New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-20
according to the best of my abil,
ity and understanding. So help me Cod
REEQRMERS VS.. DEMOCRATS

| lty and understanding. so help me GOO-
Performers VS.. DEMOCRATS.
l have held no Office in the State of
Louisiana since the passage of this con-
stitution. In fact. l never held political
! Office in ing life, unless the humble position
of alderman of the Second Municipality
| twenty two years ago may have been called
the city of New Orleans now belonging to
the Democratic party who have assailed the
position have taken under this cOnstitu-
ton and under these laws, within the last
| few days. who have held office and have ta-
ken that very oath l have read to YOU.
| Loud applause. And l will go further
| There are gentlemen in the city of New
| Orleans to-day, connected with the
| Democratic parcy who assail this position
OF mine and are endeavoring to create
prejudice against this movement, who are
anxious to take Office again, and are ready
| to take that oath over again. ["That's So"
| laughter and prolonged applause.] If this
| is an honest mans party and we come for
| ward to support this constitution, and are
ready to take these Oaths, We mast carry
them out in good faith. [Cheers] We can
not succeed as a party in this State without
| we can bring into cooperation with us at
least a portion Of the colored element OF the
| State-unless we impress upon the minds OF
! and honest in the declarations we are now
making. [Applause.l
We took no part In the making OF this
| constitution; We took part i'll placing these
amendments in the constitution OF the
| United States, and we can not unmake
| them. Revolutions never go backward,
| and these amendments will stand where
| they are. 1t would be utterly impossible to
| change them, even though every Southern
| State would rise and demand their change.
| Therefore, we have but one duty to per-
form. If we are determined to go into this
canvass and endeavor to redeem this State,
we have to come forward and take the
oaths to support the constitution Of the
State of Louisiana. Are we we ready to do
this. or are we prepared to remain in the
state of vassalage under which we have
lived for the last four years. Are we will
ing, by our Indifference, by our supineness,
by our foolish and abstract prejudices. to
lay down our arms and to continue to live
under such government as we have had
in the State these last four years Ii we
are, it appears to me that the little we have
left at the present moment will become so
completely exhausted during the next four
years that if We desire to leave the State
we will have nothing to take with us.
Laughter and cheers,
on SOCIAL EQUALITY,
1t was stated in one Of the public prints
that l had come out in favor Of social
equality. l thought l was SO well known
in the city of New Orleans that would
have received credit for more intelligence
than to have uttered such an absurd and
preposterous idea. AS my friend, Colonel
BreaUx, very wisely remarked, there is no
social equality in the white race there is no
social equality in the black race, and there
can be no social equality between the two
races. The social distinctions OF human
society are as well marked as the strata OF
the earth, and they are both the work Of
the same great Power. No human laws
can change them, and l should have sunk
myself in my own selt-respect if l could
have uttered such sentiment or enter
tanned it for moment. The Times fully
expresses my ideas on this subject in little
article which appeared in its columns few
days since. II said
The remark of Lieutenant Governor
Pinchback, that there never was and never
can be such Il thing as social equality, is
based on sound philosophical principles.
Social equality, were such "a thing possible,
would render the privacy of home impos-
sible. destroy all the sacred and endearing
ties on which domestic happiness is found
ed, and IN making all things common would
60 to the extreme of making them unciean.
Every free human being is the architect of
Judge of the extent to which social priyi
leges may be accorded. 1t, therefore, re-
quires community of purpose to create a
condition of social equality between any
two human beings, and to make such con-
dition universal is to make every human
being exactly alike in appearance, senti-
ment and mental capacity"
In the able and eloquent address drawn
up by my friend, II. n. Ogden, Esq. of the
A.
was declared "A cordial union is now to
be formed upon the platform of perfect
equality Again, speaking of those in pos
session of the State government, the adj
dress goes on to say:
They are, besides, strongly entrenched
behind these infamous laws which virtually
take away our right of franchise; and if, in
the approaching contest, they are to be dis
lodged, and Louisiana liberated You may
depend upon it these results can only be
accomplished by an earnest and united
effort of our entire population. both white
and black, cordially cooperating for this
great purpose, forgetful OF all past differ
ences and prejudices, looking simply to the
future of our State, and cordially agreeing
that for all time to come there shall be no
distinction, political or civil, between the
people of Louisiana on account Of race or
color; and that the status OF the colored
man, as now liked by the constitution and
laws of the United States, and by the con-
stitution and laws Of this State, shall be
considered settled and irrevocable.
You will perceive that l, i'll my speeches.
went no further than the address of the
committee, which, in fact, covers the whole
ground.
ATTITUDE OF TIE DEMOCRACT.
The Democratic Parish Committee has
also assailed this movement. They find
| fault with you. citizens, who have deter
| mined to come forth from your homes and
| take part again in the politics Of the State.
| They charged you with previous Indifference
| to this duty, and now, that you have deter
| mined that this charge shall no longer be
laid truthfully at your door, they find fault
| with you because you have resolved to per.
form the constitutional duties of a citizen
| In their address the parish committee,
speaking of you, says:
ut is this class, hitherto silent and idle
| spectators OF the ruin of the State, and the
| trampling under foot of every sacred right
| of the citizen, which now comes forward at
the eleventh hour, make a merit of its own
dereliction of duty in the past and aspers-
ing the motives and characters OF citizens
more devoted to their public duties;-
meaning that they have been always
more ready to hold public offices than your
selves, slaughter and cheers]-to foster
schism among the people of the State, and
| demands with crtrtarcilia1S