Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-27
THE TACTICS OF D1SORGAN'
fZERS.

in some Of the wards OF the city,
there seemed to be q settled pur-
pose to prevent any one from speak
ing who was known as not sup
porting what is called ths"Custom
House faction" of the Republican
party. In this sort of tactics the
third ward has taken the lead, and
we may say, it still bears the palm.
In this ward itwould seem that the
people, having given up their free
dom and shut themselves in from all
political light, except such as can be
struck from the flint Of opposition
to. Governor Warmoth, forget not
only that there is Democratic par
ty to fight, but select good Republl-
licans as subjects of insult, and as
objects of obloquy. If the Repub-
liean happens to be coloTed' SO
much the better for the purposes
Of the sycophantic three who rule
the ward. rein T.
Is it possible that our people VINO
constitute vast majority at every
meeting of this ward will tamely
submit to be ridden over IN TINS
roughshod style? They have the
mower in their own hands, and
though for convenience they may
delegate the power OF choosing
speakers to committee, yet when
ever they see that power abused by
those to whom it is delegated, the
people have a right to resume it in
stantly. Not only does the unity
of the Republican party call for, far
play among republicans at their
ward meetings, the sacred right OF
free speech, and what ought to be
as sacred to us, the complete union
of men of color demand a cessation
of such scenes as We witnessed last
Saturday,.snd have since witnessed.
The discourtesy shown to speakers
ON both occasions, not because they
were politically heterodox, nor be-
cause they were dull orators, not
even it may be because the audiences
entertained any dislike, personally
to them, but because two or three
white men, for political purposes
are trying to make colored men be-
Ieve that they are more interested
in their welfare than colored men
are themselves. 7
Tt is a curious circumstance that
our people hold on so long and sc
firmly to reverence for a mere
white face. Col. Lowell at the
third ward club last Saturday night
was called for amid The noise and
confusion of crying down a black
man. blackman who had been
invited by the committee on orators
to speak, and although there was
another colored orator to follow, til:
POSTMASTER actually cheated the
colored people out Of the oppor-
ftunity of hearing one of their own
race, and the selected speaker of an
expected honor and pleasure.
Now it seems to us that if one
white man can SO far get control Of
our people rs to make them insult
even a State Senator, and ar Ad-
ministrator of the city, rs they did
in the cases of Senator Barber and
Col. Lewis, for no other reason than
that these gentlemen are colored
then it must be said, either that
negro suffrage is q failure, or that
the negroes of the third ward are an
exception to our people. God grant
they are! for if this custom of cry
ing down men who undertake to
exercise the right of free speech is
to continue, if one or two third rate
while men are to beat down first
rate colored men, and that by the
aid of colored men, if in short de-
magoguez are still to be encouraged
in seeking to divide our people for
their own personal profit, then the
sooner we put an end to the farce
of party organization, the folly OF
believing in negro gratitude, and
the hope Of getting any good from
needy carpet-baggers, the better.
THE MISSOURI WEEKLY RE
VIEW.