National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-15

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Editor National Republican

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That which every American citizen chcrishes
as the most sacred of all privileges is the right
to deposit his ballot for the man or set Of men
Of his choice, to make and execute the laws by
which he Is to be governed When an emf
grant from foreign country first lands upon
the shores Of this American continent he
makes haste to avail himself Of this most sa-
cred and time. honored privilege. 1t is a safe.
guard and treasure which belongs to the poor
as well as the rich man-to the colored as well
as the white man. 1t is a shield placed in the
hands of every American citizen, by the use
Of which he may protect his person and prop
ertv.
But when that right Is trampled under
foot, and bartered away by clique or COM
bination of political tricksters, rs in the case
of the Matthews Burke gire array we stand
amazed, and wonder what next! The most
humble citizen can plainly see the fraud. II
Nichols can proclaim himself dictator Of tho
State of Loui siana, and remove legally-clccted
Republican ofiice-holders by threats and bull
doing, and organize illegal tribunals Of per.
iurcd jurors to convict loyal citizens before Il
Judge who is himself deiaulting criminal !;
we say If Nichols can do all this unmolcstrd,
and defy the interference Of abe Executive
authority, the ballot.box Is a farce and cheat.
Now, Mr.. Editor, one of two things Is GER
tain: The State of Louisiana has no legal
State government or the United States has no
legal President. But, believing as we do
that the State at present is controlled by a
mob, then every loyal citizen who is de-
privod of his liberty by that mob should claim
damages for false Imprisonment, and the Gen
| cral Government should sustain him. Sir we
| say the strong arm Of the law should protect
all the citizens of the United States who, by
the use of the ballot, are placed in power.
But this is geographical problem. If the
| capital of Louisiana was transferred to De.
troit, Mich, instead of being in New Orleans
| this man, Nichols, and his sleuth hounds
would not dare ignore the laws and imprison
innocent men whose only crime is that of be.
ing loyal Republicans
| Now we are told there was q bargain, and
| the result Of the ballot and returning board
are wholly ignored.
| When the history of this Government fol
| the last twelve months shall be placed on
record the pages upon which IL shall be printed
should be torn out and consigned to the flames
| that future generations may never know the
i degradation and seethng corruption that per
meates all through our present national sys
ten.
| Were the many noble lives that were 81
freely given for the preservation of the Union
during the rebellion vainly thrown away
We are almost led to believe that such Is the
case. Whep five or six men can secretly meet
and barter away the result Of war of iOul
years, and the dearest bought victory that evcl
perched on the banners Of any nation on tn,
globe, is it not time for the people to look afie
| their libertiesH and think for Il moment wha
must be the feelings of that soldier who ye
lives to feel the panps of disease contracted IL
the army, and yet BIO compelled to see the re
suits of the war dissipatcd and the ballot 81
basely dcbauchedr IL. b.