New-York tribune., 1879-01-20
NEW-YORK, MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1879

Southern political adjective " incendiary.
Major Moncure, of Shreveport, Speaker OF
the Louisiana House of Representatives, a
gentleman of dignity character, and social stand
ing. was upon the witness-stand, giving Demo-
cratic version Of the canvass in his parish lie
accounted tor the dennnciation and threats of his
party against District-AttOrney Leonard by saying
that Leonard had made incendiary speeches to the
negroes. In answer TO questions as 10 what was
specially Objectionable in these speeches, he sald
Leonard had referred To the old days OF slavery,
saving that old men who had been Shareholders and
whose ideas were fixed in the past, would not ne as
likely to respect the rights and advance the
interests of the blacks as younger men who
had grown up under the condition OF
affairs. Such talk az this. Speaker Moncure
thought. was calculated 10 intame the passions OF
the blacks. In fact any reference 10 the slavery
epoch lie considered infammat0ry. and thought the
white people had a right TO protest against IT,
Equally objectionable, in the opinion OF Speaker
Moncurp was Mr. Leonitds discussion Of the indus
trial relations of the negroes with their employers
Leonard told them that they weie paving TOO hIgh
rent for land-OfIen much each wear rs the Iahd
would sell for-and that, owing TO the bad system
of credits and advances they were often charged Dy
the planters from eighteen TO twenty-five cents Tor
bacon which could he bought for cash for seven
or eight cents. This sort of discussion was
conlmunistic according TO the view OF
the speaker and justified the wrath of the Whitc
people of the parish. stated in no miider terms
than those used by Mr.. Moncure, these were the
Incendary arguments made Of by Mr.. Leonard
in his canvass. It thus appears, according to the
very excellent authority of the Speaker of the
Louisiana House that il Is inccndiary TO refer IN
political speech 10 the fact that the negroes
were once slaves, or to discuss their relations
the prices they pay for provisions. II speaker
has the bad taste 10 violate the popular no
tlOas of prOprety in these respects, he Justly
ncuTs the indignation of the community, or
rather the white portion OF II, ana II he Is hull
doZed for such an offence, the respectable citizens
would. doubtless, sustain the act as just punish
mcnt for stirring up race antagonsm.
The committee is working with great diligence,
sitting eight hours day, and attempting 10 get at
facts without reference TO their political bearing
Two of tine Republican members, Mr. Teller and
Mr. Cameron have lad experience III previous
Southern invest cations, which is of great advan-
tage to them Mr. Teller was on a subcommittee
which investigated Mississippi affairs two years
ago. and Mr.. Cameron, in 1877, was one OF the com
nIttee which investigated the rihe-club campaign
of the previous wear IN SOuth Carolina. The two
Democratic members, Mr. Bailey and Mr.. Garland.
tXnIhlt mo- partlsauShip. They make no attempt to
confuse the cOloTCd witnesses or To dlScrtdlt ler
testimony aud their examination OF witnesses sum
nOucd by their own party seems directed only 10
bringing OUT essential facts not developed BY the
ther side. Ii l. said here that the committee has
already obtained q stronger line OF testimony re-
latlng To the Use of violence for carrying an cleo
ton than was ever brought out here before. EN.s.