The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-09-09
No Employment for Radical Ne
grOeS.

SrOeSs
We take the following extract from
the New Orleans correspondence ofthe
New York Herald:
A system of high pressure moral sua-
sion, not to say coercion, is being fol-
lowed by the employers of labor. No
colored man can get work on the levee
unless he belongs to colored Demo-
cratic club. Planters refuse to engage
hands who belong to the Loyal League.
The issue is put before them-"Sey-
mour and Blair and pork and molas-
ses y" Grant and Colfax and starva-
tion." This policy is boldly and open
~ justified. Say the employers eve
are only following the example of Con-
gress. A delegate comes to Washing
ton returned from Southern State
The first question put is, "What are
your politics {? Are you Republican =
'Yes.' 'Then step inside.' Are you a
Democrat p yes Then clear out ;
your election is illegal This is just
with our hands" In another shape the
argument is put as follows: "Why
should not the capitalists of the South
vote their hands as well as the capital
its of the North When I was a con-
tractor in Ohio voted my hands ten
or twelve hundred Of them, too, and
white men at that. Why should not
the planter of the South have the right
to do what every mill owner of New
England does-viz: control the votes
of his operatives 7"
The writer of this processes to en-
tighten his readers as to the means
adopted by the conservatives of the
South to obtain votes for Seymour and
Blair among tie. newly enfranchised
citizens. Iftrue-and we do not doubt
that it is-it shows that the Southern
people are beginning at last to do what
what they ought to have done long
ago. If the negroes will persist in vo-
ting the Radical ticket it is but just
that they shonld be left to the Radicals
for their support. If the conservatives
have work and bread to bestow it is
only right that they should bestow
them upon their friends.
When the manufacture of Southern
votes first commenced the Freedmen's
Bureau, supported by taxation wrung
from an impoverished people, was
found a ready adjunct of the Radicals
in accomplishing their purposes. Ra-
tions were furnished the hungry with
out work, and a general system Of con-
fiscation was held out as the reward of
a faithful adherence to the Radical
cause. But the Freedmen's Bureau
has SO often deceived the poor laborer,
and the forty acres and mule have been
so long in making their appearance,
that the negro has begun to lose all
faith in the fair promises of those who
have manifested so much interest in
his welfare. The Freedmen's Bureau
and the promised eonfscation having
proved poor reliance the negro is
beginning to look for more substantial
means of subsistence. He sees that
the carpet-baggers, who control the
Radical party, have no property in the
South, and that they are without the
means Of affording assistance to those
in whom they profess to take so much
interest. From these he naturally
turns to the landed proprietors who
constitute the bulk of the conservative
party.
Now it is not to be expected that the
Southern people are SO short sighted as
to nurse q body of enemies in their
midst. If the negroes cannot subsist
| without the assistance of the conserva-
tives, then the conservatives should
not aid in feeding body of men who
are pledged to do all in their power te
impoverish and enslave the white PEG.
| pie of the South. If the only protec.
ton and assistance that the negroes
can get is from the conservatives, ther
the latter ought to demand that the
negroes should manifest towards them
a more friendly feeling than that which
the Radicals have been advising then
to cultivate.
If, then, this Northern writer has
told the truth, our New Orleans friend.
are doing what we wish to see done by
every conservative in the State. I
the negro likes the Radical, let him g
to the Radicals and get what they hav'
to bestow. If, on the contrary, he de
sires employment from tho Conserva
tives let him vote the conservative
ticket. This must be made the tes
every where. Let no Democrat maxi
a contract with negro who votes tn
Radical ticket, and it will soon b.
found that the whole negro vote will
be brought to terms.
The precedent quoted by this New
York correspondent is sufficient to jus
tify any one who has any scruples OF
the subject. It is well known that tn
Northern manufacturers drive thei
operatives to the polls and vote then
as if they were SO many dumb CATTLE
| r. I>ovo