New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-07
Utility Is UNITY.

tion for that act which is in each case bu
seal and signet of qualification. Sui
frage has its rights, but it has also it
obligations. There is an equality Of dut!
which requires each member of society t.
contribute equally to its maintenance
Society must support its helpless mem
bers in infancy, infrmity and senility
What SO obvious, therefore, as that so
ciety should so educate its members al
that each will maintain himself and CAPT
talize sufficient sum from his active
labors to prevent himself and hiE
family from becoming burden
upon the public He must also bear his
share of maintaining all those who may
become burden. The expense of gov
eminent representation and defense have
also to be provided for by similar equal
ability of contribution. Society, then,
to utilize all its intellectual and industrial
resources, must "give every man chance
by.an education and employment suitable
to his capacity for social usefulness. To
give suffrage without education and en-
ployment is to bestow treasure upon one
who journeys alone and unarmed through
a Wilderness infested with dangers. Arm
the citizen with these moral revolvers of
intelligent industry and he is safe. They
never miss fire and con never be exhausted.
The State of Louisiana has majority
Of colored people, endowed with equal
rights. There rests upon them, then the
duties that have been indicated. Their
ancestors were subject to that which was
and is the common law Of the African
continent-bondage A plying Provi-
dence transferred them to the tutelage of a
superior intelligence. Their servitude
here was one stage of preparation. They
lost their ancestral language, idolatry,
barbarism and their brutality. They are
Christians, educated to the social usages
and arts of a high civilization. They are
fitted for the great advance which emanci
patton has brought them. They must
steady themselves on this new platform.
This can be best done by devoting them
selves to the intelligent comprehension Of
the interests that surround them. They
can conquer kindness and compel re-
spect, for they have in Louisiana an i'm
mense, an indisputable capacity for USE
fitness.
1. We have a climate which men of
color endure with unimpaired ability to
labor. Our crops of cotton, sugar and
rice demand this continuous labor. Our
levees require able and faithful labor to
transfer and shelter the vast products
which burden it. How could the colored
toiler in the hold and gangway, and the
faithful driver of the float and dray be
or replaced? Our river trans
portation is now conducted with colored
crews, and there can be no reason why
they can not be employed in like manner
on the ocean.
2. Our State is unhappily visited by
epidemics, especially terrible to the white
race 1t sweeps away, in its rapid and
ruthless course, whole families. 1t leaves
q fear to the survivors that inclines them
to regard Louisiana as mine to be worked
for speedy profit, but they look TO some
other land to invest their gains, and rear
their families.
To these epidemics the co1ored people
are only subject in very limited degree.
1t scarcely enhances with them the average
rate Of mortality. During this period of
terror and inaction, the colored people
have cultivated the crops. They have
thus preserved sections and cities from the
want that impends upon and follows
the pestilence But another invaluable
service has been rendered by these col
bred citizens. Fearless of disease and
faithful amid temptation, these people |
have repeated the moral miracle of the
war. They have nursed the sick and served
he living. When the rich fled from a
'courge which the poor could not escape,
he ministering hand of the colored man |
md woman was not raised to plumber or
o stab; it was held to the fevered brow, or
the sinking form of the help |
ess sufferer. And this near Colfax! We l
pare all comment, but surely when the
abors and sympathies Of these people are
brought to the memory of men softened |
~ recent scenes Of suffering and misery,
hey will incline in future rather to APP
tease than exasperate strife SO migrate
ul and so destructive.
3. Our State and city have especial in
erests which require the exercise of in
eligent experience in the domestic and
ederal councils To this object the COL
red statesmen and representatives can
owerfully contribute. The Republican
government regards itself responsible that
shall have fair trial The
7orld looks with interest upon the ap-
reaching contamination of p-oviden-
ial design. Both these sentiments afford
be colored representatives fair consid-
ration before Congress. 1t is thus that
fr. Pinchback and other colored repre-
entatives may effect great deal toward
he success Of the particular applications
ow made by Louisiana for the i'm
rovement of her rivers and her
wees. Reared amid the ideas and
lmiliar with the physical and indus
-ial condition of Louisiana. Having his
ONE and hopes here, the colored repre-
entative must remain to reap the reward
r bear the responsibility of his acts.