The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-02
THANKSGIVING IN LOUISIANA.


Governor Nichols has thought it wise and
prudent to issue his proclamation fixing a
day in the near future to be set apart as a
day of thanksgiving and prayer and public
worship for the deliverance of the people
of Louisiana from bayonet rule. The docu-
ment reads as follows:
| Whereas, The political troubles which have
| weighed upon the people of the state of Lou
| isiana for past years have under the merciful
dispensation of the providence of God been
| brought to a happy end and
/ Whereas, 1t is meet that at the hour of their
/ delIverance and union the people should re-
/ turn thanks for dangers passed and seek
| strength to fulfill the promises held out by the
dawning OF an suspicious future; therefore
| j, Francis L. Nichols, governor of the state
| of Louisiana, do issue this, my proclamation,
| fixing Thursday, the 10th day of May, a day
/ OF than ksgivihg and prayer, and do invite all
| the good people of this state on said day to alb
stain from their several avocations, and to re-
sort TO their several places OF public worship,
| there 20 offer up their hearts in thanksgiving
/ to that divine and merctful Providence who
| has voUchsafed 10 guide them to a haven of
peace and union, and to ask at His hands for
| the future the blessings of His divine guild
ance, so that all the people of the state, forget
/ ting past dissensions and bitterness, may
unite In fulfillment of a common and happy
| destiny.
Evidently Governor Nichols has acted
wisely in this matter. The resurrection of
Louisiana from the dead is an historical
event Of the greatest Importance and signifi-
canoe. and we are glad to know that the peo
pie OF that state feel thankful, and are singing
with all the lung power they can command:
''SOund the loud timbrel DER Lake Poncher-
train;
| Nichols has triumphed and Packard is
slain"
But we hold that Louisiana is
not the only state that feels thankful and
devout over the downfall of radicalism in
the south, and the whole country could with
eminent propriety join in the Thanksgiving
movement. 1t will doubtless be borne in
mind by the Louisiana worshippers that the
Almighty works by instrumentalities in
controlling the affairs of the world,
whether it be in the way of blessings or
punishments. In the case of relieving
Louisiana and the south of carpetbag rule,
it is manfestly true that the chosen instru-
mentality was the democratic party. Public
sentiment was first to be aroused. This the
democratic party accomplished, and
under the influences which il created
one by one the southern states
have been semancipated from the internal
despotisn-of carpetbaggers and Hayonets,
and grander work was never achieved.
When Grant was overthrowing state govern
ments with bayonets and ordering federal
troops to stand guard while carpet-baggers
perpetrated frauds, the democratic party was
everywhere at work convincing the
people that his policy was a crime, and in
November the American people, by ma
jority Of more than quarter of a million,
said the democratic party was right Evil
IDENTIFY the voice of the people was the veice
of God. The fat of Jehovah went forth.
and to-day the south Stands redeemed, re-
generated, disenthralled by the irresistible"
power of public sentiment created by the
democratic party. III matters not that
Hayes, who was the standard-bea of the
party that made the ''bloody shirt" its battle
flag, was compelled to command the re-
moval of the troops, for had he been paw
ing stone instead Of a presidential fraud the
Almighty would have made him issue
the order. The <eath of carpetbagism
an the south is national blessing and
therefore all the people may with propriety
jSin the Inhabitants OF Louisiana on the 10th
of Hay in giving thanks. Governor Will
liams may not deem it necessary to issue
proclamation; nevertheless there are thous- |
ands and tens of thousands of the people |
OF Indiana who will not be unmindful of |
Louisiana on the 10th day of May. 5l