The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-09

Democrat for the City nre NIe,srs. II. III
BAKER and r. q. DEvEZIN.
THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMISSION.
In pursuing the object OF their visit to
this city, the Presidents Commission.
ers, II they have the welfare Of this State
ut heart, will, as speedily as possible,
complete their labors and make their
report. ....
We have faith In the sincerity OF Mr..
Hayes, and understand the grave en-
barrassments which surround him In
carrying out his sacred pledge to re-es-
tablish local self-government in South
Carolina and Louisiana. This faith in
the President, and this knowledge OF
the difficulties Of his position, have
made our people quiet. patient and con-
siderate. But the gentlemen composing
the Commission must bear In mind that
Louisiana exists, as 1t were. in state OF
suspended animation; that our mer-
chants are without trade: that our me-
ehanics are idle; that the pillow stands
In the furrow that the business OF the
courts Is hampered: that the vigor OF
the law is enfeebled, and that capital
has crept into It's vaults. In short, that
community of eight hundred thou
sand people, impoverished. disconnected
and waveriDg upon the verge Of anarchy
and civil strife are awaiting the conclu-
sion OF their business and the adoption
ofthe measures of relief which are sup
posed to depend upon their report.
The commissioners are men Of sense
and large experience In public affairs,
and they must realize very wildly the
dangers Of such situation. and conse-
quently the responsibility that rests
upon them to act promptly, to the
end that government possessing the
confidence of the people and which is
capable Of maintaining civil order, may
be established and recognized in this
State.
II the Commission shall prolong their
labors by going over the ground
dozen Congressional committees have
covered; or, by taking evidence, to try
the indictment that the perjurers and
robbers, through whom the Federal
Government has for four years misgov-
erned this State, have drawn up against
this people; or IL they shall vex and dis
heartena community whom their dila-
toryness is costing hundreds OF thou
sands of dollars daily, by discussing
puerile questions Of law, as though they |
were trying vagabond for pocket |
picking, or thief for horsestealing,
they need mo-. be astounded Ii 1t be found |
difficult, or, indeed, impossible, to pre-
vent some outbreaks Of temper on the |
part Of the!populace.
Federal interference in our State af- |
Eairs to sustain and protect in authority |
as consummate band OF rascals as |
ever disgraced mankind. has already |
cost the. people OF Louisiana several |
hundreds of millions Of dollars; and |
with the remotest probability Of
such rule being continued over them, or
OF q demand being made upon them to |
enter into any sort Of bargain or COM
promise with or recognition Of the ras-
Gals who have robbed, disgraced and
Inundated them, their temper is grow
ing threatening and their patience Is ra-
pidly wasting away: and neither Gov.
Nichols influence. or that Of any other
OF their leaders, will be able to preserve
she status quo until the President shall
have made his arrangements for the or
ganization and control Of the House OF
Representatives when the extra session
Convenes.
We have no purpose OF threatening the
Commission. On the contrary, we enter
tain for them and their mission. If we
really understand it, the greatest con-
sideration and respect. But men with
out work and with empty stomachs
men who see their property going to
wreck and their business to ruin, will
not reason reason carefully nor wait pa
tiently or long. We say these things
because we think the commissioners
ought to understand the condition and
tenper of the people whose interests
they seem to have in hand, that they
may act intelligently.
By acting with great promptness; by
rising superior to legal quibbling and
making report to the President, based
upon the broadcast principles Of public
policy and inspired by the spirit Of the
highest justice, the members OF this
commission may speed the restoration Il
u peace and good government in this Z