New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-28
The NEW-IBERI4 DIFFICCLTY

They are having trouble at Newlberia,
Louisiana, and it arises out OF indulgence III
peculiarly Southern political methods The
trouble is in reference to the tenure of q judicial
Office. This was formerly held by Judge FOn-
tclieu, but at a recent election Judge Gates was
declared to have received Il majority of the
votes The friends of Judge Fonteleu as
serted that the election was fraudulent that
the alleged minority of Gates was obtained by
deliberately assigning n large number of purely
fictitious votes 10 a small voting precinct which
did not represent q 1.-THE of the number alleged.
So they counselled Judge FOnteleu TO refuse
to give up the Office and they proceeded forth
with to garrison the Court House. The other
side then appealed to the State Government for
help. and il is stated that several companies of
militia have been ordered out, and are being
prepared to put the Judge elect in possession
of his Office Meantime Judge Gates and his
friends have been taking steps to help them
selves. 1t is said that he Is supported by the
merchants and educated people" and that his
party have established their arsenal about two
SQUARES from the Court House, and " have or
ganized "a body of men who are well armed,
"and militia company has also been formed
land is ready at moments call"
In spite of these formidable preparations,
however, it is understood that Judge Fontelieu
declares that "nO matter what might come.
Judge Gates would never preside over the court
there" Not even militia. according to him,
would alter the condition of things. Judge
Gates would never preside" This might look
like the intimatiOn of ferOciOus purpose to
blow the top off Judge Gatess head but for the
fact that the statement emanates from another
Judge. At present the opposing parties speak
of one another as factions" and are, as it were,
lying upon their arms, waiting for the battle to
begin. When Brigadier-G General Perry, of the
militia, arrives, it is expected that the shooting
will begin, and then the merchants and edu-
Gated people will manifest their superior en-
lightenment and their comprehension of and re-
spect for republican institutions by trying to
kill as many as possible of their political OPP
pOncnts.
The fact seems 10 be that Judge Fontcieu is
supported by many if not all OF the cOlOred
voters and that the other side undertook to
" count him out at the election, and that his
friends were indispOsed to submit to that
method of securing rotation in Office. So they
had recourse to those South American tactics
which have become familiar to Southern
politicians, and undertook to protect them
selves by initiating the lawlessness of their OPP
ponents. The popularity of the case is the
promptness with which both parties have re-
sorted to violence, and the evident relish with
which they anticipate a scrimmago. The spirit
manifested in the whole episode is distinctly
Latin rather than AnglO-Saxon. 1t is the spirit
which the sham republics OF South America ex-
4
fractional success by fraud or force and the
blind recklessness with which society is exposed
to shattering commissions for the sake of set
Ting some petty dispute about the tenure of an
Office. From first to last there is no evidence
given of regard for law and ORDER and it is by
no means clear that the sO-called party of edu-
cation is not the worst sinner and the original
aggressor in this respect.