The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-18
Colored Democrats.

ment among our people on the subject OF
recognizing the colored element in politics.
Some persons think that such course
would be a tacit sanction of the policy by
which colored residents become citizens,
and that it would forever bind the Demo-
cratic party to the maintenance OF that
policy. Others say that the mere recognl-
ton of facts as they exist cannot be con
strued into their approval-that it is always
the wisest policy to accept the situation
and make the best of it, where it cannot
be remedied.
This latter doctrine seems to have secured
the majority in its support, and conse-
quently we find the Democratic Conyen-
ton which recently organized in our city
admitting colored delegates to seats. The
majority urge that we must accept recon-
struction as we find it, and that it embraces
the negro. The negro is an institution
which we cannot ignore. If we de not &C
cept it and make terms, we must submit
Internationally and do worse:~
1t has always appeared to us>wise to
make the best of any given condition, IN
stead of fighting hopelessly against fate:>
We are aware that certain persons dissent
from this view, and prefer the heroic-at
least in words. They would fight for what
they conceive to be their rights, even alb
stract ones, to the bitter end. They would
see their homes forever ruined, their wives
and children perish of famine and fall
themselves under the sword rather than
cease resistance. This will do very we'll
to talk about, and even to season improba-
bic romances and high flown poetry, but
the public can never be convinced that
such takers; are anything but humbugs.
A population goes in for existence, as
general rule, even at the expense of con-
siderable Inconvenience and loss of dignity.
They generally take sides with the plain
spoken Virginia captain of the Revolution
AIRY war, who was urged to adopt for his
company the usual motto, Liberty OF
DEATH" After mature reflection he could
not endorse the sentiment in its fullest
sense, but compromised on the less exalted
motto, Liberty or be crippled"
If our Democratic brethren are willing
to go into another war with the Federal
Government, then they may nationally COM
mcnce expostulating against the Recon-
struction acts and other supposed griev-
ances, but if they have made up their
minds to remain in the Union and take part
in its political government, they ought to
do so with the intention of using all honor
able means necessary to make their condi-
ton more tolerable, however disagreeable
they may be. If one were in Dallomey, for
instance, it would not be inconsistent with
honor to dine with the colored monarch of
| that country, provided the dishes were not
on the cannibal order One might even
assume certain intimacy with banditti or
pirates if necessary to the performance of
a perilous journey, yet these things would
probably be repugnant to ones natural
tastes and inclinations. The stately gem
tleman who would rather starve than dine
at Congo's table, or perish on desert
island rather than accept passage on dis
reputable ship, would simply be regarded
as run mad.
The practical application of all this is
| that the negro is q voter here, and we
couldn't help it, even if we wanted to. He
is bound to vote, and it is better to have
his vote for US than against us.
There are many who are quite willing to
have and procure negro votes, but revolt at
the legitimate consequence of accepting
their aid. If we recognize and use them as
a political force we must, to be reasonable,
accord them the respect due to that force.
We must pay the price of their alliance.
We cannot expect them to throw the weight
of their ballot in the scale on our side
without giving them some of the fruits of
victory. We cannot justly or properly ask
the alliance of the negro element at the
poles without giving reasonable share of
the offices to that element. This is the
only natural price of fusion of different
parties or cliques in politics, and if we are
not willing to so to that extent, then let
US not accept the alliance. Let us send
them off to affiliate with radical whites,
and get twice as many officers they
would expect from us, while the present
rule of ruin and shame would thus be
fastened upon our unfortunate State for a
still longer term.
This maybe pride, but it is not policy.
1t is a naughty contempt for the old proyerb
which declares that a half loaf is better
than no bread. We think that the Demo-
cratic party has been true to it's time-hon-