The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-03-20
NEW ORLEANS, La, ]
March IL, 1872. {

crisis has been reached in the af-
Airs of this State; and when such cri-
.os as the present occur, more than
ordinary attention to politi, al affairs
<hecop,es the imperative duty of every
ritizen. The redemption of the State
from degradation aud dishonor re-
o,;res now from her children an unset
n dedication to the great work of
Reform.
For years past the people of this
commonwealth have been divided
preindice, which was the natural off
srrins of our former institutions, and
octpulIy imbedded in our peculiar civ
;lization, has prevented the cordial CO.
o,eraton of the two great races inhab-
Ting QUE territory. And as these races
we've nearly equally divided in num-
hers. this division has offered the State
an easy prey to unprincipled and de-
signing men, who, quick to perceive
an advantage and cunning to improve
il. have come among us with 10 pur-
muse to compose our difficulties or ame-
liorate our sufferings, but rather to in
fame our dissensions and widen the
breach in our population, in order to
uromote wicked and disrcputable
schemes of plumber.
The want of political syn1nathy be-
tween tie white and black races of
Louisiana has for several years render
ed her victim to the most frightful
spuliation and robbery ; so that to-day
our. State presents a picture of desola-
ton, moral and physical, more heart
rending to her children than the most
gloomy imagination could have con-
inred up from the realms of fancy
Her treasury empty; her credit over
strained and paralyzed; her fertile
fields in many sections uncultivated
and lying fallow; but, far sadder than
this, the moral tone and character of a
brave and virtuous people has been
attacked. A generation of Louisian-
ians is growing up under the fatal i'll
huences of a searching generalization.
Our children are being educated in the
presence of vice-vice entlrOned upon
the highest aud most sacred official po-
sitions-and it certainly requires no
profound knowledge of human nature
to perceive that by the inevitable ope-
ration of the law of meutal assimia-
ton it cannot be long, if the present
corrupt condition of things continues.
before our race and postelity become
degenerate and degraded.
To such results have we been
brought by the unfortunate estraDge-
ment and division of the two races
which inhabit our soil and to whom
this State actually belongs.
We understand that the people Of
louisiana have at last perceived the
cause of their troubles, and have re-
solved that it shall be eradicated.
A cordial union is now to be formed
upon a platform of perfect equality.
The tseachery, duplicity and tyran-
ny of the present Governor of Louisi
ana have been established beyond con.
troversy, and are now patent facts be
fore the civilized world. He has beer
faithless to erJbody, and his name i:
to-day execratcd by every honest mar
in louisiana.
Selling upon the distractions in oul
State affairs, he procured the highest
Office in the gift of our people. NJ
sooner had he taken the reigns O
government then lie commenced a sys-
tematic attack upon the liberties o.
that people, and in very short time
succeeded, with the assistance OF hi
miBions, in converting our State from
free republic into a CALLING des
potism. A servile Legislature, at hi
bidding, passed series of laws, The
effect of which was to place the life
the liberty and the property of on
citizens in his hands. These result
we're accomplished through the in
strumentality of the Ignorance of TIL
eelored man.
| But scarcely had they been secured
1 when we find this interruptions despo
l commencing a series of overtures t
the white race, and finally making t
them distinct tender of those extra
ordinary powers, to be used agains
| the black man. 1t is possible that th
State might have been carried by thi
means but we are proud to feel tina
the white race in Louisiana has show
itself incapable of participating
such duplicity, by promptly rejectin
every overture. They prefer til
path of honor and of justice; and al
ready now to join the colored either
OF our common State in an earnest. an
united effort to overthrow this arc
eheniy of onr liberties, and to hui
from pc er the entire horde of Co
fnptonis who at present so Ill
WUitnitv FIJI tho ,fSoac nf tha Stafi