New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-15
THB BATON ROUGE CONVENTION.


A convention viii be held at Baton
Rouge next Wednesday in the name Of
the Republican party Of Louisiana. At
one time this name possessed a prepon-
derating power in this State, and the party
flag has been successful on stricken polit-
ical battle fields. But this was when it
had mission to fulfill, a problem to
evolve, a principle to uphold and a cause
to work for. With the success of Repub-
ieanism, in the majority Of the States and
the Union, came a permanent settlement
of the principles.that gave it life. At the
same time came also strength, political
power and influence and the ability to con-
fer place and emoluments upon the fol-
lowers. Hence there soon appeared q
large following. And from this arose dis
sensions, until at last it has come about
that those who bore the heat and burden
Of the day in the political vineyard find
little left for them to do that promises
usefulness, and having no great attach
ment for parity ties, and no apprehension
for the safety Of the principles for which
they have successfully contended all their
lives, are disposed to rest for time
from their labors, and take calm survey
Of theAsituation.
It will be wise in those who assemble at
Baton Rouge to enter into a careful exam
nation Of the component parts Of the con-
vention. One significant fact viii be OBJ
served: Nearly all the delegates will be
colored men, elected by colored constitu-
encies. This indicates that there has been
a decided falling off of Their white Repub-
lican supporters, without whose aid the
success of a party in alliance with the col
Ored race has never heretofore been pos
sible in this State. The convention will,
therefore be one almost entirely composed
Of colored men, with their late white asso-
ciates absent, and it is not too much to
say Indifferent as to the result Of the de-
alterations of those whom they consider
no longer in sympathy with them. For,
not having been consulted in the primary
elections, in the selection of delegates, nor
in the adoption Of a policy in reference to
national affairs, they are, consequently
not bound by the action that may be had.
They will be, on the contrary, perfectly
free to approve or disapprove, according
to their Judgment, interests or prejudices.
For more than a year past there has
been a tendency to establish a dividing
line between the negroes and the whites in
this State. This idea was first publicly
announced by the late Lieutenant Gov
ernor when he advised his colored friends
to vote only for negroes, as no white man
could be trusted. The REPUBLICAN pro-
tested against this advice as unwise, at
the time, and Mr.. Dunn subsequently
made weak sort of denial that he had
made use Of such language; but he never
disavowed the sentiment, and even if he
had done so, it would not have checked
the tendency. For he was not, probably,
the author of the idea, but embraced it as
q logical consequence Of his position and |
his blood However this may have been,
the first practical application Of the doc
trine is likely to be made at Baton Rouge, |
and the coming canvass will see its Gull |
mination. It requires no one to rise from
the dead to foretell the result.