The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-11-02
a Word to the Freedmen.

Ii the coiored voters were not so blinded by an S-
norant prejudice and much under the control of the
carpetbaggers, who them, by indirect means, as
master would use his slaves, they would more clearly
understand the merits of the contest. They would m
derstand that the respectable and honest white men
wish to get control of the State government, not to
make money out of it the carpetbaggers do, but TO
administer it honestly and check the enormous steal
age that has been, and will be carried by parcel
of unprincpled scoundrels whose only end and aim it
to put money in their purses-uttery regardless of
the interest of the toing freedmen whom they regard
virtually their their The Radicals have
been in possession o.. the State government for
two years, yet any freedman that he has been
individually benefited ty it? Is he any social
equality-if that be the object of his ambition than
he was Immediately after Tie close OF the war: Does
he not know that the public school fund which should
assist in the education of his children has teen stolen
by Parson Conway and his satellites? Is he not iutel
ligent enough TO understand hat That he has the
right of voting it is the interest of every Democrat
that his children should be educated so as that they
may he wiser than their father and not permit any I'M
princpled dog from the North to play npon their ig-
nora:ee and induce them sustain the very princi-
pies which above all others ruinous their inter-
ests?
The great question which divides the two parties
now is that Of tariff All others are side issues got
up to subserve partisan ends That is this is the main
issue in national politics but there is more immedi-
atey vital one i'll the politics Of the State, and one
upon which, if the freedmen properly informed,
there could be disagreement between an honest
an honest hlacl, II % QUO,
ton of public plumber, wherein both white and black
are interested 1t is simple folly for poor man to say
that taxes do not affect him-that he has nothing to
tax IF he has no real estate he must eat and wear
clothes and the merchant could sell him these articles
at a cheaper rate if he himself did not have to con-
tribute so largely to the support of such mer as War
moth, Lowell, Sheridan and the whole batch of blood
suckers who have fastened themselves upon the body
polite and, vampire like, draining the very life
blood from the capitalists and the laborers as veil
These plain Propositions child could under
stand them. Yet see such intelligent colored men
as Antoine Smothers and Nose Steret led about like
dogs with leash by these cunning tricksters who are
ever holding the cup of promise to their lips but
permitting them taste of the realization of their
hopes. The Democratic party honestly promise
the colored people everything that the Radical party
dishonesty promises Them with the exception of
social equality. This the Democratic party will not
promise while the Radicals, on the other hand will
promise it but carry out their promise-uness
indeed they be candidates and seeking the coored
vote Then the baggers would black their boots
if asked to do 80 until office was secured, when they
would turn upon them as Warmoth has turned upon
the very colored men in New Orleans who elected him
to the Office Of Governor. It is astonishing how long
the blacks have been deluded by these scoundrels.
They do not give them work whereby they may live,
for they have to give, and themselves mendi-
cants upon the political bounty of the freedmen.
They give nothing under heaven but lip service and
honied words and yet by appealing to their wrongs in
the past-mostly imaginary wrongs-and by Boosting
that they gave them freedom they lead them in direct
opposition to their true interests. 1t is hundred
chances to one that these vagabond who followed the
Federal army, to rife the pockets of the dead never
| fred gun to free the slave and even if they did
are the coored people to be made slaves of politically
the balance of their lives for this boon of freedom
Do you think that just, honest, right, Antoine