Year: 1872

least will cast the old Tammany Ring into the
shade.


President Grants Duty.


The unfortunate character of the recon-
struction policy applied to the South by the
republican majority in Congress is manifested
in the political disturbances which have fol-
lowed the elections in Louisiana, Alabama
and other ex-rebel States. Under our system
of government it has been our boast, justified
by the experience of nearly century, that
our constantly recurring popular elections
serve as safety valve to political excitement,
and that with the result of the appeal to the
people all our troubles terminate. The de-
feated party, however strong, generally ac-
cepts the verdict of the majority and goes
peacefully to work to repair its ill-fortune
In the States we have named the election has
only been q farce, and disgraceful conflict
has arisen between the rival parties in de-
iance Of the popular will. In some in
stances serious consequences are said to
be threatened. The politicians elsewhere take
sides in accordance with their affiliations, and
help to aggravate the evil instead Of
endeavoring to remove it. The spectacle is
one disgraceful to the nation, and illustrates
the disordered condition Of large section of
change in our Southern policy. In Louisiana
the democrats, no doubt carried the State by
o small majority; but Governor Warmoth,
fearing to be deprived of the fruits of the vic
tory, or anxious to give his party yet greater
power than it had been accorded by the peo-
pie, has adopted high-handed, even if
strictly legal course, by reconstructing the
Board of Canvassers in such a manner as to
exclude all who were opposed to his interests.
The returns are alleged by this Board to show
the election Of certain judicial officers and
civil and criminal sherifs in New Orleans,
who have been installed by force, and the
Governor has convened the Legislature elect
in extra session to commence on Mon
day, December 8. He appears not to
be exceeding the bounds of his official
power, and to be backed up by the
Courts; nevertheless, his conduct seems
to be needlessly arbitrary, and calculated to
lead to much angry feeling and dangerous ex-
citement. In Alabama two Legislatures are in
session. The democrats claimed to have
elected majority of the members who duly
received their certificates of election; but on
their way to Montgomery some of them were
arrested by United States officers on charges
of violating the election laws, and were carried
off in another direction. The result was that
the democratic or conservative members assem-
bled at the State Capitol and organized as soon
as q quorum arrived while the republicans
met in q court room, proceeded to fill
vacancies, and called themselves the Legisla-
ture Of the State. The Governor recognizes
the conservatives, who no doubt have regu-
larity on their side. The republicans, who
claim to have been elected, had no resort ex-
cept to appeal to the regularly constituted
Legislature for their seats, occupied by demo-
Gratis who held certificates Of election. If they
knew their appeal would be fruitless, that fact
did not justify them in organizing spurious
Legislature. In Arkansas both parties claim to
have elected their State ticket, and the report
is that both parties will insist on being inau-
gurated.


Of course these controversies are looked
upon from different standpoints by the rival
political parties. The republicans, with q
natural reliance upon the federal power,
clamor for the interference Of the President
and the United States forces to back up their
own side. The democrats denounce the re-
publicans as usurpers, and call upon the peo-
pie to stand by their rights. This condition
of affairs is deplorable and disgraceful to the
country. It is anarchy in at least three States;
it may be worse if not speedily checked. The
duty Of the President appears to be plain.
The States are independent and must take care
of themselves. There are properly consti-
tuted authorities everywhere, and who they
are must be decided by the State Courts. If
any disturbances Of the peace take place
the State officers have the police and the
militia at their backs to restore order and
to enforce the laws. If their power
should prove unequal to the task, they have
the privilege Of calling on the United States
for help, and then the federal interference is
constitutional and proper. President Grant
has nothing to do but to await such call.
There has already been too much interference
on the part of the general government with
the Southern States, if not with other States,
and the present disturbances are its natural
result. We believe that President Grant de-
sires to leave the Southern people in the future
to manage their own affairs, and this is good
opportunity to inaugurate such policy. If
they choose to bring trouble upon themselves.
they must be the sufferers but it is certain
that the politicians who are instrumental in
doing so will be remembered and repudiated
by the people. The warmoths may triumph
once, but their successful career will be of
short duration The best thing that
can be done with Louisiana, Alabama,


ArEonoaa and all auch States Ia ko