The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-04-11
EEae Relations of the Races.

We took the occasion some days since,
in treating briefly of the approaching
election and the duties which it impo-
SEES, to urge upon tie white people of
Louisiana the duty of %instructing and
advising their colorel brethren as to their
interest i'll cultivating the most friendly
relations with the superior race among
whom their lot has been cast, and Re
jccting the hypocritical friendship OF the
white Radicals of the North, strangers
in Louisiana, who only care for the
black man so far as he can aid them to
mount into power, but who cover him
with abuse whenever he attempts to re-
sist their dictation and think for him
self. We said that the result which
will certainly flow from the ratification
of the Constitution, will be the destruc-
ton of that protective feeling hitherto
actuating the white people i'll their re-
lations with their humber brethren,
and the cngendering OF Il hatred towards
them which can only end in their final
eS,iction. This opinion was founded
upon the experience of tie past, the
teachings of history, the philosophy Of
society, and our knowledge of human
nature. We suppose no Intelligent read
er misunderstood the views we express
ed and supposed that we wisAed such a
result would come from the enfranch!se-
ment OF the negroes and their claim Of
equality with the white people, or that
We advocated the adoption Of measures
calculated to bring about such a State
of things, ruch less advised our readers
to encourage feelings of aversion towards
a people who are not responsible for their
present condition, Or reproachable for the
very natural desire of possessing the
same rights and privileges as are exer-
cised by their superiors. On the con
trary, the motive we had in view was
to iuculcate the duty of our engaging i'll
an ernest effort to reason with and in
struct the negro population as to the du-
ty incumbent upon them, and their in
terest in maintaining a respectful de-
meanor towards the white population,
and the cultivation of a close friendship
with that population, who are willing to
the fullest extent 20 recognize their free
dom, and as they become fit for it, to
consent to their gradual elevation in the
scale of citizenship, and this for the
very purpose of averting, ifit be posi-
bic, that natural indifference to their
welfare and antagonism which the pre-
t~en;ions of the colored people to both po-
litical and social equality will surely SUI
perinduce, unless the course Of conduct
with we point out is pursued by them.
We all know that the negroes while le-
gally subject to the authority of their
masters. were cared tor in sickness and
in health, to such an extent that their
natural increase threatened the equiI:b-
rum which it was desirable to maintain
between the races, and that since the
emancipation of the former and the free
dom from responsibility and the want of
OF interest in the latter to care for their
welfare, the negro population does not
increase, but has daily been subject to
a scale of reduction which is very re-
markable and which can only he &C
counted Tor in the way we have ex-
pfa ned.
1t is not the people Of the South who
have p:ejudiees against the colored Peep
lie. Prejudice comes from ignorance, and
nevey from knowledge. The Southern
people cannot be rejudiced against their
black brethren because they thoroughly
understand their nature and character
istics. That the black man is not the
equal of the white man in any respect.
aud was never intended by the Creator
of the universe 70 be so, is a fact and
there is no prejudice about it. Nature has
implanted the distinction. That it has
been the pleasure OF that Creator to give
every being i" the universe his place,
and to make the negro ascrvant to his
white brother is a fact which. no body
denies. There arc gradations in the
human scale which have been establish
ed by that Providence which governs
all things, and he is foolish who refuses
to recognise such distictions. When we
know a man to be incapable OF perform
ing certain functions. or unworthy to be
trusted with certain interests, we cannot
be p7cjmdtced against him. If We had
only been Informed by another of.ssuch in
capacity or uuworth1ness, Or had with
out information, ignorantly contracted
an impression unfavorable to him, we
might be said to be possessed by preju-
dice We profess to entertain the kind
est feelings for our colored brethren, and
the most earnest wishes for their pres
ent and future welfare, but we shall not
endeavor to overreach them in the fash
ion of the false white men of the North,
who speak smooth words for the pur-
pose of ~concealing nefarious purposes.
we bid the colored people beware Of the
men who would set them in array against
their former masters: 1t is unnatural
and can only end disastrously to both
races -N q. Bee.