The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-11-02
A Chat With the COlOred People OF
Bay0u Rapldes.

We have a few words of plain talk
to give to the colored people OF Bayou
Rapides, and intend it i'll the best pos
sible good humor and with the best in
tentions. For the past three OF four
weeks you have been stirred up ana
given bad and pernicious advice by
unprinciplcd men of both colors, but
more especially by white man, now
candidate for your votes. This bad
man has made to you dangerous and
rebellious harangues, calculated only
to bring you into trouble and bring you
in direct and forced collision with the
white men of Bayou Rapides, your
neighbors, your friends, your employ
ees. your bread and meat. Ponder well
what we say, reflect well how you heed
such fellows or follow their teachings.
Remember one fact-he is a stranger
here, a stray bird from his Yankee
home, no interests identical with yours,
paws no taxes, that he and his sort i'm
pose on you; can't befriend you even
if he would, cares not a copper cent for
you or yours, can't, nor wouldn't ad-
vance you as much as shuck collar to
help you in your crops in a word, all
he wants, all he cares for is your votes
to put him in fat Office and then yOu
may all whistle, without even the help
from him of as much as a green per-
simmon. Remember that the same
promises are now made by the candi-
dates that were made two years ago.
You elected them then, and now you
know best whether one single word Of
theirs has been fulfilled or not. Be
mindful of this, and then turn to the
other side of the picture. Who for the
past two seasons have given you en-
ployment at big wages, given you shell
ter-a home7 What men have been
advancing to you mules, pork, -four,
sugar, coffee, in fact all you needed to
make a crop and get a good start in
this hard world9 What men have
done this for you7 What men have TIA
! ken all these risks on you and for you
r Ask yourselves these questions, at your
: humble fresides, and see if any of the
s candidates of the Radical party or any
of the leaders and office holders of that
, party have done aught for you or your
families, but sneak around and ask fol
= your votes, and when they get the of,
fee, the poor colored man is forgotten
; and stunned. Are these not facts
: knock down truths that you must ad
nit, and admitting, that you must pro
i fit by7
e Again, there is one of your own race
t also bad and crazy man, who is Pres
q ident of your Club, who as far as hi'
i poor abilities go, is making a big foo
9 of himself and trying, by his acts, hi
bad advice and speeches, to excite yo'
against the whites, and as sure as tn
. sun shines for us all, will get you int
h trouble. Look at him, as he ride
e around, like maniac, with his dou
n -barrelled shot gun on his shoulder
e and ask him if he would not be far bet
r ter on his wife's farm, helping her an
= his children pick cotton and thus he'll
If them pay debts he alone has forced O.
! them in his nonsensical crusade agains
> his true friends. Ask this President G
~ your Club if his assistance and hel
y came from the fellows he takes pc
y luck with Z
10 Colored people of Bayou Rapide'
he stop all this nonsense and be free an
l. independent thinkers and act for your
e. selves. You don't need advice or GU
ID dance from such men-act for YOU
~ selves, and by all means, heed and tax
70 our good advice, for we have befrient
1T ed you largely, and remember that tt
"a taste of the pudding is the eating of i
Think well what we tell you, min
- how you leap, and above all rememb'
~ one thing, your white orator, yo'
III candidate talks big, brags heap on tt
al big things he has done for you, durir
the war, struts awfully now, but NAL
o. what we tell you, when he has force
ly you into trouble, solely by his bad al
he vice, and the cane commences to Graz
nc around you, your fellow won't be
- hand to lead you as he promises. N
W at all, colored folks, he'll be at So
10 distance, and will do such runnin
It, that not one of you, on your fastest p
of ny, can head him. Now, we have do
it, our chat, and assure you we are
nn- friendly earnest; profit by it or not,
nj you please, for be sure it is none of 6
.tv. funeral.
nds -~~"''~"~">"-
ex- w The weather still continues fl
ere clear and pleasant. As yet the mt
vas needed rain has not made its appe
at ance. The river is still falling stead
Gel and slowly. Cotton picking still p
he crossing, the majority of our plant
t in having not, as yet, stopped to gin