National Republican., 1880-04-02
A Word from Louisiana.

TO the Editor of The National Republican,
SIR: Our little city, away up here at the
hcadwatcrs of navigation on Red river, has
been in whrl of excitement during the past
week In tho early part Of the week Colonel
W. D. Wylie, clerk, believe, Of Judge Elan,,
Member of Congress from this district, arrived
accredited as Assistant Sergeant.at-Arms OF
the Senate, and bearing a number of blank
summ0nses for citizens to appear before the
exodus committee. He was Immediately taken
10 charge by prominent Democrats, who as
sisted him in selecting the fright kind" OF
witnesses--that is, after tho aforesaid Ser.
geaut.at.Arms had provided for his particular
friends and partners in business contracts, etc.,
for trip to the Nations Capital at Govern
ment expense
The parties summoned, understand, are to
leave on to.day's train, and will soon present
themselves in your city, ready to tell what
they know of the exodus of the colored people
of this section. They have been selected
with great care, and the Republican members
of the committee will have ino chance to dis
cover exactly what is portion ofthe real cause
of the uneasy feeling of tho colored race hero ii
they will but extend their examinations into
tho present and past political actions of the
partisans of several of the witnesses toward
Republicans, both white and coorod. A
thorough cross.eXamination IN this particular
direction WILL perhaps, speak volumes which
otherwise would be kept closed TO tho people
of the Nation, and inform all of one of tho
greatest causes of the present uneasy and
suspicious feeling of tho colored race in tho
South.
Among tho witnesses Is the present Demo.
cratic Inspector OF Public Schools of this
(CaddO) parish, who cam perhaps If pushed to
thu point explain why tho public schools
have been closed the present year after bare
session of Ave months, notwithstanding the
promises of his party when they assumed
| control some three years ago that the same
should be continued ten months in the year
| further, why the salaries of several Of the
| teachers yet remain unpaid for portion oI
| the short term Of five months still further, o
Ills recent charges against tho city and parish
authorities (bOth DemOcratic) for not giving
tho financial aid the laws required them tC
give to the SCHOOL board TO continue the public
schools.
He may also be able to tell the committe,
that the colored people hold in high estima
| tion the education OF their children, and wheI
they find so soon retreat on this question by
the party of so many promises, IL Is natura
| they should become suspicious of the future
and commence to study change for Thu
better
While am writing I cannot fail to stat
| that prominent lawyer Of our city, who i
now engaged IN accumulatng evidence rcla
tive TO railroad lands in this vicinity, has beel
heard TO say that he finds some OutragcOu
swindles perpetrated upon the cOored peopl,
in locating the samo, where their hard.earno'
money has been paid to land office in thi
city, and they are to-day without scintilla o
title. Evidences of the swlndles arc beinl
accumulated, and will be forwarded In du
time to the exodus committee for an exposure
ODDAC,
| s1REyrpoRT. LA, March 20, 1880,