The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-04-11
SOLITARY AND ALONE.

Of all the States which cast their
fortunes with the "Lost Cause" IN
1861, Louisiana is now the only one
in 1877 not restored to all her rights
in the renewed and blood cemented
Union. Without q companion, she
stands to- day alone as the represen-
tative of the consequences Of the
civil war, and to her only is denied
the sacred right of self-government
which is the corner stone Of Amerl-
can liberty. First one and then an
other of her sisters have shaken off
the shackles that bound them and
have re-entered the Union as free and
sovereign States, and now only on
her soil is federal interference in the
local affairs Of the States tolerated.
South Carolina is free at last and we
rejoice in her freedom. No tinge OF
envy mars our appreciation of her
good fortune. Whatever may be our
fate and whether or not we are equal
ly fortunate at this time in escaping
from carpet-bag rule, we heartily re
ioice that the "Plostrate State" has
at last eluded the clutches of her OPP
pressors. and is now entitled to hold
ND her head in the sisterhood of
States. If need be we can wait and
still continue to fight for the restora-
ton of our heritage, with all the
more vigor and determination, be-
cause we are battling alone, and with
undated confidence that in the end
the Justice of our cause must and will
ensure our triumph.
But we cannot see why the troops
should not be removed or taken from
Packards support as it has been
from Chamberlain's Mr.. Hayes
SAYS substantially in his inaugural
, address what President Grant had
already said, that federal interior
ence in State affairs was repugnant to
, and inconsistent with our form of
, government, and would no longer be
f tolerated by the people. This is an
abstract question and as such applies
as we'll to Louisiana as to South
Carolina and to Ohio and Massachu
: sets as well as to both of them
There is in this view of the case ne
question as to whether Nichols OF
t Packard is Governor of Louisiana
3 nor as to which was elected. Nor il
: it necessary to enquire into the logic
. of the argument, that if the vote o
J, Louisiana should have been counted
: for Hayes it should also be counte'
for Packard. 1t is not a question o
t votes at all, but simply of federal in
n reference in State affairs. We d.
l. not now, nor have we ever asked tn
e recognition of the Federal Govern
t. ment for Governor Nichols, but W
= have and do ask for a policy Of non
e interference. 1t is because of thi
l. that Hayes Commission was out c
e place, and a violation Of the spirit,
lie not of the very letter of his mat
e gural.
: We are, however, not afraid Of tn
!" fullest investigation Of the title {
l. the Nichols government as both q
~ tacto and de jure, and are and hay
'e been ready to prove its validity b'
fore any impartial tribunal tn:
T. would enquire as to the undispute
l. result at the ballot box, and not b.
le fore corrupt and partisan Return
IL ing Board. While Mr.. Hayes vii
= lates his pledge of non-interferent
Us by sending his Commission, he dot
ID not seem to have empowered the
O. to enquire into the question Of tt
IL election, and after long and caref
u study of Mr.. Evarts' letter of il
. structions we confess our inabilit
~ to understand for what they wei
" sent, unless it was to patch up con
. promise and relieve him of the who
IL business. This it will fail to accor
u plish and when they 60 back NJ
~ Hayes will be met with the nccessit
" of deciding the Louisiana question
,'' tie same shape as he found it on tt
" 9Th of March. With South Carolil
W ". now off of his. hands it is to be hop,
that he Will at once withdraw Il
-. troops from the support of Packa
''' and leave us to settle the matter
''o the two State Governments in 0
'. own way. No matter whether Pac
A'' ard withdraws as Chamberlain di
10 or not, the contest will be easil
.' ~, quickly and quietly settled by t
l." abandonment of what little suppc
no he has. 1t is the hope that Hay