The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-11-27
THE GOVERNORS MISSION,

THE GOVERNORS MISSION,
Gov. Nichols left the city n few days ago
for the purpose of visiting those parishes In
| the State against the citizens Of which the
| Republican press and leaders just now nfe
| making charges Of fraud violence, intimida-
| ton and murder during the Iate election. Tho
| Governor Of Louisiana attaches, we assume,
| rs littlo weight to the hoWls and shrielts Of q
press whose business is defamation ns other
| citizens uf the State do. But such wholesale
charges Of fraud end murder have been made
ngaint the Democrats Of certain parishes
that hs has felt impelle1 to visit those par
ishes and personally inquire into the facts
The DEMOCRAT Is not the apologst Of law
Iessness Of any description, and If 1t be found
That negroes or white mon Of any party or
class have been wautony abused Or killed, we
hold that 1t Is the solemn duty Of the law
officers, grand jurles and courts Of the State
to bring The malefactors 10 trial and punish
mont. II here In New Orleans or In the par
Ishes, balOt-boxes have been stuffed, or II
there have been frauds IN the registration, or
ifthere have been swindllug and perjury In tho
count. 1t Is The duty Of tho law officers and
grand iuries to forret out, II possible The
criminals. and prosecute and convict them,
IF my official fnlters in the performances ug
this duty he Is the enemy of society and ON
unworthy public servant. who ought to be-
disgraced for his cowardice suhserviency or
corruption, for. in the end, he must Disgrace
the State, Believing firmly in The right of the
people to fully and fairly express their will
through tho ballot-boxes, and detesting
frauds and Chents, we press upon cur courts
the prosecution Of oil offenses Of the character
Wn have described Indeed. we should rejoice
TO see citizens tf worth and character going
before tho grand jury to present charges
against men who have committed frauds
upon tho baiIot-boEns. Such an exhibition Of
devotion to the purity of elections would be
refreshing in this ago Of corruption and
Indifference 10 public Interests. A combi-
nation Of such citizens not for tho nero
object of grabbing ~ few lucrative pub
lie Offices. or Of obtaining control Of this OF
That municipal! department. or parochial gov
ernment. but tp bring mhlefactore 10 Justice.
and inspire n class Of pernicipua creatures
who swarm In every city and live by their
wits and by politics, with IL healthy appro-
hension TINT cheating at tho polls aud com
mittlng perjury aro dangerous occupations,
would bo one Of The most beneficial move
monts over nauguratul in n great city or
State
But those presentations should be tnntl0 be
foro the grand jurieg Of our own State and
prosecuted in the courts Of Louisiana. We
would rather SOC n thousand LaIlothox stuff
ers and rufIians escape. and q dozen elections
lost or won by fraud, than sec citizons Of Lou
isiana recognizing the perncious doctrino that
the Federal government has any right to in
tcrfere in our elections or 10 prosecute In Eod-
aral courts citizens of Louisiana for ofcnses
committed against tho laws Of Louisiana.
Our State laws rpvcr all ofrousos OF this
nature, and our State courts nre competent
and willing to try all law breakers. Sooner
or later, therefore, tho domination Of fraud
must be oyerturned unless the people arc SO
utterly corrupt thai from their ranks no
honest lurIes can bo drawn aud no honest
Judges selected. But once we concodo the
right Of tho Federal government to interiors
inv our elections and permit the Federal
| courts to invade tho jurisdiction Of our State
courts wo acCotIe TO n princtpfH viuiHtivu Of
ovory principle Of local solfgovernment, and
! abandon Ourselves to q centralized power
which may at any time, ns IL has done before
when established without our acquiosccnce,
by bayonota. override our elections, persoCute
our people, and control tho STATIC In partisan
interests antngonistic to our State interest.
Gov. Nichols visit to the parishes is In the
interest Of law and order. and tho enforce
snont Of tho law against NIL criminals. Tho
people OF Caddo. who have been especially
singled out for depunCatlon and abuse. have
invited full and free judicial Investigation.
We have no doubt tho citizens of tho other
malIgned parishes desire and will aid such an
Investigation. In this city oil good citizens,
irrespective of party desire that the law Off
cers and tho Grand Jury shall follow up any
information they may have of criminal acts
In tho conduct of tho election and bring oil
mnlefaCtors to trial.
But. let tho Federal officials keep thoir hands
out of this business, and the grand juries and
courts and other proper officials OF Louisiana
will sec that the laws are enforced. We are u
civilized people, with large property and social
| and commercial interests at stake. and If we
are permitted to attend to our own business
wo will bo very apt to do it on the limo OF law
! and order. But VIC want no Federal interior
| enco in the matter.