The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-10
The Press and the peonIe.

1Ue FfesS ana Lne People.
The press of the South Is nobly doing its duty Our
exchanges full of sound and patriotic suggestions
with few exceptions they agree in urging the people
to forbear any agitation to accept in good faith the
terms Of the military bills and to great efforts to-
wards enforcing the authority Of the State laws for
the protection of persons and property.
1t is established fact flat all who are emit
tied to the privilege, will register and vote and this
was the leading object of the press in its appeals to
the people There is still left for it all important duty
and, by virtue of the ignorance of the negro, diff
cult duty to perform. 1t is this: to show o1he whites
and blacks, that there is autagonism of interest
between them; that this is the common country OF
both, and that they should act in such way as to
render it prosperous country to both races We say
1t il difficult duty. because the negroes read
bat then they may be reached ndirecty-and by this
we mean, through the whites and such blacks as
read We should let these people know, they are the
SUBJECTS OF political rights, and that they will be called
upon, in few months perhaps to exercise the priri-
lese Of suffrage. The more intelligent among them
already know what this is They should be urged to
explain it to their more ignorant friends. They have
seen public meetings, enjoyed public barbecues and
attended elections. With the machinery of party
management they have been more less acquainted.
1t point to be gained with them, in the first in
stance, to show by own conduct, higher appre-
citation of suffrage than is generally accorded to it,
and this we can do in no way effective us to dis
countenance any ofGcious interference with them
We fear that the field will be inviting, and that
ambitious politicians will be but too ready to lead off
with meetings. speeches, professions, and the other
appliances of popular management. This is certainly
not the way to begin. In due time the negro will
have all these things in his own way; but for the
present, he had better have little talk with some
white person. in whom he has confidence. Appeals of
this sort will be made and they should be answered
promptly, and kindly with the view to satisfy and in
struct. Oar old farmers their best teachers Just
now, and they their best friends. 1t the duty of
the press to furnish the reliable intelligence of
public events to the farmers and employers, and it is
the duty Of these to furnish the to the negro
he may be found caplble of receiving it.
The Charleston Mercury, in recent article on the |
future relations Of the races maintaining, and we
think justly, that, Notwithstanding the emancipation
of the blacks they will be necessarily dependent for
guidance and direction the superior intelligence of
children, and it is idle to expect from them the wis
dom and caution of the man of age and that is far
better that their education should be directed l,y our
OWN people than By others who have different pur-
poses to serve" And this is specially true as to their
political education. It is fortunate for them that
be great majority of the race are employed in
ural pursuits, along with their old masters or their
I'D acquaintance, and thus placed under the con-
rol of the agricultural class, which, in every country
distinguished for conservatism and patriotism Our
armcrs have the future relations of the races, to
reat degree i'll their own hands, and, we trust aud
elleve will be found equal to the task of using good
lfuence for good purposes. !
Having accepted the military bills, we are not dis
osed to dwell on the nauscating properties of the {
ose, or to make WY faces it. We leave this c
uty to our political latitudinarans, and hope they
lay derive all the comfort from it tie nature of the
Use will admit. We have seen many goodly COM s
any OF ancient crones who seemed to be much enter
lined with accounts of each others pains, and with "
lie excellent virtues of remedial tests
The sick man. having got his prescription and .,
ken it. should apply himself indusriousy to restore Il
health. In the first place he should be prudent,
i'd take care to allow no exciting causes to Interfere n
ia his recovery. When able to 90 out and attend
business by all means let him 90, for work will tt
We him good appetite better digestion and the best
all, sleep. Let him plant a little more corn. in is
nslderaon of backward spring, and practice good ~
onomy; talk no politics, advise people only as he 81
'ud be advised, if in their places, and generally. let
Il try to be /" good boy" pe