracy and violence,
bY murder, massacre, Gnl aSSaSsina.
don, and that IN certain sections Of the
| State this condition OF terror prevail
Cd ''ior period Of more than twelve
months prior TO the State election, y
and that the effect OF the outragrS
was not confined 10 the parishes in
which they occarrea, but spread 10
great distances III surrounding coun>
ties. The same violence, according 10
the author of the brief, but in another
publication, overpoYered the local re-
turning officers, and this was The rea-
son that the entire power of returning
the vote OF the State was given by the
present law TO the State byaId. Now
here, according to this republican
declaration, in a State with rerubli
can majority of voters, and with re-
publican administration, there has
been in many sections total anarchy.
There Is no claim that the republican
Governor has made vigorous eXertions
TO keep order, either by the State au-
thority and force, or, if those were IN
adequate, by an appeal to the United
States executive. What is ;he inev-
liable conclusion ? 1t is that the an
archy was found TO be politically ser>
vlceabIe.
1t Is this very lawlessness and crime
which it was Governor kellogg's duly
10 suppress at all cost, aud, il be were
unable 10 do ii, 10 ask aid of The Pres
ident, which is nov urged as reason
for throwing out ju>t enough demo.
cratic votes 10 pun IN the republican
electors. Before that can be approv-
ed, II must be shown that every proper
step, State and national, was taken 10
keep the peace, and then The question
vii! be, not OF The validity of The vote
Of 4 few parishes, bur of the whole
State. The twenty second joint rale
was adopted 10 authorize the throwing
out OF the possible votes of States in
rebellion. lis principle would cover
;he case Of State in condition of
anarchy like that described in the
brlet. Republicans must also remem
Der that the proceedings of the board
were open Ia question, if nothing
more. 1t was ,heir duty to I'LL a
democratic vacancy. This became the
more morally imperative because it
was plain that the result of the cleo
ton might depend upon their action,
and because the decisions OF the board
had been previously criticised and dis
approved by q republican Congress-
Ioual committee. Bat after formal
attempt 10 elect q democrat, The boa5d
abandoned it, and III strictly secret
session threw out just the number OF
democratic votes necessary to effect
I ba ela.riaD pt Tho ra,.r bii.,,.,