Year: 1876

----.-~R RADICAL STRATEGY.


The usurper and his eshorts OCCUPY twe


strongholds in this State, one the possession


Of executive authority, the other the Return
ing Board. By the first they command the


control of Ill plAce-holders who are in, and


of all whom the intrusive ruler may appoint


with the sanction Of his Senate, which is nov


his own and ready at all times to do his bidding.


Intrenched on this point BY majority IN one


branch Of the Legislature, by some OF the


elective and all the sppointive judiciary, and


under the batteries of the Federal Executive


and Senate, with strong popular feeling


among the members Of the Radical


party abroad, he rallies around him all


the colored voters Of the State, and holds


his position with insulting defiance. By the


second he and his legions promise themselves


an easy victory in November next. even as they


triumphed in 1872, and again in 1874. By


means of this monstrous and wholly anti-Re-


publican machinery, the boasted artillery"


of the party, planted on the breastworks and


bastions built Of fraudulent laws, they hope to


maintain their position in spite Of any vote


which the people may give. If Grant, or an
other lie him, is successful in the November
election elsewhere, then the Radicals in
Louisiana will, as usual, count their can.
didates elected, and, with the always
handy bayonets Of the Federal army
to support them, they will install their
new set of usurping State officers. II, on
the other hand, the DemocrAtac and Con-
servative lovers ofpolitical liberty and friends
Of reform throughout the Republic win the
victory for which we most earnestly hope and
devoutly pray, the usurpers in Louisiana will
profit nothing by their fraud. Without Fed
eral support the Louisiana usurpation will
fade away like miasmatic and peslilential
exhalation and "leave not rack behind"


Meanwhile it is well to consider the pro-
priety Of spending legislative time, now
growing precious. in the attempt 70 drive
Kellogg and his desperate garrison from this
entrenched citadel It is we'll known that
the friends Of reform will accept Of
no form or semblance of Return
ing Board, even il its numbers should
be increased to ten Or more, and the appoint
ment of majority should be left to the Demo-
cratic House. The diabolical monstrosity
can never be made tolerable, however masked,
disguised, transformed or ornamented. II
clothed in spotless robes Of seeming inno-
cence, tho true representatives of the people
.A:l a. Nd ~
the other side it is very apparent that the
usurper and his sdherents will not give up
the board, even if the consequence Of retain.
ing it should be refusal by the House to
appropriate dollar for the support Of the
State government.


Such being the fixed will and purpose on
either side, further debate cover the matter
seems to be Improbable. Eighteen working
days of the session remain, and during that
time is il not possible to mature measures of
reform, economy and retrenchment that will in
time inure to the benefit of the people In
spite of the irreconcilable disagreement as to
the radical "artillery," can there not be
agreed upon changes of laws that will reduce
salaries and fees? Cannot the
school laws of the State be SO changed
rs to restore the control of schools and
school funds to the parishes and to cities ?
Cannot the assessment and collection of taxes
be restored to local authorities and
be limited to a reasonable expense? These
md some other important reformatory meas
,res deserve the same thouphtful considera-
ion which they have heretofore received, and
10 effort should be spared to mature them
md secure their passage Concessions of
principle are never to be dreamed Of, and
compromises are always dangerous; but in
'pite Of the incurable difference Of purpose as
% the Returning Board, We conceive that
without concessions or o compromise, much
good may be possible in legislation on other
Matters