The New York herald., 1877-01-17
Tn. Louisi.n. Dimeulty.


The uniform course of the HERALD in
supporting the just rights of the people OF
Louisiana gives it some title to their con-
fdence. We made vigorous opposition
to the dispersion of the Louis
lana Legislature by federal bayonets
in 1875, and did what we could to
raise and swell the cry of popular
indignation and send it far and
wide over the country. We have not been
inattentive to the rascalities of the infamous
Returning Board, and our correspondents
at New Orleans have contributed more than
all other sources together to diffuse correct
information respecting the injustice and
been the victim. In the recent complication
our Louisiana dispatches have set forth
the uncolored truth without fear or favor.
When President Grant declared his inten-
ton to stand neutral between Packard and
Nichols we gave him strong support and
cherished hope that he meant all he said.
We deplore the fact that he has forfeited his
word, belied his promises and thrown the
influence OF his great position on the side of
Packard, when strict neutrality seemed to
be his manifest duty. The people Of Louis
lana cannot doubt that we are their sincere
friends, and they must pardon us if we use
the privilege OF friendship to give them
good advice.
They will make o fatal mistake if the re-
cent provocations hurry them into acts of
violence. 1t is but a brief period which in
tervenes between this date and the 14th of
February, and whoever may then be de-
clared elected as President we are cofident
that their local troubles will come to
speedy end. Even if Mn Hayes should be
the next President they may expect de-
cided amelioration. Hayes will not be
bound by the bad precedents set
by Grant. He will be only too glad
to escape such thorn in his side as the
and he has sense enough and liberality
enough to see that he can escape constant
hot water only by leaving local affairs to
local control. But if, as the people of
Louisiana naturally hope, Mr. Tilden should
be the next President they will have a COM
pAcCc SuoIuuIcc uBhiASe uuy AuItHcA AAUOA-
meddling by the federal government. If
they wish to favor Mr.. Tildens chances
they must resolutely keep the peace.
A popular tmeMe by his friends in that
State would so infame partisan feeling in
the North that the republicans in Congress
would be emboldened to count in Hayes at
all hazards, and he would be prevented
from adopting the lenient policy to which
he would otherwise be prompted by his own
impulses and his desire for quiet admins
tration. If there should be a re-
bellion in Louisiana he would be
forced into position which he
would gladly avoid, and having entered on
course of hostility sense of consistency
would be likely to bind him as it has bound
his predecessor In every view it would be
fatal blunder for the people of Louisiana
to resort to violence in this trying conjunc-
ture. They have only to maintain order for
few short weeks to insure them exemp-
ton from further federal persecution. If
Tilden is declared elected their State will be
promptly redeemed. The Southern policy
OF Hayes will not be substantially different
from that of Tilden if he does not find q
Southern rebellion on his hands when he is
inducted into Office. We therefore entreat
the people of Louisiana, in their own inter-
est, to keep the peace for one brief month.