New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-07

returns OF the w armour DOdfu 5uoH /" Aaii
ing off the Democratic vote of 262 Ii the
remaining tbirtv-six parishes of the State,
showing a Republican majority or 5S,o!9,
aa cast at the elections of 1868 and 1870, the
Warmoth returning board returns a Demo
cratic majority of 1856, thus assuming that
over 81 900 colOred men refused or Jailed to
vote the Republican ticket. This committee
liz satisfied that not 100 OF this $1,000 col
ored men voted against the regular Repub-
lican nominees.
We conclude this document by asserting
the fact that this committee represents the
views, the feelings, and the interests OF
every Republican in Louisiana, including
20, 900 colOred men who are unanimous in
their adhesion and devotion to President
Grants administration, and they deem it
unnecessary to dwell upon the reasons for
such attachment, in view OF the aid and
assistance General Grant has ever afforded
them in establishing their political and per
sonal freedom. The political history of
Louisiana Exhibits the remarkable fact, that
in connection with ner sister Southern
States, the defeated rebels have but changed
their line OF base, and have fallen back
from the battlehelds of their humiliation to
wreak their smo thered vengeance upon the
weak and unrcsisting people Of color.
From the era Of Lees surrender at Apo
mattOx until very recently, every engine of
oppression has been unrelnittingly employed
against them. They have been scourged
with merciless ferocity; they have been
murdered by thousands; they have been
driven from their homes IN multtudes. and
forced to seek safer asylums; they have
been denied the privileges of education, al
though the State laws expressly provided
for public schools for all, and they have
been put to bloody death for daring to
vote according to the dictates of conscience.
No violence has been thought too great-eno
fraud too contemptible-toc Gerce or deceive
the colored voters, and obtain their ballots
for tho Democratic party in the Sonth.
The result of the last election in this
State is but type and sample OF the spirit
and aninus that has SO long prevailed.
Your committee has discovered and bears
witness of innumerable and undeniable
frauds and trickery, by which the unedu-
Gated masses were deprived of their votes
for their chosen representatives.
These cOlOrcd men firmly believed that
the right of suffrage had been given them
for their protection, and that they would be
enabled to cast their votes fearlessly and as
their conscience might dictate, and, more,
over, they assumed that, as the wards OF
the nation, they would be protected by the
government in the exercise of their rights,
at least SO long as they remained in a state
of political pupDage. They felt asSlred
that they would not be left to the tender
mercies OF their former task masters. They
did not dream that the enmity of the Con
federates would be transferred from those
battle-fields where the sword was the ar
bitter TO the peaceful plantation. They had
heard of the sword being turned into
ploughshare, but not OF carrying the bru-
talites strictly appropriate to the scene OF
carnage to their quiet homes.
But events seem 20 have proved that the
ipI nh n
changed in form. Tho Ku-Klux assassin
and the political demagogue have taken
tho place of the brave, chivalrous and
avowed enemy. The partisans ef Democ-
racy, as now existing in our sister Southern
States, and in this State, are the guerrillas,
the bandits, the camp followers OF the war,
and il is not surprising that their atrocities
men, and that the perpetrators of the crimes
referred to have been branded as the putrid
excrescence of Democracy.
One of the most popular fallacies that
may be supposed TO have iEbul need the bad
feeling and vicious conduct OF many Demo
Gratis, is the belief that the c0lored man is
striving to place himself in q state of social
equality with his Caucasian brother. Such
an argument, deliberately considered, will
strike every thinking man as eminently Alb
surd, from the mere fact and truism that
the so much dreaded social equality never
did and never can exist, not even among
the white race itself. Bat nothing is fur.
Their from the wishes of the colOred people
than the advancement OF SO absurd doe
trine.
This committee expressly and most EN-
phatically denies and repudiates the inpu-
fation; yet, while it would scrupulously
avoid any derogation of the claims OF the
white race that may be founded on reason,
-. H.
on the statutes of the State of Louisiana, il
will no less indexibly maintain the guaran-
tCed rights of cOlor6d citizens to q perfect
and thorough civil and political equality.
The results of the civil war gave them those
rights, and the individual States ratified
the amendments to the constitution grant
ing those rights. If, then, the South is sin
cerc in the expression that it has accepted
the situation" let lis have no more so phisti-
cal defense of fraud and outrage as a means
of depliving the colored men of the right of
suffrage. We must have a free and impair
tial registration and election, without which
there can be no peace IN the Southern
States, and in Louisiana especially.
The Democratic newspapers OF New Or
leans, which may he presumed 70 represent
the sentiments of the large numbers OF our
fellow citizens, have cndeavored to make
the matter in dispute a pure question of
tploE, anu III liItI VI INC ICE NAAk
entirely ignore the colored vote east in the
recent election.
1t is such vapid obtuseness that prevents
the Democratic party from acquiescing in
the righteous decisions oi the courts, which
have decided in favor o. the Republican
candidates.
The New Orleans Picayune declares its
satisfaction that SO many inofensiye and
unresisting colored men have been sacri-
feed, and points ont carpet baggersH as the
next victims Of Democratic malignity. 1t
10 not by means Of riot. of massacre or OF
assassination that peace and prosperity is
TO be restored TO this distracted section Of
the country. Such maudlin rawlings may
certainly excite the destructive passions OF
demOralized mob, but all such uttcrances
should be rebuked and trowned down by
the solid men and good citizens who pos
sess an interest in the welfare OF the State.
Every record Of an outrage that flashes
alorG the wires throughout the country
causes a relative depreciation in the securi-
ties and values of the States-checks or en-
tirely prevents immigration, and Injuries
trade and commerce.
If thinking men would but put their
shoulders TO the wheel and aid in destroy
in = the infamous coalition existing between
Governor WarmOth and his ex Confederate
allies, the excitement i'll political lotteries
would cease, and peace and guiet would
take the place of reCrImlnauons and angry
feelings. Il is conceded by the most able
legal minds in the country that William Pitt
Kellogg is the legal Governor OF this State.
and that the factious opposition which yet
rears its hydra head is wholly unlawful.
Why. then. should parcel OF demagogues
be allowed to continue TO disturb the peace
and eudeayor TO excite contention and ami
mostly among our citizens! There is a
lemedy-a violent one it Is true-bur yio-
lent diseases require corresponding RENE
dies.
Finally, people Of america, having efnan-
cipated ana enfrauChiscd Ne, we now ask
YOU 10 protect US IN the rights that you
have conferred upon us, by making Us your