New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-26
THE COTORED VOTE,

If it was not the offspring Of egotism
and sel6shness, the sublime impudence OF
the Southern Democrats-publie orators
and organs u alike-Would be something
to admire. We're they not in a hopeless
minority, the skill, cunning, and specious
devices with which they back up this dis
play Of brazen cheek" would be some
thing to fear. As the situation unfolds
from the coigne of vantage" whence we
survey the field, however, the Republicans
can afford to pay their Democratic oppo-
nents the tribute due to superlative
roguery aud to rest easy in the conscious
ness that their enemies are forging weap
ons which in the future will be pointed
against their own breasts.
Nevertheless, it is astonishing that those
who hold to the tenets of the Democratic
platform as to new gospel of redemption
and salvation should appeal to the colored
men of the South for assistance in giving
practical enforcement to their creed. An
innocent lamb might be induced to engage
in a missionary trip to a wolfden, or a
child to put ravenous lion in leading
strings; but an intelligent and honest black
maa to support the enunciated principles
of modern and mongrel Democracy .
Never 1t is too much-it is beyond all
reason-to suppose that any human being
shaped in the image of the great Creator,
and not actuated by the basest and most
mercenary motives, would deliberately
vote to deprive himself and race of the
great boon and safeguard-Franchise. And
is,neither more nor less, is what our Dem
ocratic contemporaries ask their colored
fellow citizens to do when they urge them
to desert the Republican party and Join the
ranks of their "Old masters'-their "best
friends"
The Democratic platform bears stamped
upon its first and fundamental plank "Am-
nesty for all past political offenses and the
regulation of the elective franchise in the
States By their citizens" In plain English
this means, first, unconditional and imme-
date pardon for the most heinous treason
that stains the fair page of history; second
the surrender, bound hand and foot of a
recently emancipated race to their old
taskmasters, who for generations secluded
them from the light of knowledge and kept
them in subsection with manacles and the
lash. What Democrat in Louisiana
will admit that the "citizens" referred to
in the sentence above quoted from their
platform of principles, does not mean l,hite
citizens only? Not one can honestly make
such admission. Does a colored man exist
who believes that, if put to ballot of these
white citizens, the right to vote would not
be Immediately wrested from his race by
an overwhelming majority? We believe
there are none so sadly deceived.
If these views are correct, and we shall
be pleased to see our contemporaries on the
other side attempt a REPUTATION, the
undivided colored vote of the South
will be cast next November with and for
the party which has been the medium of
the elevation OF the black man to political
equality with the white. Of this there can
not be reasonable doubt, all the seduc-
tive persuasions of the Picayne and others
to the contrary notwithstanding. The
Democrats of Louisiana can not success.
fully preach one thing and practice another,
even if the colored people are rather mex
perienced in political demagogueism, and
the sooner they realize this fact the more
honorable and manly will they appear, and
the greater will be the unity in their own
party.