The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-19
Reconciliation I'm Louisisna-lmportant
Peace Concessions to tho CoiOred
Race.

OuSleS ana noStlLtleS, and TO the establishment
of relations Of peace, confidence and harmony
between the white and black races Of the South.
most significant and important public meet
ing in its results, General Beauregard, chair
man, was held the other evening in New
Orleans. 1t was an adjourned meeting of
white and colored citizens, and as no party
is mentioned in the proceedings, we infer that
it was a meeting of citizens acting independ-
entity of the Kellogg and the McEnery parties,
and in view of peoples party, upon the plat
form Of reconciliation adopted. This plat
form, touching the newly acquired civil and
Charles Sumner or Frederick Douglass could
demand. It covers the whole ground of the
thirteenth and fourteenth amendments and OF
the Civil Rights bill. 1t is comprehensive
peace Offering to the blacks, and if adhered to
on the one side and accepted on the other in
good faith, the results cannot fail TO be good
and enduring
According to the census of 1870 the popu-
lation of Louisiana, as between the two races,
is as follows =
White population ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. J62.O85
COlOred population. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 3o4,2lo
which shows difference of two thousand in
round numbers in favor of the blacks-a divi-
sion SO close as to suggest the necessity of q
compromise between the two races upon the
political affairs of the State. In the proceed
ings of this assemblase we are considering
this necessity is prominently suggested The
meeting declares that, whereas tho State is
threatsnsd With aesth u ,syssy vital of her
material and political being, AID whereas her
dire extremity is but the fruit of unnatural
divisions among her people, it is resolved
that we dedicate ourselves to the unifcntion of
the people-of every race, color, or religion
that we advocate the concession to every citi-
zen of all his equal, civil and political rights
in reference to places of amusement public
schools, public conveyances, banks, insurance
offices, foundries, factories and other industrial
establishments, and in the possession of the
soil. Upon this last point the meeting recon-
mends the encouragement Of the blacks to
become landed proprietors, thus enhancing the
value of its lands and adding to the produc-
ton of the State and the large landed pro-
into small farms, Gin order that our colored
citizens and white immigrants may become
practical farmers"
This is as broad and general as the casing
air - but the meeting furthermore pledges
its honor and good faith to labor zealously for
the removal of all prejudices of race and color
among the people of the State !; appeals to
the public press for a helping hand in the
good work deprecates all measures Of vio-
lence, and in view of the equality OF the two
races in numbers advocates an ''equal distri-
button of the offices of trust and emolument,
demanding as the only condition of our
suffrage, honesty, diligence and ability"
And this offer is made not on account of the
offices indicated but as proof 'that the
union we desire is an equal union, and not an
Elusive conjunction for the particular benefit
OF either party. Such is the reconciliation
platform of this New Orleans meeting of
which General Beauregard, that hitherto
implacable enemy of the abolitionists and of
negro equality in any shape or form, stands as
the sponsor.
Nor can we doubt that General Beauregard |
is acting in this matter in the good faith of an
honest soldier From the political agitations
and broils of Louisiana he has for some time
stood aloof He has doubtless been thought
fully, meantime, canvassing the ground, and
casting about for some way of deliverance
from these demoralizing and disorganizing
discords between whites and blacks, threaten
ing, if not arrested in season. all the horrors |
of st. Domingo in war Of races. From his
careful study of the delicate and difficult |
problem the General has reached what he
considers the only practical solution in con-
ceding to the blacks not only all that they |
demand, but all that they can possibly claim
as equals with the whites under the constitu-
ton and the laws of the Union and the State. |
His example and his influence in this matter !
among the controlling white elements OF the |
State identified with the 'lost cause we be- |
ieve, will be widely felt and made manifest in
good results, not only in Louisiana, but |
throughout the South. The comprehensive
scheme of reconciliation he proposes can be
made effective only through the active co-ope-
ration of the leading whites directly interested
in the cause of law and order, peace and pros
perity. They must prove their faith by their
works, in order to convince the blacks that the
prejudices of race and color born of negro
slavery have, with all the other evils Of
slavery, passed away.
The equal numerical strength Of the two
races in Louisiana is bringing them both to
this broad platform of definitive treaty Of
peace. General Beauregard is right in his
conception that in advancing to the blacks
with the offering of equal rights in civil
political and religious affairs, from the church
aud the school house to the public hotel, and
from the State and national offices to the
banks and insurance offices, and in everything
else he leaves no ground upon which to MAIN