The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-08-01
THE STATE MILITIA.

Because we are opposed to military
force in times of peace-believlng the civil
authority competent to preserve law ana
order. as it certainly should be-and are in
favor of the disarmament of the militia,
and have expressed our condemnation OF
the militia at Hahnville, on account OF at
tempted usurpation of authority by some
of the would-be martinets at that place, tits
not true that we would "turn the state
over to the mob" and the Shreveport
Journal either does not understand us or
misrepresents us when it says so.
We hold that the conduct of some of the
militia at Hahnville was outrageous, ana
had the swashbuckler who struted through
the court room, as reported by the Picay-
une, succeeded in carrying out his threat
to arrest 'sthat Sheriff, - who was in fact the
real peace officer of the occasion, this Won
ton subversion of the civil law by irrespon-
sible bayonet rule would have been more
discreditable to the State than the hanging
by the mob of the four male murderers.
Yet. we did not intend to be understood as
wanting the murderers hung by the mob.
We did intend to say, however, that the
acts of some of the militia were as unWar-
ranted and as discreditable as that OF the
mob, and that we had more respect for the
mob than the militia, under the circum-
stances, as the militia was supposed to up
hold and respect the law, and the mob was
not. District Attorney Marero declared
that he ''was greatly disgusted with the
conduct OF Col Kantz and Gen. Gardner
in usurping the power of Sheriff Madere. )"
Referring to the Hahnville affair, the
New Orleans States, an able, creditable
and trustworthy paper, says: Whatever
other States may do the people of Louisi-
ana will never permit the military arm of
the government service to dominate the
people and to brutalize them in times of
profound peace; and when such things are
attempted those who so disgrace the uni
form they wear should be called before the
criminal courts to answer for their conduct.
There can be no place in the military SER
vice of this State for ruffians, and when
such persons are convicted before the
courts the punishment inflicted should be
Of such a character as to impress upon
them the fact that their uniforms do moi
place them above the obligation to respect
and obey the laws of the State.''
And this from Editor Grosjean, of the
Shreveport Caucasian, true Confederate
soldier, Democrat Of the old school, anc
as worthy a citizen as there is in the State
1T has been noted that whenever there
has been manifested the least excitement
arising over the commission of some crime
which appeals for swift and summary exc
cution, the militia has been summoned an(
held in readiness to perform the servic'
which should be left exclusively to the civi
authority. The protest Of thu
New Orleans press against the militarisn
at Hahnville is timely and must have al
all-powerful influence fer good. Under nj
pretense or pretext should the mlitar.
assume charge ever the civil. From &C
counts reported the military was at time
ruffianly. There was maintained an abso
of st. Charles was ignored and treate
with contempt, and it was only after h
had exercised his authority regardless Q
an averted clash, that the military &C
guessed and gave him recognition com
mensurate with his official position. Thi
incident at Hahnvile should be guide i
the future for all the sheriffs in the State
When confronted with an emergency tn
sheriff should enlist in his service law
abiding citizens, and such citizens will nc
fail in their duty when obligated to tn
sheriff"
Louisiana had enough of bayonet rul
and military despotism many years age
and those of US who witnessed it know, b
sad experience, what it is and do not war
any more of it, or to take any chances
leaving it as legacy to future generation.
''Take away the sword; States can b
governed without it,
Death Of Mrs. N. G.. Blanchard.
al