The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-10-07
Gen. Gordon's Plain Talk to Col
ored Men.

| OeH COHH ID. 0OfuOH, Of 0eOrgIa, DC
Iivered on the night of the lth Septembe
an eloquent speech at Charleston, 8. G
There was a large number of colored mer
present, and it is Gen. Gordon's remarks
to them which we now present to our rea
ders. The General is as plain a talker as
he was gallant soldier. He conceals
nothing, but makes out clearly the true in
terests of our colored population in the
present crisis. The stamp of honesty is
upon every word:
Tn the few words shall say to you, my
friends, if you will listen to me, hope to
deal with you candidly and honestly. The
Radicals have told you that the Southern
people were your enemies. But, believe
me, this is not so. i was opposed to your
freedom. Laughter We were all OPP
posed to your freedom. Now, that's hon
est, isn't it? "Yes, that's 3d." from the
crowd. And why was this so? I'll tell
you. We did not do this because we were
your enemies, but because we had bought
you and paid our money for you. Great
laughter.l You belonged to the Northern
people once, and some people think you
belong to them now, in the Loyal League
1t was the Northern States that sent to the
shores of Africa and captured brought your
fathers to the North. And when your Ia
Dor became Improbable, they sold you to
the Southern people. The carpet baggers
will tell you that the North brought on the
war to free you. Let me ask why didn't
they set You free when they owned you.
You might then have been born free, and
might now have owned the forty acres,
which the lying rnscals promised you.
say that they did not wage the war to free
you, and no honest soldier who participa-
ted in it will say 60. The idea never was
entertained. Gen. Grant himself at one
time threatened TO quit The. service if you
were freed. They set you free because they
wanted TO use you, not from any love they
bore you. And now they tell you that We
are your enemies. Have we not been born
on the same soilf Are not our interests
identical? Have we not grown up togeth.
err and have not our fathers been buried
under the same sod? Why, then, are we
your enemiesf - "
You have been told to arm yourselves
against the whites. Cries Of "No, no."
Well, I am glad to hear it. What would
be the results Of arraying the two races.
A contest will come, which will be war
If races; then which race must triumph 7
You are in the majority on the seaboard,
and could destroy many people. But, my
friends, let me tell You, the moment the
war of races is inaugurated. that moment
the death warrant of the black man on this
continent is signed. There are three mil.
lions of your race and forty millions OF
white men. Now, I ask you, in all reason
which race must 20 down?
The speaker then alluded to the assertion
of Helper, who said that before the year
1872, no black man will have habitation
on this continent In quoting this the
speaker said: He says so because of spec
ulation. Lands are scarce in the North,
they have surplus of labor, and they de-
sire TO blot out your race in order that they
might come here, take possession of the
place and cultivate the land. The Indian
once lived where you now live, but where
is he now? He couldn't live in peace with
the white man and he went to war. The
few scattering mounds that are left in the
State speak the result. Now this is what
Helper says must be your fate, and most
singular to relate, a large majority Of the
Radical members OF congress are suo-
scribers to his book and are giving it cir.
culation.
Now speak plainly. If you are dis
posed to live in peace with the white PEG.
pie. they extend to you the hand Of friend
ship. But If you attempt to inaugurate a
war of races you will be exterminated. The
Saxon race was never created by God AL.
mighty to. be ruledIby the African. These
are truths. We want peace with you. We
cannot live as enemies. One or the other
must 60 down. II you turn a deaf ear to
the Southern man, these green leaves that
now clothe the forest viii not grow red
with another autumn. before they, will be
drenched with your blood and mine.