Year: 1874

cess which 80 far has attended his present
term Of power The British people are to be
Congratulated on the financial prosperity OF
the Empire.


Louisiana-Tho Southern states and


tho National Obligations.


able attitude assumed by the South with re-
gard to the national obligations, the case OF
Louisiana seems to us to have an entirely diff
ferent aspect from that it presented when
viewed strictly as question of constitutional
right and justice


But short time since we could see no
reason why strict constitutional justice should
not be rendered to the oppressed people of
Louisiana, and we spoke our most earnest
sympathies for people afflicted by the ter
rible visitation Of carpet-bag government.
Every measure that seemed likely to relieve
them or that even only went so far as to
acknowledge that they were wronged had our
support. As there was no resistance to
federal law in Louisiana, as the people all de-
clared themselves equally loyal, and as the
State had formally accepted and ratified the
changes made in the national constitution
by the war; and with the pledge of their
honor had given the only possible guarantee
that they would accept in good faith the re-
suits of the war and all the acts done in the
name of the nation as their acts-in view of
all this it seemed to us that national inter
ference in the concerns of that State, the
pretence Of the general government to dress
the balance Of local politics for or against one
or another party, was an iniquity Of the
greatest magnitude, and no more to be JUS
titled in the case Of Louisiana than it might
be in the case of party dispute in our own
State And we are still Of opinion that the
interference was an outrage and o crime, and
we believe that its whole purpose was corrupt,
and that there never was an honest impulse
behind any step taken to secure it. But
since, by the act of public authorities who
have been false to their oaths, State that
should be the sovereign arbiter Of it's destinies
is now in condition of suspended political
vitality, it may be wise to consider what, in
the light Of new facts, we may fairly suppose
would be the use made Of the justice the
nation should render to Louisiana.


Does the South mean to give its support
morally and politically to the movement
for the reputation Of the national debt?
If so, is it not wise to have as few
votes from the South as possible in the
United States Senate or elsewhere? And,
instead of assisting Louisiana to sound social
and political condition, should we not rather
desire that States now fully represented might,
by such facts as are on foot in Arkansas, justify
the occupation Of their State houses indef-
nitely by the national troops? We have
already seen that the South votes with una
nimity for imitation, and that it explains this
vote by the declaration that it means to in
validate the national currency and put our
debt, if possible, side by side with the debt Of
the Confederate States. On the imitation
measures we see the West voting heavily for
them and the East heavily against them; but
neither section is unanimous In the West
few perceive more clearly than the mass of
their associates the necessary effect Of such
legislation, and in the East few are misled;
but in the South the vote goes by common
impulse, and we are told by Southern men
that the meaning Of that impulse is not
friendly to the national honor.


No one can require the South to admire the
national debt. It represents money spent in
conquering the Southern States that is the
only point of view they can be expected to
state ; and the main result OF the debt that
they feel is an oppressive misgovernment,
which must sooner or later provoke new
revolt. But, in order that they might not be
governed as military satrapies-in order that
they might have the form and the possibility
Of recovering all the rights of States-the
Southern communities accepted an amend
ment to the constitution which declares that
the validity Of the public debt Of the United
States shall not be questioned But it would
appear that that obligation sits very lightly on
their consciences. and legislation for Louisiana
or other States may fairly wait until tire
country sees more clearly whether the South
has any respect whatever for its formal ad-
herence to the fourteenth amendment.


Recognition OF Cuban Belligerency.
SENATOR carpenter IeSOluUlOn caHlng IOr
the recognition of Cuban belligerency de-
serves special attention from the Congress of
the United States. It is now well nigh six
years since the people of Cuba rose in arms
against hateful rule, and during
that period they have gallantly sus-
tanned the struggle for independence
against all Odds Public opinion
has time and again spoken in favor of the
recognition of Cuban independence, but the
mysterious power that rules Congress from
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