The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-16
Saturday. February 1878
The Louisiana Trials.

The Missouri Republican says it is evil
dent that the prosecution of the Louisiana
returning board at New Orleans is max
ing profound impression on the admins
tration. It even betrays symptoms of
alarm. No other event that has occurred
since the 4th of March last has given it SO
much uneasiness. 1t smiled at Senator
Blaine's attacks; it was serene under Sen
ator Conkling's undisguised hostility; it
made no sign when Chambers letter was
published; it exhibited no concern when
the indications Of an anti administration
leaguesin the Republican party multiplied:
it showed no interest in the prosecution of
Smalls, Patterson and other South Caro-
lima Republicans. But when the Louisi-
ana returning board are brought to reck-
oning, then it loses all its Indifference and
gives signs of real alarm. Why is this 2
The danger is so great that Mr.. Sherman
aud Mr.. Hayes both feel called on to write
letters. Secretary Sherman's letter be-
trays strange loss Of self possession; it is
vindictive, insolent and defamatory; and it
is said that the one written by Mr.. Hayes
to the attorney general is full Of menace
to the authorities that are conducting the
trials at New Orleans. What is the ex-
PLANTATION of this remarkable exhibition of
feeling on the part Of an administration
that never showed feeling before2 Why
should Secretary Sherman make haste to
assure Anderson of his sympathy, when
he sshowed no gsuch concern about the
South Carolina Republicans? Why did
the cabinet in its meeting held few days
ago to consider the trials at New Orleans
lose its self-control and break out into VIC
lent denunciations of what they call the
breach of faith by the Louisiana authori
ties? Is there, then, Notwithstanding all
deuials, something in the history of the
Louisiana returning board that Secretary
Sherman has peculiar reasons for desiring
shall never be brought to light2
1t may be that it would have been better
that these trials had never commenced.
But that is the business Of the Louisiana
authorities, 1t is a violation Of the GRIM
inal laws of that state that is being inquired
into, and we do not see that the cabinet at
W ashington have any right OF Interior
ence in the matter The conrts and juries
of Louisiana have authority to try
their criminals precisely as the courts and
iuries of Ohio have authority to try theirs,
and even if they institute some prosecu-
tons that had better be left uninstituted
it is nobody's business outside the state
We are told that the Louisiana authorities
gave pledges not to prosecute the return
ing board, and that the administration and
the republican party have a right to resist
this violation of tho compact. Is it true,
then, that there is a community of interest
between the administration and the Louis
lana returning board2 Did the returning
board really render an unlawful service in
1876, for which the administration propose
to protect it now2
1t will be we'll for Mr.. Hayes to rehec
carefully before be intermediates, or per
mits his attorney general to intermeddl'
in these trials. No intermeddler in tn
Louisiana question has ever come out un
scathed. The returning board trials ha
better be left alone by the cabinet. The
may reveal facts which will do the admin
istration no credit; but that must b
borne, 1t is impossible that presider
who came into Office as Mr.. Hayes did ca
wholly escape the consequences of thu
suspicious installation. No amount
virtuous intentions he may entertai
now can exempt his title from exsmini
ton, and when that examination Begin
the wisest thing he can do is to let it 90 OF