New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-28
SPEECH OF WIN. w. PKEscoTT,
At the Great Republican RRtiRcntIO
Meeting, on Saturday Evening, Feb

/ At the Great Republican Ratification
| Meeting, on Saturday Evening", Feb
ruary Sc.
rise 10 address my friends and fellow.
| citizens under great and peculiar disadyan-
/ tages, as / have been preceded by the most
distinguished leaders of the Republican
party in this state; men renowned not only
| for their services to liberty and the Union,
| but for their splendid eloquence and great
and overshadowing claims upon the conf
dence and affection of the great Republican
party. Yet when nightingales cease to sing
we may listen with pleasure to the
warblings of the linnet, and though I may
display neither the eloquence of Warmoth,
the earnestness of Blackburn, nor the bril-
liant humor of Sypher, still as the only
representative of the Republican party in
the country parishes, outside of the conYen-
ton, my remarks on this memorable &C.
| casion may have a. least The charm of
novelty, and may convey information which
will show the progress of our party in the
interior of the state, the spirit which ami
mates our enemies. and the nature Of the
great conflict in which we are engaged.
Ours was war for the freedom of cor
/ tinent; it was a war of liberty against
slavery; education against ignorance; civil
ization against barbarism. We have all
witnessed the mighty conflict from its dark
| inception to its glorious close; we have
seen liberty gain the last and grandest of
her triumphs ;sedueation prepared to occupy
the noblest Of her fields, and civilization
ready to elevate four millions Of newly en-
franchised citizens to their proper position
in American society. Could results be more
glorious or success more complete? No,
assuredly not ; but let us not de-
ceiFe ourselves. The struggle is not
yet ended; it has only begun. 1t is an I'M
Questionable fact that an overwhelming
majority of the white population of the
Gnitfh OppRcnd tA thu mr. ufa &c
the colored man in society. They oppose
mixed schools and the right of suffrage.
Now as far as regards the schools, it is q
duty incumbent upon the state of Louisiana
to educate her children without regard to
color, caste, OF previous condition; and in
the present Impoverished situation Of the
state it is impossible to provide separate
schools.
Both economy and true Republican
policy demand mixed schools; because in
these schools are to be taught the divine
doctrines of equality, and every school be-
comes virtually a seminary for teaching the
great principles of our party. In fact these
mixed schools viii do more to disseminate
the great principles of our party than all
the other appliances at our disposal. These
schools practice what they teach, and they
teach what they practice-the di.
and fraternity. Every schoolhouse becomes
a. VI AlbSAl1s ONtT1 an aDOg-
tie of equality, every teacher a true human
itarian philosopher. Yes, as the most pow
erfal instrument in building up the Repub.
lican party in this state, the schools must
be fostered with liberal hand protected
by firm one, and guided by one equally
wise and prudent / think the task has
been oondded to one worthy of our utmost
confidence, who discerns in the common
schools the great elements Of our future
strength, and will WELD those elements to
the advantage OF the Republican party. fhe
advan cement OF the cause of general educar
ton, and the ultimate happiness and pros.
perity Of the people of Louisiana
As far As the question of suffrage is con.
cerned, / think the man of color is as well
entitled 20 1t as the men Of any other race.
as the real author Of nearly ali the material
wealth Of the country, for his bravery dis.
played In the war, and his fidelity to the
government IN the hour of Its trial. Even
the opponents q suffrage ought TO remem.
Der the obleaAd generous manner in which
he labofed 70 support their families dufIng
their absence Ia the war; his magnanimityi1
not teYengsng hls injuries when such ample
Opportunities fef vengeance were daily me.
scented; his meeAnegs under his oppressiong:
his patience under untold privafions. and
his desire to forget the injuries Of the past
and IN the future TO emulate his late opnres-
sors IN virtue Intelligence, and nobility 81
character ~ -
Z Besldes, D true national policy dsmandsl,is
enfIanc hisonient ltis better that he should
be q contented citizen than a rebellioas seTf
Four millions deprived of equal rights might
be dangerous and disturbing element in q 1
government like ours--a volcano Ike Vo. /
suFiug covered with flowers but liable 10 |
explode II any moment, overthrow the
whole fabric Of the South and be the fruit
L1l A4urCe Of civil wars and social connl0-
Non4 that night shake the framework Of
y4f EoFernnIeHtto its very centre; lead 70 9 /
teIllIes rE raeees o. q war Of determination,
80 pea f4ldela'a box which any aspiring |
&c .asalt open and let loose train /
~ 44.pisfNrla evils while not even hope
n .iertq se1s dear school, but fo0ls. /
We ~ lS-aA " AFQ We WI not learn in I
s1es 49,. ..ass. araod 1Y NE fan Of
st1Ae Ait+.e.- M 1efCts34e 4afo Of
Others, lll nlec4 Sir Mh1Ia r61nia1ioe'
without rqEard " c1e11. feI1l 81 s|.,I,t
sRe4l4lqH 9t 1Nti|sX ini
81 government prddIcale1 aF10
li8Hla where no materials exist To- aIn