Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-08-27
IN ITS pETORMITy


chosen "a the authorized exponent
OF the views-'the official organ
Of the Custonhouse wing OF the
Republican party, there occurs this
extraordinary and significant edi-
torial paragraph L.y n
"The blacks would stay away
from the polls in 1872 raaer than
be placed under the political slavery
OF this ring. This is not sentiment,
it is truth in its deformity, and it
will be seen, should the necessity
he forced on the colored people Of
this State. 1t is true they would
BIO the sufferers chiefly, but they
viii sooner undergo this than be
any longer subject to the false Re-
publicanism OF the preset regime"
The disastrous calamity of re-
hnquishing the State to those who
wouldn't stay away from the polls
in 1872, is to be invited If Presi.
dent Grant illustrates his repudi-
alton Of the outrageous acts Of his
suhordinates in the Customhouse,
by dismissirg them from Office.
And we are complacently told by q
paper, edited and managed by COL
ored men. that the colOred people OF
this State viii 60 to this extreme
Of folly and sslf-sacri6ce to revenge
itself on-whom? Happily the ne
cessity for pursuing line OF argu-
ment to dissuade the colored voters
from even the contemplation of any
such ridiculous act, Is entirely OBJ
waited by the knowledge that there
Is no such catastrophe threatened
or impending. 1t verify is truth
in its deforuity," and it is truth,
such as can only be uttered by white
msn; men who can change with
manners; men whose principles can
change with the times; men who
can swap over from Rspubicanism
to Democracy as convenience or an
terest may dictate.
But it is not, nor can 1t lie the
language of honest co!ored men,
who know that their only security
in the enjoyment Of civil and
political liberty depends positively
and exclusively on the peipetuity OF
Rspubhcanism. And it is deplor-
able to the last degree. that such
reckless, indicative. spiteful, inju-
rious counsel should emanate from
o journal pretending TO be within
tie ranks OF the Republican party.
Such remarks are indicative. even
at this distance from the elections,
Of the extent TO which the unap-
psasabls wrath OF the boilers Is
preparing to 60 in 1872. Brethren.
Tor the sake OF the interests Of the
colorsd msn about whom you are
now 30 solicitous. abstain from
oounselEng or encouraging the bit
ing Of ones nose ito spite his face
It is suggested by instinct. that the
preservation of sell preponder-
ates over every other confederation.
And LOOKING at this question from
this standpoint, we might easily
admit that both the present
administration and Democratic
rule are Objectionable to us. Still
the suggestions Of self preservation
would prompt US to chose the least
of the two evils; "false Republican
ism"--i-e-such as we have lived
under in this State since the election
of Governor Warmoth, or real
Democracy, such as our race lives
under in Georgia, Tennessee and
Alabama. As one OF the. Spokes-
men Of our people. We utterly cast
away your insane counsel. and
repudiate 1t az Misrepresentation
OF the State OF feeling among
colcred people generally.
We do not say that there aye not
individual cases Of hardship, and
wrongs inflicted on some colored
men, under the State Administra'
/ ton. Are there none inflicted on
,chits menu Do we hear a single
organ counsel as q REMEDY the stay
ing away from the polls by them
Certainly not. They know too well
"ths price Of liberty" to think OF
folding their arms and let the;z
rights clip away. Look at the Dem
ocratic party to-day in this State
and all over the country. Are they
staying away from polls? Are they