The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-06-28
In Louisiana.

In Louisiana.
In Louisiana, Kenner and four
others were members of one of those
bodies created by a Republican Con-
gress for the manipulation of election
returns so as to decide in favor of
their political brethren. For the state
of Louisiana that Returning Board
meant all, as its correct decision
would not only have affirmed the
rights of the Democratic Party in
the state, but would have given TO
the nation a Democratic president At
that time the south was in the midst
of the turmoil incident upon recon
structiOn, and the people had already
on the memorable 14th of September,
1874, asserted its might by hurting
the radical governor from his usurped
place, but the United States govern
ment had interefered and again had
put the Republicans in power, sus-
tanning them by federal bayonets. The
presidential campaign between Hayes.
Republican, on one side and Samuel
J. Tilden, of New York on the other
was a momentOus epoch. The whole
nation was in ferment The north,
misled by false reports of bloody
deeds against the colored race in the
south, was ClamOring for drastic
=
dashed to fury by the oppression of the
ruling party and gOaded to despera-
ton by the infamous Calumnies cir
culatcd against them. made SuOerhU-
man efforts to assert the supremacy OF |
the Democratic votes. Louisiana went /
Democratic by a large majority Then |
the Returning Board, composed of |
four Republicans, ]. Madison Wells, /
L. NJ. Kenner, Thomas c. Anderson, |
Cabane Casenave. and one Democrat /
Hon. Oscar Arroyo. was called into /
action to defeat the returns of Dem |
OcratiC victory. and compile the cleo |
tOrial vote in favor of the Republican /
candidate for president.
One Democrat.
Mr.. Arroyo, understanding his hope |
---"~r.---, As tho only Democrat
on the board, resigned, and the four
republicans two Of whOm-Casenave
md KenneT-were Colored. had the
field to themselves. Samuel J. Til
len lacked but one vote to have
in the Electoral College, but
le was robbed of his rights, and the
whole vote of Louisiana was returned
Tor Hayes Though defeated as to
he national election, the Democrats
carried the state. and in a few months
he peoples choice for governor, Hon.
Francis T. Nichols, was seated.
One by one the actors in that huge
political jObbery have departed for the
)ther world
Kenner, the sole relic of that Re
urEing Board, quietly effaced himself
rom public life. and for the past
hirty years he lived in retirement
md for some time past WIS keeping
grocery at the corner of Main and
Grand Route ST John. on the banks
# the historic Bayou St John
He leaves wife and family Last
hight. while the body of Kenncr re-
posed in its coffin in the front par
or, there were many watchers by his /
her, the majority being women. Not
me OF his old political friends was !
PRESENT. Most of them are dead, and {
he few that remain have gone their /
ray in the various avocations of life,
nd not one is there who seemed to {
are to remember Kenner with a brief
isit TO the mortuaTy residence Dur i
ne his last days he requested his |
wife to have his funeral conducted as
imply as possible. and specially |
harged her with declining 10 have {
ny obituary written for publication Z