Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-10

selves Democratic negroes, under auy
conditions that can be namedf we
hope not, although our coiem'
porary may in the future become
candidate before his black constit'
uepcy. and thereby be subjected to
the severest social test. The Ard
lanche did not say directly that II
would sit down with the negro
but we are left to infer that he would al
soon do so as to be placed upon socia
relations with thousands of white men IN
the country. Right there the editor o.
the Avalanche and we differ, as under nc
circumstances would we admit the socla
equality of the negro; when, with the
thousands of white men spoken OF We
would associate, and not feel ashamed
to meet them in the most elegant saloon
of the land. We don't say anything
against our contemporary for this-it Il
only the way man thinks, after all
That is the doctrine that Babour Lewis
advocates, and our friend stands righ'
BY the side of this odoriferous gentleman
when he would as soon associate with
negroes as thousands of white men.
We thank our cotemporary for alludinp
to the condition. Of Louisiana, although
be sbould do so to show up the happy
results of negro enfranchisement. Ihe
idea conveyed by reference to this ease
is that the negroes are largely in the
majority, and control the Legislature
with all the important offices in the State ;
and yet social equality is as far from
being forced upon the people now as ten
years ago. And because such is the case
our very obtuse Contemporary concludes
that. of course, the negro element could
not affect the social status OF the
whites by being placed on this equality.
If the editor of the Avalanche can at any
time see straight, since his unfortunate
accident, we would refer him to the sim
ple truth that the reason why the social
condition Of these people is not affected
is because they, as we have done, refused
to recognize the negro's right to vote.
There is no com mingling of these proud
people with the African. They 1.-THE ne
uroes), with the law enfranchising them,
are held in just political contempt BY
these intelligent Prenchmen, The negro
BY the law of the bayonet, controls the
State, and the whites, for the time, submit,
until returning reason shall assert her
sway In this distracted country.
Our cotsmporary's next blunder is
az be says: "There are some things that
| legislation cannot touch, such as what q
man shall eat, what he shall drink, cpd
whom he shall associate with" We mast
srr that there is not sentence in that
paragraph that does not contain an error
That the Legislature esrnot touch arti-
cles that we eat is perfectly preposterous
| There is not one ounce of flower or
| pound Of meat the. is consumed by the
people which "a not subject to tag OF
| from one to one and half per cent. And
the laws that tax such articles apply to all
usrabandise sold in the State.
Then, again, does not the Legs
lature place its hand, and that, too,
70 think, pretty heavily upon oil
liquors that are drank by our friends : II
the gentleman will think foF 0 moment
he will see why It is that be Is compelled
to pay so high price for his mint julips
and brandy smashes. 1t is requirement
| by the Legislature which all are subject
to. Now, as &c taa lsst assertion that
the Legislature cannot interfere with our
social relations, it, like the preceding
| propositions, exhibits degree of igno-
rance that is, Inaeed, pitisble to behold.
We are, without ioubt, compelled By the
law to associate with negroes 10 the cars,
in political meetings, at the ballot box,
10 the jury box, and some say
eEea at Gods altar in the church, This
is, without eoEtt, social equality in all
its hideous forms. Will the Avqlarchs
see its most pAlpsbie and agoved mis-
takes in all this, aud At once make the
amend3 We will see.
This now brings US to the last and the
pet argument q the Aralanche 10 favor
Of the acceptance Of negro equality. To
give his own language, he says: SIS il
wrong for the negro to exercise the right
offranehise aEdas prssept circumstances
If so, who has the powss TO prevent it !
If there is no power to prevent 1t, Is il
not sensible to accept the fact, just as we
! accepted the abolition of slavery, when
we bad nc poEer longer to maintain
that Herein is contained the entire
reason why it was that this old, stsuneh
journal, the Avalanche, was converted
from the true faith Of Democracy to the
doctrine Of uniEerssl suffrage or negro
equality. The mind Of our Soiepporary
in contemplating this subject has become
very much muddled. This unfortunate
politician, in endeavoring to look in diff
ferent directions st the same time, hs,
become blinded. How. sir, can vol
suppose for moment that me-
gro suffrage is a fixed fact-as mucI
so as the abolition of slavery, OF
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