New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-02


then, at great expenditure of money, sent
several armed ships Of the navy, including
monitors, 20 maintain the usurper Baez III
power, that through him he might obtain
the coveted prize Not content with this
audacious dictatorship, he proceeded
TO strike at the independence Of the
black republic in an open menace
Of war, and all without the SANCTION
Of Congress- to which is committed
the waT-makiDg power. Sailing into the
harbOr OF Port au-Prince with the most
powerful monitor, the DictatOr-pr0perly
named for this service-alsO the trlgate
Severn, as cOnsOTt, and other monitors IN
their train, the Admiral, acting under M
structiOHs from Washington, proceeded TO
the executive mansion, accompanied by
the officers of his squadron, and then point
ing to the great war ships in sight from the
windows. dealt his menace OF war, threat
e1liug to sink or capture the Haytlen ships.
The President was black, not white. The
Admiral would have done no such thing to
any white ruler, nor would our country
have tolerated such a menace from any
government in the world. Hence was an
indignitv not only to a black republic with
its population Of eight hundred thousand,
but1 to the African race everywhere,
and especially in our own country. Nor
did il end here. For while this navy
Of the United States was lowering on the
coast keeping that iusuted people in con
slant anxiety, while President Grant was to
them like hawk sailing in the air, and
ready to swoOp upon his prey, this heart
less cruel proceeding found victim among
our white fellOW-citizens. An excellent
merchant Of Connecticut, praised by all
who knew him, was plunged into prison by
Baez, where he was immured because 1t
was feared he would write against the
treaty annexation, and this captivity was
prolonged with the cOInlvance OF two agents
Of the President-One Of whom Is found
constantly with him, and is part OF the mill
tarv ring Immediately about him. That
such an outrage could 20 unpunisbed shows
the little regard of the President Tor hui
man rights, whether in white or black.
/ confess my trials, as ! was called to
witness these things, always supporter
of the administration, and sincerely de-
string to labor with it, l had never ut
tered a word with regard to it, except IN
kindness. My early opposition to the
treaty Of annexation was reserved, so that
for some time my opinions were unknown
1t was only when | saw the breach of all
law, human and divine, that was aroused,
and then began the anger of the President
and his rings, military and senatorial De
voted to the African race, | felt for tn EN-,
besides being hUmbled, this great republic,
acting through its President, could set such
an example, where the national constltu-
ton, international law and humanity were
all sacrificed. Especially was l moved
when | saw the indignity to the cOlOred
race which was accomplished by trampling
upOn the fundamental principles of IN
ternational law declaring the equality
of the nation as our Declaration of indie
pendence declares the equality Of men.
This terrible transaction, which nobody.
can defend, is among the antecedents OF
President Grant, by which you can Judge
how much the cOlOred race can rely upon
lis heartfelt sympathies. Nor can it be for
gotten that shortly after the return of the
from this island, Hon. Fred
Douglass, the cOlOrcd orator, accomplished
in manners as in elOquence, was thrust away
from the company OF the commissioners at
a common table of the mail packet on the
Potomac, almost within sight of the execu-
tive mansion, simply on account. OF his
color But the President, at whose invita-
ton he had Joined the commission, never
uttered word in condemnation;
and when entertaining the returned com
missiOners al dinner, carefully omitted
Douglass who was III Washington at the
time, and thus repeated the indignity.
Other things might he mentioned as show
ing the sympathy Of the President, but
can not forget the civil rights bill, which
is the cap stone Of that equality before the
law TO which all are entitled, without dis
tinction of color. p resident Grant, who
could lobby so assduOuly for his San Do
minpO scheme, fell wrong to the cOlOred
race could do nothing for this benehcent
measure During the long session OF Con
gress it was constantly discussed, and the
colored people everywhere hung upon the
debate: but there was no heartfelt sym
pathy from tho President. At least, just
before tie nominating convention, he ad-
dressed a letter to a meeting Of cOlored
in Washington, called to adj
vance this cause, where he avoided
the question By declaring himself i'll
favor OF the full exercise Of those
rights to which every citizen should be
entitled, leaving it uncertain whether the
colOred people are Justly entitled to the
rights secured by the pending bill. l un-
derstand that Mr. Greeley has been already
assailed by an impracticable Democrat as
being friendly to this bill, but nobody has
lisped against President Grant on this &C
count.
Among the antecedents l deem it my
duty to mention is the little capacity OF IN
duStrv Of the President in protecting the
colored people and assuring peace at the
South.
Nobody-can doubt that a small portion
of effort and earnest will, even without
the lobbying so freely given to the San
scheme, would have averted those
Ku Klux 0utrages which we deplOre, so
that there would have been no pTetense for
further legislation by Congress. But as he
was disabled, both by the character and
the draw back Of his own conduct, after
violating the constitution and interna-
tional law to insult the black ropub-
lie. AMI setting an example of insubordina-
tiou. he was not in condition to rebuke
the law breakers.
Seconl-Passing from antecedents, now
come to the present position OF the Two
which is the subject OF your
next inquiry. If in any former particulars
the two are on an equality, yet III all SUD
stantial respects the obvious advantage Is
Greeley. Zach was nominated
by Republican conventions, one at Cincin-
matt and the other at Philadelphia. In this
respect they may seem to be on an equality,
but il will not fail to be observed that the
convention at Cincinnati was composed Of
able and acknowledged Republicans, many
OF whom have acted with the party from
its first formation, and who, without pre-
yious organization. came together vOlun-
tarilv for the sake of reform and purity in
the government, while on the other hand
the convention at Philadelphia was COM
pOsed of delegates chosen largely under the
influence of Ofice-hgldGrs, who assem-
bled to sustain what is known as
Grautism. Seeing the personal govern
meut and personal pretensl0nS OF PFesl-
dent Grant, involving nepOtism, re
payment of gifts by official patronage,
NEGLECT Of public duty, absenteeism, mill
tarv rule, disregard Of the constitution and
laws. with general uuftness, and indignity
to the colored race, all of which is so IN
republican as to make his support impos-
sibIe by true Republicans, therefore the
convention held at Philadelphia, calling it.
self Republican, was less Republican than
that held at Cincinnati. The two plat
forms. so far as concerns especially the