New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-14
WORKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WORKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
Prescription does not sound we'll in the
colored convention, where the chief COM
plant is against prescription. The ne
groes are very anxious to be granted every
right that any other citizen enjoys, and
vet some of them are inconsistency refus-
ing to others the identical privileges
which they have been denied for years,
and which, even yet, they are not fully
possessed Of. And this, too, in conven-
ton of their own, at which they proposed
to demonstrate their capacity to be free,
by proving that they were willing to grant
freedom OF thought and action to all men.
As matter of course this is wrong, and
when We state the entire case, we do not
think single delegate will disagree with
US.
The controversy in which this proscrip-
tive sentiment was developed was in refer
ence to the Cincinnati convention. Many
Of the noisy delegates insisted that no
Republican could 60 to Cincinnati, and
that any man who did go there while pre-
tending to be Republican should be
read out of the party. This is wrong
for two reasons; first. because the colored
convention has 10 right to speak for the
Republican party, and therefore it has no
right to read men out of the organization.
The convention met in New Orleans to
discuss the affairs of particular race or
class of people; and though it is our in
terest that all colored people should be-
long to the Republican party, and, as for
that, their interest too, still they should
not assume to classify their convention as
Republican body, since it assumes to
represent all the colored people, and many
Of these are Democrats, and many Of them
belong to other parties. 1t is out of
place, looking at the matter in this
light, for a purely negro convention to
assume that it is Republican body, for
when it does SO it at once disallows its
assumed right to represent all the colored
people. The second reason why it is wrong
is this, that the Cincinnati convention has
done nothing so far to give ofense to any
Republican. 1t has not even declared that
it will not adjourn and support the nomina-
tons made at Philadelphia. Many Of the
most prominent advocates of the convoca-
ton at Cincinnati have simply promised
to attend for the purpose Of indorsing
certain political reforms which they desire
to see impressed upon the regular Repub-
lican convention at Philadelphia in the
matter of appointments to Office. Other
delegates have declared their intention to
support the Cincinnati convention, pro-
vided the Republicans do not nominate
an Objectionable man. And yet, again,
other delegates have leaned toward Gin
cinnati because they hoped a better
Republican might be selected at that
place than at Philadelphia. To say that
10 Republican shall attend at Cincinnati
S to prescribe men, not for what they
lave done, but for what they may do. |
suppose the delegation from Louisiana be-
omes dissatisfied with the action of the |
cincinnati convention, and support the |
nomination, are they to be |
cad out of the party for merely seeking
Information as to what is best to be done? |
dessrs. Sumner and Greeley propose to
ttend at Cincinnati, but they have not
'ound themselves to support the action of
he convention. They only act for the
'est, reserving the right to judge for them
elves which nomination they will support
n the interest Of Republicanism.
The colored people are too apt to fall
nto leading strings, just as the white peo-
lie do They have been led in this in
lance to declare against the Cincinnati
invention without knowing what that
,eeting would result in. And they have
ommitted this injustice when their life
ing friends are the leading spirits of the
ssembly they set their faces against.
hey have looked to Sumner, Greeley,
urtin, Fenton and Schurz for years as
Heir strongest defenders and upholders;
nd now, because some new friends have
OF possession of their ears, they are will
ng to fly off from these old and unselfsh
postles to the support of men who never
elped them except for something in re-
i'm. If Greeley and Sumner did not de-
,rt them in their weakness, is it likely
lat they will betray them to-day? Are
ley not ungrateful to denounce men who
D to consult with lifelong Republicans
, to what can be done to make Repubi-
snism more effectual throughout the
nited States? In fact, are they not in
,nsistent for denouncing the right of men
meet in convention when they have just
zen granted that right themselves? Is
honest in those who are complaining Of
leir own prescription to commence pro-
ribing?
NEW RAILWAY CONNECTION.
The new railway connection established
Y the Mobile, New Orleans and Texas