The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-01
BLACKBURN, OF KENTUCKY.

The recent determined action taken by the
House OF Representatives in regard TO the re-
peal of the test oath and the Federal election
| laws Is due, more than to any other man per-
haps, to Mr.. Blackburn. of Kentucky, and to
the influence of his bold and vigorous coun-
sells shall the country be indebted In the
end for whatever concessions may be forced
| from the trueulent and INSCRIPTIONS admin
| istration, backed by its partisans in Congress.
| Throughout his entire course In Congress,
Mr.. Blackburn has commended himself to the
affection and admiration OF all true men at
| the South but In this instance he has added
to this regar by placing the people of Louis
| lana, at least, under a debt of deep and last
ing gratitude Equally conspicuous for sa-
gacity, courage and indomitable will, he has
shown himself emnently qualified as
leader Of men who are fighting for their cher
ished rights against the aggressions and
usurpations of INSCRIPTIONS power.
Just such bold and vigorous qualities as ap-
pear to dominate the character of Mr.. Black
burn are what are most needed in the leaders
of the Democratic party at this time. The
enemy we have to deal with has proved to be
utterly unscrupulous devoid alike of candor
and good faith, capable OF any crime to con-
summate its evil purposes and towards whom
any manifestation of generosity Is the purest
gratuity. 1t is the absurdest Quxotism to
stand on punctilio with such an antagonist.
AS We understand 1t, the fight the Demo-
cratic party has been waging in the present
Congress, and which will certainly have to
be maintained In the incoming one, is for the
perpetuation and protection OF the most
sacred guarantees Of the constitution, for
rights and franchises which are, in fact, In
herent In mankind and Independent of all
constitutions. In the defense Of such great
principles freemen are not expected to weigh
too nicely the means they shall use to secure
their own protection and that OF the nstitu-
tions under which they live.
The purely defensive conservatism of the
Democratic party has been persisted In too
long, and the time has come when 1t must be
abandoned and holder and more aggressive
policy adopted. Had this been done In 1876,
and the audacity of the eonspirators who
stole the Presidency met with the resolution
and courage OF men determined to have their
rights, we should not now be enduring the
contumely and oppression of the fraudulent
administration, while the country would have
been saved the disgracefuI exhibitions of
cowardee upon one side and crime upon the
other which placed that administration In
power.
We stand confronted now with an exigency
not less dangerous than that which followed
the presidential election, but 1t is being met
In very different spirit from that which pre-
vailed at the time OF the electoral count. We
are free to admit all that the Republican press
and party leaders have to say about the ex--
treme measures the Democrats OF the House
have resorted to in order to compel the repeal
Of the test oath and the obnoxious elections
laws; yet, were their course ten times as vio-
lent as it has been, 1t would be entirely justi-
fed ~ the circumstances which have pro-
yoked it.
AS we have already said, Mr.. Blackburn
has been largely instrumental in inaugurating
the bold policy OF placing the repeal of these
laws as a rider on the appropriation bills. The
promptness and courage with which he came
TO the defense of the Southern people, and
the sagacity and vigor with which he has
pressed the fight for their rights and in vindi-
cation Of the great principles of the Demo-
cratic party, entitle him to more than a pass
ing recognition, at least from the South
and her members OF Congress. We
have long since and repeatedly declared
that we believed the South to be entitled to
the Speakership of the next Congress. and
that the time had come for the South to
assert all her rights In Congress and else
where. We know OF TO man more deserving