Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-12

But In other respects there is q differ f,
nc &. Under the laws of Louisiana
he Returning Board canvass and de-
clare the result of the vote for Presiden-
tial Electors and members OF the legis-
iature tu canvass the vote for Cover
nor. The latter has not been legally |
done for the reason that there has not
been a legal Legislature 10 do il. |
There are two bodies claiming to be the
Legislature; but neither has a legal
quorum. This question might very
well be referred to the courts but for
the fact that the muddle has produced
two sets of courts, and there is conse
quently no impartial tribunal recogniz-
ed by the people of the State TO pass
upon the matter. Ii the courts should
act, the decision would be recognized
only by their own side, so thet the
muddIe would remain. Furthermore,
il is TO be said that the Packard govern
\ ment, representing as it does ninety
. per cent. colored and ten per cent.
white, could not be sustained without
the aid of United States troops, while
the Nichols government representing
ninety per cent. white and ten per cent.
colored, Is able to take care of itself.
In other words, the brain and wealth
of the State, in the main, support the
e Nichols government, while Packard
: has nearly su the colored and few
: white people on his side. He has
Justice also, as measured by votes, on
:. mis- side. This is the situation after ten
years of strife, since the close OF the
i war. The question now is how to gel
n out of the difficulty without doing in
= justice or seeming TO do injustice to the
b meL who have led the Republican
n party in that State. This is really the
:, only question. As to the future OF the
Republican party in louisiana upon
the present basis, it is not worth con
: Isidering. With ninety per cent. white
land ten per cent. colored arrayeo
a against ninety per cent. cOlored ant
70 ten per cent. white, it is plain to set
what the outcome will be. This j:
what ten years of the late rule ma
al brought the party to in Louisiana
ts The time has come, therefore, for {
10 change; for the adoption of anothe
method for the attainment of what th'
Republican party has always aimed at
g viz: equal rights and equal protection
IF for all classes and colors. This has no
q thus far been attained in the Southern
Ie States, and the National Adninistra
4. tion has before it the alternative @
al home rule or absolute military govern
i. ment, or, in other words, martial law
,r President Hayes policy means hom
d rule, ard through it the breaking of tn,
q colored line. If by this means peac
n and good will and the protection of al
1s classes in their rights can esecured, D.
]. patriotic citizen should hesitate t
lrn tsnrSnn-1 conriHaAS IN hrit1n
J. about. 1t will require such sacrifice
D. on both sides to settle the Louisian
ii difficulty, and such g settlement wouli
put the white people Of that State t
the test. 1t would put them upOl
8. deprive the National Government G
,t none of its rights to enforce the Consti
ne tuition and the laws passed in pursu
ID ance thereof.
be- Having full confidence in the hon
n esty, wisdom and patriotism of Presi
" dent Hayes, we feel it to be duty t
" encourage and sustain him in his effort
h. to allay sectional strife and to cause al
e. the people to feel that the flag is thei
4. flag; that they are citizens of a commo
ne country, and that peace, Justice an
A. prosperity should be- the aim of tn
ut citizens of every State, however the.
r. may be politically divided.
We do not share the fears of man
that President Hayes will desert thos
who have heretofore acted with tn
Republican party at the South, or tha
y =. he will neglect the colored race. Their
u. ~ is no danger OF that. 1t will
~ his constant aim to secure them in al
y. " their rights and to advance them in tn
q. scale OF intelligence and prosperity
u =, He proposes to try new method, an
- those who desire TO know what ths
~ method is have only TO read again hi
VI inaugural address and observe his AZ
. tiou since he has been President.-Cir
g cinnati Gazette.