New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-02
THE REAL sTRnaaI.E.

revive the ancient glory and power OF the
Democratic party before the war were ON
nipotent. Then they led their party BY the
nose as effeetually as ever Napoleon LED
his armies to battle. But things have
changed. The honest, intelligent Democ-
racy have left them, and now that the
smoke Of battle has cleared away they are
beginning to practice not only fiattery, but
servility. If they were omnipotent before
the war, they are contemplate now.
The late speech made by Colonel J. P.
Thomas, chairman of the CONSERVATIVE"
ex-rebel committee of South Carolina, be-
fore the reconstruction committee Of the
House of representatives, is one of the
evidences of the cunning of South Carolina
politicians, the servility Of whipped ours
mingled with an occasional growl about
the 'unmercifulness Of negro domination"
He complains that the late Constitutional
Convention was made up of Dracos, among
whom there was no Scion; and that the
new Constitution is the offspring OF "car-
pet-baggers' from the North, low whites,
and "niggers.' He complains that the
negroes are growing arrogant and the
whites bitter; and then allows his fancy to
take an aerial fight and announces the ap-
palling truth that sin the Olympic char
lot course of nationalities- contending
peoples-it is blood, it is race that wins
the goal and enjoys the prize. No doubt
Colonel Thomas after giving vent to this
ebullition of his chivalric soul felt that he
was something of Colossus in the world
of ''high. toned" orators. But certain it is
that he Immediately came down to earth
and then down on his knees by ftful jerks
that must have made his chivalric muscles
crack like pair of rusty pistols.
He said in substance: ave represent the
white element; we are strong and COR
ident; we do not wish to disturb the har-
mony which should exist between the races;
we acknowledge the fidelity Of the negro
in the past; we are his best friends; we are
his natural guides and protectors; we de-
sire to advocate policy that will secure
his enduring good; we are willing to con
cede to him the high trust of suffrage; give
US an opportunity, gentlemen Of the Con-
gress of the United States, and zoe loal
H.ro,r around the freedmen-freed by South
Cdrolina's oloa la,os-the projecting pOloer Of
all that remains Of the ancient sovereignty of
the State
If this is not servility we are wholly in
capable of Judging. If the enormous
GIVE . of South Carolina had been so
very anxious to protect the eolored people
why did they fight inch by inch, step by
step, every effort made by the Union party
of the United States to put the means of
selfcalture, self-education, and self-protec-
ton in the hands of the colored man?
Why is it to-day that instead of standing
out of the way, or lending a noble hand Of
assistance, they have joined their strength
to that Of the worst enemies of themselves
and the colored raee-the Copperhead De-
moeracy of the North lin order to subvert
the supremacy of the ballot and take away
from the colored people their only means
Of protection? ave are the Conservative
element" say they. What do they propose
to conserve? What is it that they propose
to Perpetuate? Liberty No; unless it
be the liberty of despOtism's "chivalry' to
make of themselves political aristocrats,
and of the poor unedueated whites as well
as blacks political, social, and material
serfs. This is the elderly they are so
anxious to conserve or perpetuate.
Colonel Thomas complains too that "the
sum of $2,O00,0OO is to be raised annually
in the way of taxes" and that "nearly one
million is to be devoted to the educational
fund, !" and that because of the difference
in the tastes and sentiments of the whites
and those of the blacks it would be en-
joyed by the blacks alone. "Thus,n says
the Colonel, ''the whites viii be taxed,
and most heavily taxed, for the education
of the blacks alone" If this were true,
then there would be some cause for COM
plant. But it is not true. 1t is question
not Of races but Of labor and capital.
The Colonel fears not NEGRO domination"
but the supremacy Of labor. We're every
colored man in the United States as white
as the purest Caucasian, the Colonel under
the same circumstances that now exist be-
tween capital and labor would use the
same argument, with this difference, be
could not growl about NEGRO supremacy
The fact that full oRe-half Of the laboring
population of the South happens to be
coIored gives the Colonel the benefit Of =
compound Word, "negro-supremacy, !" that
has an immense meaning to Northern Cop
pefheads and Southern ex-rebeis, who can
not because they lack the necessary
amount Of brains look below the surface Of
this question. The real question Is Shall
the men who are By he force Of circum-
stances forced 70 earn their bread by the
sweat Of their brows be made the political,
social, and financial slaves Of q political,
social, and moneyed aristocracyf
If the white mechanic, the editor who
works for q salary, the printer Who works
weaEily through the night, and counts bis
thousand ems anxiOusly, the clerk who
handies his employers money for q given
prics-if he white labOriBg element Of the
South--would look deeper than the surinoe
they could easily discover that the present
Il