The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-09-14

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and expose the gigantic frauds OF the
i'm the registration. The
labor invfslved IN TINS
achievement can only be appreciated
by practical politicians here IN New
Orleans, and they already recognize
and acknowledge Major Bnrke's
claims as a leading worker IN the
cause. Il
But the most brilliant exploit OF
that campaign, the exploit which
will be most readily understood and
most enthusiastically admired, was
Major Burke's part in the great coup
of the fourteenth of September.
From. that event we date the begin
ing of the train of events which Gull
minated last year in the final enan,
cipation of the State from political
bondage, the overthrow OF Radical
ism and the restoration OF popular
government i'm Louisiana. Ii Is an
event hallOwed by the proudest
memories. Every actor ID 1t Is en-
titled to the affectiOnate gratitude
of his people, and all of its victims
are embalmed to-day in undylng
honor and reverence. Major Burke's
part in this affair is not generally
known; vet among the leaders 1t is
notorious that but for him there
would have been, could have been,
no fourteenth of September. On the
night of the thirteenth it became
known to Gen. Ogden that troops
had been ordered from Holly Springs
by telegraph and were expected III
the city about noon the next day.
The realization of this programme
would effectually defeat the plans of
the Democratic leaders. They were
resolved not to be brought into con-
fiict with the Federal authorities,
and vet they were equally deter
mined to overthrow kellogg's police
and his government. What was to
be done Z Some of the staff repaired
10 Major Burke's house at midnight
to consult as to ways aud means.
Their proposition was to burn Man
chac bridge, but to this Major Burke
NATURALLY replied that he was an Of
ficer of the road, and, of course,
could not cOnniye at any injury IL
the roads property. After some
hours of anxious consultation the
officers took their departure. leaving
the matter in Major Burke's hands
His plans were quickly formed ant
as quickly executed. Before day
light his messenger WAS flying vi
the road on hand car giving thu
orders to the Nremen of the differ
ent gangs then engaged in raising
the road bed, and few hours after
ward the South bound train with tin
! soldiers on board was stopped by |
, gap of some hundred yards, wher'
the wOrkmen had taken up the track
and were industriOusly shoveliini
away at the embankment. Their
was some pretty loud talk, explana
tons and representations. and ate
a delay of an hour, the track was re
laid and the train proceeded on II
; way: Two miles on the road rejolc
ing, and another stOp9age. Nv
!, hundred yards of the track take
= up this time and the gang very llar
!, at work. More palaver, some ex
= element this time, talk good dea
: louder and explanations more pro
fuse. In two hours the train wa
y under way and went along SMOOTH
for about three miles. But the me
: were working very desperately o
that September morning, and her
: the train stopped at a break OF neal
= " five hundred yards. Then Co
a Brook lost patience. He even DIRE
/" ~ his pistol and Threatened to shoot
9 foreman. But it is needless to III
!. GER over these details. Burke's pl'
- was success, and while the reguli
! soldiers we're building railroads u
- about Mancliac, the citizen soldier
II were thrashing Kellogg's metropol
! tans and scattering kellogg's go'
:, eminent to the four winds Of HEAVIER
= 1t was the grand blow of the strul
:. gle, the Inauguration of the el
% which has now fully dawned, an
~ Major Burke's part in Z can hard
~ he termed minor one. No one wi
y participated in the councils Of TIL
~ period will deny that he deserves .
!; the credit for the stroke which q
IS layed the train and made the fou
no. teenth of September possible.
- This year Major Burke Obtain'
- for the second time the regular par
y, nomination for Administration OF IL
'r provements, and this time he W
- triumplantly elected. Here, the
t. begins his career as a public officl;
IS and here his record becomes pub
';s property. For this record he con'
ar the most Jealous scrutiny, and up
!, it his friends base the largest claii
=. for popular approval and suppo
~ His reports for the years OF 1873 a
" 1876 are models of minute and c
"s cumstantial clearDess, showing u
,a only how the peoples money was
:. pended, but where; giving the ex'
~, locality of every bridge and eve
or bit of street work or banqueSte ca
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