New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-16
PRESIDENT GRANT.

war upon the colored voters Of this State
for they elected the present State officials.
And we now deliberately repeat this asser
ton for the benefit of all whom it may
concern. In dealing with the colored PEG.
pie the REPUBLICAN has always endeavored
to be just, without descending to servility
or counting their favor by fattery. It has
always endeavored to be plain and
straightforward in its conduct to.
ward all the people of this State, and
has consistently maintained Republican
principles, as understood by the illustrious
apostle, the great and good Lincoln-the
man who rendered up his life on the alta1
of universal liberty, the emancipation OF
millions of slaves, and the true friend OF
republican government as developed by
the American people. We have been as
free to point out the faults of the colored
men as the errors Of the more intelligent
white race, and have endeavored to do
this without unfair prejudice to either, en-
deavoring at all times to shape our course
SO as to bring about the greatest good tor
| the greatest number. We hold the true
objects of government to be the general
prosperity of the people, and that the ad-
ministration that. failing to take this
catholic view of the subject, attempts to
build up the few at the expense of the
MANY is not worthy Of the support Of a
free people.
In this State four Years ago the major
ity Of the people-loyal and to. the manor
born-elected Judge Warmoth Governor.
It is true at that time comparatively a
small number of white men were embraced
in the Republican party of Louisiana. 1t
was composed principally of black men,
and, as their white enemies would have it,
of untutored negroes who were totally un-
fit to exercise the high preregative OF citi-
Zens.
There was most bitter and deep-rooted
prejudice pervading the minds of three
fourths Of the white people of the State in
regard to negro suffrage. The white man
who favored it that time was pointed out
as a negro-worshiper and branded as in
famous, and he was always in danger Of
personal harm at the hands of men edu-
Gated to think slavery divine institution.
We are going back now, not for the idle
purpose Of raking up the past, but to show
that the prejudice and ill-feeling against
the present State government, and more
particularly the executive branch of it, is
no new thing. In 1868, when Governor
Warmoth was installed he was stigmatized
as unworthy of the respect and counter
ance Of white men, as Governor, because
he had been elected by negro votes. This
bitter feeling, extending alike to the ma
tional and State governments, continued
undated for more than two years. 1t was
so great Immediately after the State gov
eminent had been organized and put in
operation, that Republicans for the sake
of peace, had to relinquish the privilege Of
casting their votes for the Republican
nominees for President and Vice President
of the United States. And this
feeling was for a long time kept
up simply because a majority Of
the white people would not recognize
the government whose officers had been
chosen by negro votes. Recently change
1,or If 10
negro haters and nti-Republicans of the
past These men have concluded to drop
their opposition to negro suffrage, but
maintain their hostility to the State gov
eminent. Governor Warmoth comes in
for the largest share of this hatred and
opposition, because he is the recognized
head of the Republican party in this
State. The enemies Of the Repub-
lican party think if they can break
him down they have destroyed the unity
and consequent strength of Republican
organization in this State. And there
is great reason for their thinking So.
Governor Warmoth' present position gives
him the same advantages for properly
organizing the Republican party of this
State for the political campaign Of next
fall as President Grants position gives
him for assisting the National Repub-
lican party to elect a President and
Vice President. In becoming the nomi-
nee Of the National Republican party
in 1868, General Grant became its
standard-bearer and recognized head.
The same thing can be said Of Gov
ernor Warmoth. His nomination and
election by Republican voters made him
the recognized head of the Republican
party in this State, and he holds that posi-.
ton in spite of his enemies and the enc
mics in fact of negro suffrage. The war,
therefore, that President Grant permits his
federal officials down here to wage against
Governor Warmoth, is in reality wal
against the Republicans Of this State
the very Republicans who elected the
present State government in 1868, and
whose right to do so was questioned by
many Of the very men who now recognize
negro suffrage, but continue to denounce
Governor Warmoth because the negroes
elected him. Therefore, we will repeat
the charge that the President, in continu-
ing this war upon the State administration,
after he has been notified of some of the
motives that have prompted it, makes
war on the colored voters of this State,
and thereby forfeits their friendship.