New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-02
FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY.

Very small arguments are accepted by
the conservative and Democratic press
with a great deal of favor, as witness the
fondness with which they adopt the re-
marks Of Lieutenant Governor Pinckback
against those of his friends who have not
his individual right to ride in the
cars Of the jackson railroad. Mr.. Pinch
back committed an injustice in complain
ing against Northern Republicans about
grievance which they had no reasonable
power to remedy; and the conservatives
and Democrats who indorse his complaint,
and seek to make capital out Of its utter
ance, not only commit the inconsistency
OF condemning an act for which
they themselves are wholly respon-
sible, but they demonstrate their
insincerity by using an argument
against others which they can not deny
applies, and with far greater force, to
their own conduct The Northern Re
publicans, admitting for the sake OF the
argument that men who have been doml-
ciliated in the State as citizens for five
years are liable to this designation, against
whom this complaint is made, have COM
piled with all their political engagements,
by assisting in and voting for the framing
of a constitution and laws in accordance
Herewith, that provides for an equality OF
rights for all people in any public con-
vevance in the community. This is what
they agreed to do, and this is what they
have done; and they have done this in the
face of the most violent denunciation
from the very parties who are now accus-
ing them of bad faith toward the colored
people.
MIR. Pinchback admits that the laws of
the State are just and comprehensive
enough to protect all his rights, but he
complains that these laws are utilities for
want of proper enforcement What has
any particular Republican to do with this =?
Who are the really responsible parties?
Not the men who made the law, but those
who Use the power to nullify it. Who. are
these parties? Do not the Democrats and
admit their guilt when they
tell Mr.. Pinchback that when he has in
duced the North to tolerate his presence in
frst-class hotels and fashionable theatres,
through a national law to that effect,
then they will agree to accept of his
presence in q railroad car? The Jack
son railroad is not responsible: for, being
a corporation, it knows no difference be-
tween one man and another but being a
very costly enterprise, it naturally consults
its customers as to the way they desire to
be served. Mr.. Pinchback offers to ride
in the cars. and the railroad consent to
admit him to seat in one of its first class
cars, but presently the two hundred and
fifty editors Of the Picayane apply for
ride. and being told that Mr.. Pinchback is
inside, they fly into a passion, and swear
that if he goes they will not. What must
the read DO under these circumstances?
If it carries Mr.. Pinchback alone it viii
lose money and be forced to suspend oper-
atoms if it asks him out, and admits the
select crew from the Picayatne, it will save
itself and continue to be of public con-
yenience. We submit this illustration as
fixing the blame for this injustice, not on
the Northern Republicans against whom
if is charged, but on the very men who
are irving to use it as an argument against
innocent parties.
Then, again, Mr.. Pinchbaclz had the
law On his side, and he had the same
remedy that Mr.. Sauvinet applied for when
he was refused his rights in much
smaller matter than that in which MIR.
Pinchback and his family suffered. He
saws the law is dead letter, but Mr..
Sauvinet's experience is different. The
court before which the law was tested
maintained it's provisions and reiuted the
frequent charge that is made against it
that it is q nullity. No law can be en-
forced unless the party directly interested
proceeds to recover his rights under its
provisions in a legitimate way Let the
Lieutenant Governor prosecute those who
defraud him, and then, if he fails, we
shall be ready to assist him to make law
that will protect him.
The eagerness with which the PicdyNne
and Times picked up the complaint, and
the earnestness which they display in
using it to make capital for the Democ-
racy against the Republicans, show how
weak their hope of success is and how
few their arguments are. When they
have even subscribed to the laws which
have been passed in favor of the rights
of all men, when they consent to do
Justice at home without waiting for the
North to set them the example, they may
reasonably appeal to the colored people to
desert the men and the party who have
given them an equal standing in the State
with the editors of the Picay,uae and Times.
THE FEDERAL OFFICE-H0LDERs CONVBN-
TON
1t aOpears that the federal officials IN