The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-08
COMPTON, ISE.

n washington speoial 10 inc lHmes
nays that "the President has requested
q committee Of gentlemen of his own
party TO 60 to Louisiana, and examine
into the real condition of things there
and report to him."
.Vice President Wheeler and Judge
Matthews" continues the special, will
70 as soon as possible"
For several years past Louisiana has
been overwhelmed with Congressional
committees Of Inv estigati on, and swarms
OF visiting statesmen, whose mission
was ito examine into and report upon
the condition of things here" Our
eight hundred thousand people, In
dioted, one-half for fraud and perjury,
and the other half for violence and in
timidation, have been for months on
trial. Vast numbers Of witnesses have
been examined, ponderous volumes of
reports published, innum cradle
speeches made, and millions of articles
written In this great and 'extraordin airy
case; and yet the country Is little
nearer clear and unanimous judgment
than II was at the beginning.
The fact Is, the indictment Is too
great one to be tried by any human
tribunal, and we venture to say that,
never before In the history OF mankind
did human arrogance and folly attempt
10 try and Judge such an issue by the TAX
ing Of testimony and the argument OF
counsel. Tt was reserved for the Ameri-
can government to perpetrate this cruel
nbsurdity, and for the American people
tn play jurors In the atrocious farce.
What additional light can Mr.. Wheeler
and Judge Matthews throw upon this
issue2 A hundred thousand wit.
nesses on the Democratic side and
d hundred thousand on the Republican
aide are ready to testify in the case.
The Congressional committees and the
visiting statesmen have examined a few
OF these and their testimony covers
several thousand printed pages. How
many more Of them will Messrs.
Wheeler and. Matthews examine? And,
when they. are through. who Is to
examine the remainder2 And when
these two hundred thousand witnesses
have all been examined who Is to analyze
the evidence and pronounce upon it?
How far indeed isthis miserable business
70 be carried? And are the public and
private interests Of this people; the
property OF this State and the estab.
lishment OF law and justice within
these borders, to wait until this
extraordinary process of settlement
shall be finished e.. Such an idea is pre-
posterous. Whysnot, then. stop this
investigating business right where 1t is?
The issue cannot be determined on evil
dence and argument as though 1t were
q trial for forgery or burglary. The
question Is not one to be settled by law
yers, judges and juries. Its one which
involves the destinies Of a people, and
must. be determined by arms or settled
by craftsmanship.
The question for the Administration
to determine is not whether or not the
Democrats practiced intimidation in the
election, nor whether or not the Radicals
stuffed ballot boxes and cheated in the
count. The real question to be decided
now, is, what policy will establish
in the State, a recognized, vigorous and
efficient government, which can en-
force the laws, protect life, liberty and
property, and establish good will be-
tween the two races? II the in
terposition Of the army to en-
force Packard upon the people
will accomplish these beneflcent results,
Pr dent Hayes ought to adopt and
out the Southern policy of his
Z Sssor. IL the adoption Of gen.
u t@eral and civilized policy, under
he people will be left free to
ofsf eir own government and sup
ora Nvernment they choose, will
Che these results. President
net