The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-03
A PEOPLE WHO WANT PEACE.

A PEOPLE WHO WANT PEACE.
On the first OF March President Grant
telegraphed Packard In substance that,
public opinion would no longer support
the maintenance OF the State Govern
ment In Louisiana by the use OF the
military and that he must concur in
that manifest feeling. The troops"
continued the dispatch, "will hereafter,
as In the past. protect life and property
from mob violence, when the State au.
thorities fail but during the remaining
days Of my official life, they will not be
used to establish or to pull down either
claimant for the control Of the State"
For ten years the people OF Louisiana
had only heard from the scat OF Federal
authority the language OF insult and
military command. Their protests
against wrong and oppression were not
even accorded hearing, though every
falsehood and Islander which tho malig-
nant ingenuity OF carpet-bag politicians
could invent to their detriment was 40.
cepted by the President as gospel truth,
and they were looked upon and treated
az traitors, rebels and brutal ruffians.
Had there been among the white people
OF Louisiana that spirit OF brutal intol-
eranoo Of Northern men, or that savage
hatred OF white Republicans, and that
murderous luminosity toward the ne
groes with which they have been cred
tied by the Administration and large
majority OF the Northern people, not
only would the carpet baggers have been
long since swept beyond the borders
OF the State or OF existence. but
our very civilization would have been
exterminated, and our towns, and cities,
and plantations. converted into jungles
and swamps. All that the reckless and
malevolent power OF the Federal Govern
ment could do in the last eight years to
impoverish and Africanize Louisiana;
all that carpet.bag corruption and
rapacity could do to outlaw, plum
der and drive out Of It's bor-
ders, the white people Of the State
has been done. II New Orleans to-day
is not dead city with the grass grow
ing In It's streets and the owls building
their nests In the steeples of It's temples
and the roofs OF its storehouses and
dwellings: II the cultivated districts Of
this State are not overgrown with the
wilderness or reoonverted into swamps,
It Is not because Gen. Grants admins
tration, and the wicked rule it upheld,
did not pursue the most efficient
methods to produce such results. What
of civilization, wealth and prosperity
are left In the State have been preserved
and maintained. In spite Of the Federal
power and the villains it encouraged
and protected, by the courage, energy,
fortitude and forbearance of the very
classes OF our people who have for ten
years been denounced as ruflans and
assassins; as unchristian dogs. virulent
and half savage rebels.
We think 1t would be wise and just on
the part of President Hayes to recognize
this luminous fact. and consider, in his |
present dealing with the Louisiana ques-
ton, the cause Of 1t. Perhaps no people
have ever longed with greater eagerness
Tor peace and the reign Of law and JUS
tice in their midst than have the great |
mass Of the white people Of Louisiana |
during the past ten years. II Mr.. Hayes |
will examine the policy Of his predeces-
sor toward this State he will be sur
prised and amazed at the patience the |
planters, property-holders, merchants,
and, in fact, all classes Of |
our white population have displayed |
Turing that calamitous period. He |
would find that the carpet bag
gers and negro politicians, under
The protection Of the army, had
robbed them and de-
stroyed their trade and Industries: that
negro rioters, i1stigated by emissaries of
The ADMINISTRATOR party, had threat
ened their lives and property and the
chastity OF their women; thatthey were
deprived Of every right Of
American citizens; that the one right /
they enjoyed was that which they en- |