New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-20

and absurd would be the terms stated in
the quotation above. The disarmament
OF belligerents is by no means unusual in
history. One European power watching
another with jealous eyes will often de-
mand an explanation from its rival
for any casual increase of its mill
tary forces The failure to assign a
sufficient reason is held to justify cor
responding addition to the standing army
of the government receiving an unsatisfac
tory answer to its inquiry. When two
great powers stand in mutual suspicion
of each other, and each disclaiming any
intention to menace the other, they have
som etimes agreed to diminish the relative
capa city of each for military mischief by
m utual and equal disarmament.
1t has, however, been reserved for
Messrs. the Democratic plenipotentiaries
at Washington to offer the extraordinary
proposal to the President of the United
States that he shall not only ignore and
abdicate the sworn and constitutional
duty to guarantee the government of
Louisiana against domestic violence, but
withdraw the army of the guarantee and
leave the preservation of the public peace
to the standing army of the Democracy.
We call it standing army, because no
one who on Sunday last witnessed the
arms, munition and drill of the White
League soldiery on the march could have
distinguished it in either respect from
those of the United States. If the gov
eminent of the United States could not
withdraw the troops without in effect CO.
operating with the White League, and
leaving them in armed control and dom
inant in the State, it would constitute a
contract for domestic violence" The
promise of party which has profted by
assassination and intimidation would be
accepted as security for the safety of their
victims, whose lives have been for months
under the protection of the Federal flag.
The President could not in common hu-
mainly say to these people, snake the
best terms of submission you can. I
leave you to the mercy or the magnanim-
ity of those who make protection neces-
sary."
We will put this proposal of the pleni-
potentiaries plainly: A man armed to
take the life of an unarmed man finds the
latter protected by the magistracy and
the police force. The armed man requests
the magistracy to withdraw the exhibit
ton of protective force and leave him to
deal with his helpless antagonist. There
is no Arab or Modoc who would so disre-
gard the right of sanctuary as to listen to
such proposal. The Democracy, fear
ing the Federal troops, will not attack in
their presence. They ask to be let alone
in the exercise of their considerate fe-
rocity against those whom they deem less
able to fight for the spoils than them
selves. When the tyrants of the latter
empire wished to witness fight of gladia-
tors, there was always law to secure
some equality in the powers of the COM
batants. If the Federal government wishes
to see the question fought out by wage
of battle, it should either disarm both
sides or so reinforce the weaker as that
justice would have some sort of excuse for
the decision. With some such arrange
ment, if Louisiana is to be made the cock
pit Of the Union, and the two parties
equally well heeled and pitted with proper
skill, it may perhaps be as good as an
Electoral Commission.
In the disarmaments of Europe each
power is required to lay down a given
and equivalent force, nor is one power al
lowed to keep prepondetant ability
which shall excite the apprehension of
the other.
Suppose, then, as a preliminary to en-
tertaining any proposals for adjustment,
the President shall require the capitula-
ton of the Democratic standing army.
They should furnish their army rolls of
rank and file, turn in their ammunition
and army stores, pile their small arms,
park and spike their artillery. Suppose
the officers and privates be required to
give their parole not to take up arms
against the State of Louisiana as recog-
nized by the President, or against the
United States, This would constitute a
proper preliminary Of peace. Perhaps
the reader may think the Federal govern
ment has no right to demand such a
capitulation or impose such terms. The
constitution says mo State shall, with
out the consent of Congress, keep
troops or ships of war in time of peace.
If Mr. Nichols claims to administer a
State government, what right would he
have to keep the ''troops" which are or
ganized, armed and quartered ready to
assemble under arms at the toIling of q
bell or the service of an order2 If Mr.
Nichols represents State government he
could not keep these troops" without the
consent Of Congress; as he is not the rep
resentative of the State government him.
self then his troops" are in technical in
surrection against the State government,
and constitute the condition of "domes-
tic violence" which the Federal govern
ment is required, both by the Federal
constitution and laws, to suppress. Were