New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-16

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It has been the earnest and sincere wish
of many good men in this country to rid
its politics of the question Of color in per-
sons. To speak more plainly, the country
has become wearied of the irrepressible ne
gro, and consented to wipe out both
''color and previous condition" in order
that the words of President Grant-'Let
US have peace" might come to pass. But
in spite of our laws wiping away civil and
and political distinctions that existed be-
tween the white men and black men Of our
country-in spite of the effort that has
honestly been made to do away with caste,
to get rid of any possible chance of a war
of races, the negro still looms up as dis
tinctive and disturbing element, when it is
not only not right, but criminal that he
should do so Of his own accord or be
made to do so by Others We speak
plainly because it is the duty Of the
journalist to do SO. The New Orleans
REPUBLICAN was among the earliest advo-
Gates of the thirteenth, fourteenth and tif-
tenth amendments to the constitution,
and the reconstruction laws 1t has never
faltered in its support Of all the measures
that were deemed necessary to secure to
colored men equal civil and political rights
with other citizens 1t did this as a mat
ter of Justice to colored men, and not for
the purpose Of building up a negro Tarty.
The negro had long been made disturb
ing element in the politics of the country,
and the country, in wiping out distinction
of color, in comforting the rights of citizen
ship, certainly had a right to expect that
the negro would cease to be a further
source of irritation. But in this, to some
considerable extent, we are sorry to say,
the country is disappointed. There is a
disposition of the part of few selfish and
very unwise leaders to have negro party
in the Southern States, and this disposi-
ton, we should judge from the close fgur-
ing that is made in the following extract,
taken from the Washington National Re
publican, is INDUCED in by the Grant ad-
ministration:
The last census shows that the total num-
Der of colOred people in the United States Is
4,S79, l07. Gentlemen who are just now
figuring up the, political chances and prob
abilities would do well to remember that
the colored people are the dominant race in
the States of South Carolina, Mississippi
and Louisiana, while they are quite close to
the whites in Florida, Alabama and Geor-
gia. That they will secede from the Repub
lican party, even if Mr.. Greeley should be
nominated, is utterly out of the question, so
that those States may be counted sure for
Grant and Wilson in November.
It would appear from the above extract
that the friends of President Grant regard
the colored people as the dominant race
in the States of South Carolina, Missis-
sippi and Louisiana, while they are repre-
scented quite close to the whites in Florida,
Alabama and Georgia, and the Washing
ton organ of the Grant administration
deems it utterly out of the question that
what it chooses to call the dominant party
in the States named should vote otherwise
than for Grant and Wilson. 1t
will be seen, then, in a close
vote, the hopes of the administra-
ton are with the negro votes of the South,
the voters Of which It's friends are pleased
to style the ruling party. We can not re-
gard this other than direct appeal to all
who choose to rally as negro voters-and
the Washington Republican states that they
are the dominant party in South Carolina,
and Louisiana-to do so. And
to this complexion has Grantism come at
last. 1t hopes by the aid of the dominant
power in these States-the negro party
to make Grant the dominant power in the
United States. Louisiana will contest this
little scheme to rule, and show that it is
not utterly out of the question to cast her
vote for Greeley.