New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-28
In MenlOrianl.

One year ago to-day Louisiana sustained n
grievous loss, in the demise of Oscar J. Dunn,
whose name Is hallowed throughout our
State-nay, throughout the entire South.
Animated with lofty zeal to ameliorate his
race and quicken it with such an instinct of
progress that it should make good all the
pledges made in its behalf to the country by
the Republican party, he attained pre-emi-
nence as leader. Although a conspicuous
champion of Republicanism, he was a pecu-
liariy unselfish one. He was an assiduOus
partisan, because devoutly earnest citizen.
To express his eagerness for the advance
ment of his race, he was constrained to in
spire that race to act for itself, through the
civil powers conferred by nfranchisement-
not, indeed, by attempting the aggressive
upon the white element, but by resOlutely
maintaining defenses assured by law and
sanctioned by our political pretensions as
Republic. So inflexibly did he insist upon
this duty, on the part of his race, yet so
frankly did he discOuntenance all mischievous
efforts to provoke discords between the COL
ors, that when the unexpected announcement
OF his death startled the State, our whole peo-
pie confessed an incalculable loss. Democrats
who, while he lived, forbore to award him
just need of credit, surrendered their pre-
JUDGES at his grave, and lamented that so
noble citizen and so scrupulous a public
servant had closed his labors on earth. Each
Of the two highest posts of the State had
been filled by representative of different
c0lOr-the white steward was a despised
charlatan, who had hazarded, as he still
hazards, every public interest, and who had
striyen repeatedly to incite vicious rivalries
between the colors the colored steward was
modest citizen, who by his purity of pur-
pose and fidelity of conduct, surmounted
every prejudice and distrust, and to-day is
mightier in death than is II. G. Warmoth in
life. Never was people more severely re-
bukcd than have been the whites of Louisiana.
They made distinct, moral, and political is
sue on color-they even held in greater es-
TEEN dishonest white man than an honest
black man. They are to-day eternal debtors
to Oscar j. Dunn for having often obstructed
Mr.. Warmoth in his attempts at conspiracy,
and the Lieutenant Governor pronounced
from his death-bed solemn admonition
against that freebooter, which eighty-five
thousand Republicans reverently remem-
bered in the recent canvass. His magnili-
cent epistOlary rebuke to Horace Greeley, in
the summer Of 1871, is likewise fresh in all
minds, and now Greeley, smitten as never
was Presidential aspirant smitten before
WamOth, impOtent henceforth rs political
meddler; and the Louisiana Democracy,
stalking its futile hope on the falschOOd of his
of the forecast of Oscar j. Dunn. ''Tcll the
boys to hold together" was the precious
counsel that escaped his lips with almost his
last breath, and the results, as revealed by
an honest Board of Canvassers, will Illustrate
how those words stimulated the great Repub-
lican organization of Louisiana. The dead
Lieutenant Governor was a moral presence
throughout the State, and at the mention of
his name men often uncovered their heads
and bowed with misty eyes.
1t is grateful to remember that to two
public servants, for whom the Lieutenant
Governor notably avowed his admiration,
has of late been committed so large meas
ure Of public confidence, President Grant
and Senator Kellogg. Satisfied of the as
sured reelection of the former, Governor
Dunn could not fOresee before his death who
would be summoned to our local Executive
chair, but it should be subject Of gratula-
ton among us as party, that we have hon.
ored his confidence in us by selecting a
steward in whose abilities and fidelity Oscar
J. Dunn repOsed such complete and enthu-
siastic faith. That William Pitt kellogg
will scrupulOusly deserve that faith LOUISE
ana has announced by majority which will
not be wholly sacrificed despite Warmoth's
legerdemain in the election. Mr.. kellogg
will bring to bear signal talents and loyal
impulses, which will prove invaluable in pro-
noting the amity between cOlOrs and the
advantages to all for which Governor Dunn
died. AS the Douglas bore Bruce's heart to
Palestine, so will Senator Kellogg rcverently
bear Oscar j. Dunn's along the path in
which God stilled its great pulses.-NeW Or-
leans National Republican.