Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-03
SPEECH OF II. H. WHITE,
IN A MEETING OF CoLORED CITIZENS
HELD AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH,
LITTLE ROCK, THURSDAY, AU-
GUST "a, 1871.
GUST "a, 1871,

LITTLE ROCK, THURSDAY, AU-
GUST "a, 1871.
I III TT kDlIa ]
You are aware that the politics
of this country ara divided between
and absorbed in two great parties.
This state Of things is particularly
essential to the health and perpetu-
ity of Democratic government.
De Tocqueville says one of the dam
gers of Democracy is that unless
guarded, it tends towards despot-
ism. Agitation is essential to the
life and health of a republic, per-
petual quiet to a dynasty, If the
Alps, piled in still subimity, be the
emblem of despotism, ours IS the
ever restless ocean, wh10h, grit
within the eternal laws OF gravita-
ton, is always pure, because never
still. Need you be inquired OF why
you act with the Republican par
ty? Why is any intelligent man
of that school of POLITICAL ethics ?
The light and spirit Of the age in
whiclAw live present, TIE fullest
and clearest reply. to such interro-
gatories. 1t is both of the nature
and spirit of christian civilization
to secure to every human being the
fullest liberty and the broadest pos
sible equality. Judge fancy more
than twenty years ago, said that if
the language employed in the De-
claration of Independence should
be used in a similar instrument to-
day it would be understood to in
clude the whole human family.
Such, indeed, are the principles
which underlie our national exis-
tence; and it is certainly remarka-
BILE with what ariamid indifference
and mapalin ssntimentahty white
men have always shrunk from a
cordial support OF the legitimate in
ferences drawn from those admit
ted principles. I'd
Born since 1889, they have al
ways taken absolute right and COM
plete equality to mean white men
only. But much has been done to
redeem American society from its
abnormal condition. We have
much for which to be thankful, and
much more for which to hope. A
party that shuts its eye to color III
the administration Of justice and
equity, certainly deserves and draws
to its support all intelligent and
virtuous minds.
, Our bounden duty lies in giving
our undivided support to that party
which knows no man by his color
or condition, but all as citizens of &
common country, whose emolu
: ments, duties, obligations and
honors are disposed alike among
all. But we are surrounded BY
many and adverse influences; ant
our chief danger is the liability o
being divided. Guard with a jeal
GUS eye the influence brought t
, Dear upon us, and yield only to sucl
as bear onward in straight ant
direct line. A tortuous, swervin'
policy will prove our ruin. 1t i
said the Emperor Nicolas once re
quested his, engineers to build hin
a railroad from st. Petersbugh t.
!. Moscow. They brought him
paper with the intended road 10
iron horse and his train, marke'
' out What did you make it crook
ed for? said the emperor. Why
replied the engineers to reach tina
: city and to take in that communit
and to include that manufacturing
q interest. He took the paper an
n tore it in pieces; on another, mark
q ed with his pencil straight lin
:, between the two capitals, and said
Let everybody look out for him
self; build me that road" Thi
should be our policy; with an ey
single to the general good, jealous
g ly guarding what we have gained
n move forward to greater things i
4 the future, and be careful to be firm
l. ly united, keeping in straight linz
u u We are cautioned against those VIII
" would lead us astray by divertin