Year: 1875

The Louisiana Compromise.


We rejoice to be able to state that the con-
servative caucus at New Orleans decided yes
terday to accede to the Wheeler compromise
and that there is at last prospect of quiet
settlement OF the political controversy which
has so long agitated an important State and
created anxiety and alarm throughout the
country. We had no preference for the par
ticular form or basis of compromise to which
In COED truth we think it rather hard
and exacting, and believe that it does
Louisiana less than justice. But in q
choice of evils it is wise to choose the
least and the compromise which has been
accepted is altogether preferable to leaving
the State to founder on two years longer
in the turmoil which has so long prevailed.
The paramount need Of the State is tran
quillity, and the difference between the
two proposed forms of compromise
is not important enough to JUS
tify q sacrifice of internal peace and
civil order. This is primarily Louisiana
question and only secondarily national ques-





tranquillize the people of the State, and not
to keep alive an indammatory controversy for
the electioneering advantage of the democratic
party OF the country.


The difference between the two plans Of
compromise is OF little practical consequence,
however important political partisans
may deem it in theory. 1t is SIM
ply question between recognizing
and barely submitting to the authority of
Kellogg. On either plan Kellogg would con-
tinue to act as Governor until the expiration
of the regular term The conservatives pro-
posed an arrangement which would merely
bind them to acknowledge Kellogg so long as
he is supported by the President, and the
other side proposed that he should be squarely
recognized as the legitimate Governor, with
out any reservation, for the remnant of the
four years. The distinction is mere
punctilio, because nobody doubts that Grant
will continue to uphold Kellogg The continu-
ance of Kellogg as Governor until January,
1877, would be alike inevitable under either
form of compromise, and if you are obliged
to eat the devil it is not worth while quar-
relling about the sauce with which he is
dressed. Something is gained for the sent-
ment of stability in accepting him, once for
ALL as the legitimate Governor until his term
expires, because it relieves the citizens from
apprehensions of change by violence and fixes
public expectation upon the election of 1875
as the only means of redressing griev-
ances.


1t is infinitely better that political wrongs
be remedied through the peaceful agency of
the ballot even though it necessitates some
delay, than either to run the risk of changes
by the rude hand of violence or to invite the
interference of Congress. Congressional inter-
position in the affairs of State is only to be
justified when all other remedies prove un-
availing. So long as any hope remains of rec
tiiying abuses through the regular means of
elections no other remedy should be resorted
to. The worst feature of the Louisiana diff
Guilty has heretofore been that the people
seemed deprived of any chance Of fair cleo
tions. II the frauds Of the late Returning
Board had stood, and the conservatives had
been permanently cheated out of their victory





spair of elections as means of redress.
But now that the election of 1874 is
conceded to them they may fairly expect to
recover the State in the next trial of strength;
and, so long as they can entertaio this hope,
they had better submit to some temporary
evils rather than have recourse to irregular
and extraordinary methods of relief, espe-
cially as other remedies might prove to be al
most as bad as the disease.


Under the accepted compromise the people
Of Louisiana will merely submit to an OBJ
struction which is incident to the very nature
of our institutions. Redress through the bal
lot box imposes necessity of waiting. Elec-
tions occur only at stated periods, and how
ever grievously the people may suffer during
the intervals they must remain under
discipline of patience until the
time comes round for peacefully depos-
ing their rulers The democratic party
of the country demonstrated its strength in
the elections of last autumn, but two years
must, nevertheless, elapse before it can get
control of the government. Grant is rs firmly
established as Kellogg, and the country can
no more get rid of him by one election than
the people Of Louisiana can oust Kellogg by one
election. There is close parallel between the
two cases. The people of Louisiana like the
people Of the United States, have won the
lower house of this Legislature, but must
await the result of another election to change
the Senate and the Executive. 1t is as
wise for the people Ct Louisiana as it is
for the people of the Union to look forward in
quiet expectation until 1876 for an opportu-
nifty to make a complete change Of rulers.
So long as the peaceful revolution of the bal
lot box is possible it is political madness to
seek any other


We regret to learn that McEnery is exert
ing himself to upset the compromise which
aacartad 70 Lx Tho tisxa ca.aa.,s