Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-30
STOP AND THINK.

There is O natural tendency IN
human nature to settle, by physical
collisions, difficulties which belong
,nly to the arena of debate; and
when this tendency manifests itself
rousln, thugs andplug uglies,
it is excusable simply on the ground
that. men as we'll as beasts will use
their natural weapons of defense.
But when the ripest intelligence and
the widest experience combine to
inveigle muscle to an assistance OF
opinion we are forced to the conclu-
sion that the cause is a very weak,
or very bad one.
1t is impossible for any impartial
observer to notice the tactics OF the
disorganizers in our party without
being led to the conclusion that the
disorganizers are in the wrong as
to the political stand they take.
Having conferred upon the Gov
ernor of this State, Judicial, civil and
political powers, under an exigency
which all understood With a unani-
nifty which did honor to party dis
cipline, in the confident hope OF the
very best results, for the purpose
of preventing vigilant, unsefupu-
lous snd implacable enemy from de-
stroyingthe fruits of reconstruction
a faction in our party are trying to
undo their own work, to bring dis
honor upon the men OF their own
choosing, and to curse the State by
the return of those laws which will
compel the colorod man to work
for those who may create vagrant
laws, deprive him of his right to
the soil and degrade him from the
position which the 10th Amend.
ment has lifted him. To this end
they send their emmissaries around
to wards, and even to mass meet
ings TO break them up by noisy de-
monstrations or actual violence.
On Friday night Mass Meeting
was held in Mechanics Institute, call
ed by the supporters OF Governor
Warmoth in the third ward, to Sc
cure to the members thereof the
rights denied them in the Mother
Club. with view Of harmOnlzlne
orr people and Of securing unity In
the Republican party; but instead
of reaching those laudable ends, the
meeting was turned into disgrace
full rabble by the presence OF many
of those, and we were sorry to no
tice many Custom House mel
among them, seem to have come
for no other purpose than to defea
the right of free speech.
Where do these men sleep o'night'
and what do they do in the da.
time that they haye the leisure ant
the hardihood to try to break up al
orderly and impartial Republican
meeting? We know that there Il
more than the usual amount of EN-
ployees in the Custom House, ant
we have our suspicious, that the ser
vice does not require them, bu
Friday nights, experience has con
vinced us that the Custom Hous'
must need them for such politlca
ends as will help to secure the vote
of the people in favor Of a set o
men who, however honest they ma.
be, are not only mistaken as to tn
condition of politics, but who als'
are, by their thugism, the wors
enemies to the national administra
ton.
| Can it be that our people will bt
deceived? Will they, upon the mos
frivolous pretext covering the ambi
ton of some candidate for G overn
or in the Custom House, bartel
away their liberties, insult their race
and wrap themselves in a mantle o
calamity?
Is free speech to be crushed out
and ordered to depart from our dc
liberations, and eminent member
of our race insulted by disappro
baton while upon the speaker
stand at the suggestion of some as
pirant for the gubernatorial chair
who proves his love for the Negro
by appointing the first one in hi
Office, not from love Of our race o.
recognition of the negro's merit