New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-10-05

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points as can easily he verified. We
have confined this statement to facts
of such public notoriety that they may
be confirmed or contradicted by ade-
quate testimony. The salient points
are
l. That a ward meeting of white
and colored Republicans was held in
the town of Natchitoches for the or
ganization of ward club. That
at this meeting there were neither
threats nor acts of violence against
any one.
2. That on the same day Demo-
cratic convention assembled in the
same town, and that after its adjourn
ment more than two hundred armed
men surrounded the house of Blunt,
captured him under promise of per-
sonal safety, and subsequently, or
dered him to quit the parish, the
State, and the United States, and
that he was compelled to comply with
the edict of exile.
We respectfully ask the Governor
to compare these allegations with his
published pledges of 1876 and 1877.
We deem it incumbent on him to
inquire:
l. Whether there has been
Any attempted persecution from any
quarter of individuals for past political
conduct?
2. Whether the laws have been
enforced
Rigidly and impartially, to the end that
violence and crime shall be suppressed
and promptly punished, and peace and
order prevail, and that the humblest
laborer on the soil of Louisiana, through
out every parish in the State, of either
color, shall receive full and equal protec-
ton of the laws in person, property,
political rights and privileges.
8. Whether the personal and of
fetal pledge of his excellency has
been redeemed, that the compact
of April 10, 1877, will be as the con-
viction of the people, practically
executed by them through their
representatives, their courts and
their executive government and
whether in compliance with the pub
lished and specific pledges made by
his excellency on his own behalf and
that of the people, the alleged
violence will require that the Gov
ernor shall proceed in person
where any disorders may menace the
public peace or political rights of any
citizen?"
1t may be said by our opponents
it may be thought by the Governor
that we seek some party advantage
in thus persistently keeping his
personal and official pledges before
the country. We desire first of all
things the protection of all the
citizens of this State. Its in
dustrial existence, in our opin-
ion, depends upon justice and
kindness to its inhab' tants. We
wish, as the only means of
effecting this object, to separate the
White League, and sectional De-
mocracy, from their alliance with the
conservative property holders and
men Of business. We know the
Governor is a Conservative, not a
White Lacquer or BulldoOzer. We
know this because he beat the White
Leaguers and BulldoOzers in conven-
ton. We look to Governor Nichols
70 stand up to his pledges, because
we know that he will rally around
him all the conservative and law
abiding elements in the city and
State. We run no risk in assuring
him in this, the support of the Re-
publicans, because they have already
pledged themselves to the support of
any anti-White League Democratic
candidates, and would esteem them
selves safe in making good any such
issue as his excellency may make on
this subject.
Governor Nichols has insensibly
moved into the position lately occu-
pied by Presidents Grant and Hayes.
He has taken off their hands the en-
forcement of the laws, not only OF
the Union, but Of the State. He has
incurred this responsibility and en-
tered into a contract to maintain
the peace and protect the rights OF
all citizens. If he should say this is
impossible, it will be replied that he
must have known this difficulty
when he bound himself by an honor
able pledge to do so. His duty is
plainly to go in person to such places
as Natchitoches, to see that ofIenses
are inquired into. If his White
League constituents will not make
good his pledges on their behalf, he
has shown that his militia are brave