New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-26
ONE MORE VICTORY HRoEsSART.

of Louisiana will see lair and homes
election at most of her voting places OF
the seventh of November. The colorei
peonle will be allowed to cast their ballot.
with the same freedom that the white
people cast theirs. The good sense O
the country has asserted itself to defend
law and order. Citizens are agreed thai
men may differ with them about men and
measures in all sincerity and honesty o.
purpose, and that it is not only proper
that such differences should be tolerated
but that they should be encouraged. Il
is not polite that any one party should
be so strong as to override opposition with
out struggle, for then politics becomes
loose of action and often corrupt in its
agents.
For time the Democracy was al-pow-
erful, and its rule became degenerate,
cowardly and dishonest. Its strength
was not based on principle, but on preju-
dice and on it's record as the friend OF
secession. It had no higher aim than to
succeed at the polls. Even its best men
admitted then, and they admit now, that
the party was governed in the interest of
men, and that the means by which these
men succeeded were unworthy and de-
basing. Then came the day when the
Republican party was too strong. Its
high aims and generous politics We're de-
based to advance selfish schemes and sor-
did men. 1t was strong because it had
an immense vote that was bound to s1s-
tain it, and because the Democracy had
SO cheated the public, and deceived its
own followers, that the intelligent and
honorable men who had previously acted
with it could not gain their own consent
to longer vote for its corrupt nominations.
We are gratiied that this state of affairs
is subsiding, and that after the present
canvass we shall hear no more of that in
tolerance which has made it dangerous
to be a Republican in many portions of
Louisiana. 1t is not at all conducive to
the welfare of the people that all the
white men should arrange themselves in
support of one ticket and all the colored
men in support of the other. The
existence of such a state of things at
present grows out of no fault of the Re-
publican party, but is solely the work of
the Democracy. The Republicans de-
clared that all men who paid taxes should
be represented. The Democrats said that
only white men should assume the duty
of representing the taxation of the State.
All other issues were lost sight of, and
the contest was waged on this simple
question of color. As matter of course
the black people supported the party that
stood by the fundamental doctrine of the
revolutionary war. and which promised
to make them a part of the government.
Unfortunately, a large majority of the
white people followed the Democracy and
organized themselves into party to set
up again in America that.principle which
tlxes men and refuses to hear their
protests or their advice. The argument
was violent at first, but it has grown less
vehement and bitter until now, the good
sense of the people has forced the DEM
ecracy to adopt the Republican platform.
This is one important step. Ithas been
Won because the Republicans held a firm
front on that question of justice. But it
requires one more victory to consummate
the complete triumph of our platform.
The Democracy has granted suffrage to
the colored people, in written address
Now we want to see the matter settled by
a practical test. We desire to hear the
glad news from all sections of the State
that the negroes were allowed to vote as
freely as the white people were. Exam
pie is everything. Breaking the ice is the
most difficult step. A fair and free cleo
ton will so prepare the way for fusion of
the people that its good moral will |
never be lost. 1t will be the |
white heat that will at once
weld all the elements of society |
INTO common political mass. People
will see that it neither robs the State nor
iegrades virtue. Men will be as free af-
Ter they have voted with a colored man as
hey were before And the two will be
lrawn together to discuss their common
so that thenceforward we shall |
hear no more of the white mans party,
lor the black mans party. A day of new
ssues will spring up. Good men and
correct principles may succeed to the
present uncertain state of politics. At |
east we shall be in way to advocate
,reater reforms than ever, because we
hall be relieved from the great response
,ility Of contending for human rights.
And this is what the present signs of
ines give promise of. The trip Of Gov
rnor Warmoth into the parishes has
rought about social reform as well as
political revolution. In Shreveport,
espite the vile and incendiary publica-
ions of the Democratic organs, the Gov
rnor was visited by scores of the best
itizens. They heard him talk, they
stened to reason, they accepted his facts,
hey broke down the barriers, and they
anne out from behind the Chinese wall
hitch Democracy had hedged them about
18th. They denied that the organs of
owdyism reflected the sentiments of the
community. They promised to see that
rider was maintained on election day,