New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-29
GOING FOR THE NEGRO,

The Picayune has discovered the Fright
kind of work. and the fright way to do
it, in order to Gust Republicans from office
and obtain control Of the government for
the Fifty-one 'reformers (so-called),
which it represents. The great secret and
cure-all for the evils they suffer under lies
in procuring "a subdivision Of the coloret
vote" If they can only inveigle sutfi-
cient number of colored men to bolt the
Republican party and vote for their kind,
loving and atfectionate ''old marsters," all
will be smooth and happy.
Do they think the colored people Of
Louisiana, who have for two years enjoyed
the blessings of Republican rule, are
utterly devoid Of common sense or judg-
ment, unobservant and gained nothing by
experience? Has not the same siren song
been sung to them before, and have they
not resisted it as they would any other
device intended to lure them to destruc-
ton? Our contemporary is unfortunate
in citing the example Of other Southern
States as a reason why the ''old citizens
should for present reasons affiliate with
''their former slaves" Those former slaves
can see but too plainly, and too keenly
lament that their brethren in Ten
nessee, the Carolinas, Georgia and Nir-
ginia have restored their old masters to
power, and in so doing have installed
them as new masters. In SO doing they
have been forced to eat the bitter fruit of
disappointed hopes and broken pledges: of
rights, privileges and immuuities wrested
away or virtually annulled. In Louisiana
alone, Of all these reconstructed States, has
the colored man more than the shadow of
the liberties and privileges guaranteed to
him by the constitution and laws. Is it
reasonable to suppose, then, with these
sad illustrations of the fruits of the Plea
ytne's policy before them, the colored
people of Louisiana will permit themselves
to be gulled by its specious ''reform"
sophistries? Is it likely they will desert
the leaders who. by wise and firm admin
istration of the government, have elevated
them to a rank which is the envy of their
race in all other sections of the nation?
The suggestion is simple folly.
The Picauu1le and its Performers" must
do something practical if they would win
the colored vote to their support A
simple promise to, at some future time,
carry out the provisions of the civil rights
bill will not suffice. Some of the names
prominently used in the reform" move
ment own steamboats,. Let such give the
colored people equal travelling accommo-
dations to those afforded all others but
their race. Why should exception be
made against one with African blood in
his veins that is not enforced against
Turk, Persian, the japanese or Indian?
Why not give the colored people you SO
pathetically appeal to at least decent
accommodations in your theatres. hotels
and other public resorts? When you show
your faith by your deeds-when you begin
to exchange practical works for alluring
pledges-we shall begin to despair OF Re
publican ascendency in Louisiana. We
do not believe our party entirely without
sin, but you must first outstrip it in acts
Of even and impartial justice to all people
before you can ALLEVIATE from it the alegi-
ance of the honest masses of the sutfragans
OF louisiana