New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-28
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL EQUALITY.

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The Democrat still insists that the RE-
PUBLICAN has promised to place the negro
on social equality with the white man,
notwithstanding our positive and direct
denial of any such design. We do not
propose to put white men on the same
basis with each other, nor do we even pro-
pose to put inferior white men on the same
platform with superior colored people.
What we do propose, however, is to put
every man on a political equality, and
then let him take care oShimself SO far as
his social standing is concerned. Ac-
cepting for ourselves just such company
as suits US, and rejecting all associations
that are offensive on account Of bad
habits or evil dispositions, We propose to
allow our fellow-citizens to do the same
thing. In doing this, we do not intend
to cheat the black men by promis-
ing them before election what we do not
intend to allow to them after the
election. Nor do we intend to offer them
seats in our conventions and then pay
them to stay at home, as the Democrats
did. Our entire contract with them is
this, that as citizens they shall have the
same political rights that We have. In
the enjoyment Of these privileges, which
have been granted and guaranteed by the
law, if they can succeed in receiving po-
sition, or can build up a business, we are
willing to assist them as if they We're not
time and companionship, that is a matter
entirely at our own disposal, and We allow
no man to engross it who is not agreeable
to our habits and sentiments. Probably
We are at q greater remove from that
social degradation which accepts of COM
partnership with the worthless, than the
men who stand on the corner and have
such a fierce speech for the advocates of
negro equality. At least We hope so, for
it would be poor compliment to our
honesty if We could not establish that
while our promises have been more sim
cerely made and better kept than those
that have been so promiscuously handed
about by the Democrats, We have never
consented to cajole any man ont Of his
ballot by descending to drug his senses
with the appliances SO freely bestowed at
the rooms Of the Hancock Club. We have
advocated political equality, for that is
both practical and benefcent but we
have denounced social equality, for that
is neither beneicent nor practical. The
Democrat is inferior to the REPUBLICAN,
Jones is superior to Brown-no law can
alter these patent and irremediable differ
ences. The law can declare that the
Democrat may be sold with the
same freedom as the REPUBLICAN,
and that it may publish its
rubbish with the same regularity; but |
where will the legislator be found stupid |
enough to proclaim thar it shall be read
with the same attention, or accepted with
the same relish? Jones is wise, tolerant, |
witty, sagacious, sober, and a Republican;
Brown is dull, intolerant, stupid, menda-
cious and drunken Democrat viii any
legislature attempt to force a social
equality between thSe men Hardly.
And yet, the same law that makes a citi-
zen out Of Jones, also makes citizen out
of Brown, and puts them on an exact foot
ing Of political equality, although the
legislator knew at the time he made the
law that Brown would sell his vote to
Jones before night for a drink of whisky
But, in order to protect such men as
Jones, the law was made universal, not
it was fully understood that
Brown would slip in under its cover and
cheat its liberal provisions. Some time
in the future, perhaps, we shall find a
community SO we'll governed that Brown
Will be kept out of politics as too incom-
petent or too dishonest to be entrusted
with the responsibilities Of selecting the
'ulers of the people, just as We now ex-
,use him from our parlors; but until that
day shall arrive, the best
hing we can do is to allow all men the
ame rights, trusting to the good and re-
ponsible members Of society to outvote
he Browns.