New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-02
an EASY PATH 10 PEACE,

AN EASY PALa ~ 1LAJGi
Did it ever occur to the people who fol-
low the Picayqsne in its discomfort, that
the easiest way to secure peacein Louisiana
is for them to set the example. The ques-
ton which was sprung upon the American
mind fifty years ago, that human slavery
disgraced the republic and was an evil to
be overcome and blotted out, refused to
be suppressed BY selfshness Or stupidity,
but held its way until it put under rs loot
all those who had spit upon i. Inc
truths buried in the catacombs under the
mold Of thirty centuries is still struggling
to escape from its imprisonment Simply
because it Is imperishabIe and must con
tinually strive for acknowledgment. As
tbe South buried freedom under strange
customs and perverted readings Of the
law Of God until it broke forth to over
whelm it's jaiIors, SO portion Of the peo-
pie Of the South, and especially Of New
Orleans are now striving to bury liberty
and Justice, thoughtless Of the Impossible
task which they have undertaken. The
Picaglr1e can no more entomb the rights OF
the colored people than the Egyptians
could suppress the principle Of decay;
and since it is impossible for the sugge8-
tions Of oppression to be quickened into
realities, if their authors viii withdraw
them and consent to live and let live, we
shall have peace at once, for there VIII be
no cause Of quarrel This is plain, we
suppose. When the Pjcoyuae and its
party assail the rights Of one-hait Of the
community as a matter Of course, il must
expect resistance. The only way to peace
in such condition Of affairs is for the
assailant to withdraw his attack. Is long
as the Democracy refuse to acknowledge
the rights and immunities Of the negroes,
SO long the negroes must struggle to main
tain themselves, and the disturbance that
follows can not legitimately be laid to
their charge. All the trouble that exists
in the State at present results, not from
any attempt Of the Republicans to usurp
the rights Of others, but from the persist
ent assaults Of Others upon their rights
and privileges. Because the law said the
negroes should vote and be accounted as
citizens, the Picdyu2e declared that this
was an invasion and subyersion Of the
rights of white men.
This abuse Of principle created and still
creates trouble, and the quickest way to
arrest the trouble is to desist from the
abuse. There can be no peace until this
stubborn and stupid war upon the negroes
is ended, for the simple reason that the
negroes are bound to resist, or else they
are bound to find friends who viii resist
for them until they are let alone in peace.
As well expect a cork to remain under
water as TO expect the right to forego re.
sistance. As well expect the strong man
to win victory over the buoyancy Of the
cork as 70 expect robust brutality 30 stife
the ever ascending voice Of justice. Time
ana the law Of right must win il the long
run.
A majority OF the W1lte people o. re"
Orleans have engaged II laWtess CON
splracy to lnJure large part OF the come
munity upon which the State depended
for her prosperity. They declared 'hat
the negroes should not be cltlz@ns,
although the law sad they should oee
This created the agitation. 4h@ ""iored
people claimed their rights, and the
white people refused to Let them have the
same. The State must NOT stand Idle ia
any such controversy, for as she depends .
upon every citizen, 50 she mus. defend
every one with equal energy. And be-
cause the Democracy, which styles itself
the whole people, resented and defed this
law and this obligation Of the State, We
have had confusion and trouble upon our
to our lot, for the home that Il fIleI, with
4uarrelS is empty Of bread.
An immediate plan by which this agita. |
lion can be stayed is for the conservative |
people to desert the Ptcayas,s and its GUAR. !;