New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-28

WASHINGTON, June %. 1873.
DEAR SIR-Letters from you, as well as
from number of other friends in Louis
lana, touching the political situation, to-
gether with the current comments OF what
We style the opposition journals, have pre-
pared me somewhat for the attempt toward
a new distraction of the Republican party
in our State. The evils with which we have
been afflicted since reconstruction have
reached almost the verge Of endurance,
and naturally every well-wisher of Louis
isiana ia honestly casting about for rem
edy. The first element of such relief must
consist in ascertaining the origin Of dissen-
siOns that are SO serious, and Of the conten-
tions that. since 1866, have been so unfor-
tunate and so notorious. Perhaps ! err in
my opinion. but while l by no means ex-
onerate the co)Ored race from blame, con-
tend that they have Deen treated unfairly
and unjustly by the whites, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans. The coiored men
take naturally to politics. They had been
accustomed TO see power welded by polit
ical leaders in the old time of slavery, and
their first impulse on acquiring the right Of
was naturally to the exercise Of an ascen-
dency which apparently secured SO many
privileges and benefits. Therein they were
further stimulated by the natural imita-
tlveness of their race, as it has doubtless
been noticed by every observer how readily
they adopt the habits and manners, even
the dress. of any class holding more ele-
va.ed positions in the social scale. A down
trodden people always envies the oppressor,
and seeks, in the very earliest stages Of it's
disenthralment, to grasp the weapons that
have been used for Its oppression. Again,
there is no attraction in the consideration
4 n Ia CO
few years before had been in the perform
lords Of the soil, that renders the political
arena seductive in an eminent degree.
Given these considerations and the oppor-
tunity to air their vocabulary in legislative
and political assemblages, and in official
capacities, is it to be wondered that they
presented themselves as apt scholars in the
field of political control! Though the great
mass Of the colored people Of the South have
and do still look upon politics merely as the
instrumentality whereby the shackles Of
slavery were struck from their limbs, yet
they have representative men among them,
who after first being brought into prOmi-
nence by the considerations have named,
are awakening to the responsibilities at
taching in Republican form Of govern
ment to majority, and who are now seri-
Ously considering the welfare of their peo-
pie. in their political relations.
In Louisiana the affairs of State have, for
the last five years, been moulded and con-
trolled by the blacks, truly through the
shrewd manipulatiOns Of their few white
associates, feeble in numbers, yet how fer
tile in expedlents and management. But,
the blacks have possessed the
power, and are responsible for its results,
and even for whatever misdirection has en-
sued. l need not explain how natural it
was 10 expect mismanagement, to use a
very mild term, and the student of history,
in time 70 come, will find his disgust for
errors overwhelmed by amazement that
they should have been so comparatively
trivial.
Now, how have the whites, form
ing. as shall show. a much less
equally divided fraction of the voting
population than is generally believed,
beng Of the whole peoples BY far the
larger proportion Of the white Republicans
have been merely using the colored voters
as irstrumentalities toward their temporary
Fortunately, a large
num mbeY of these have, from time TO time,
"folded their tents like the Arabs and 81
lently stole away" leaving the control in
the hands of the better disposed of their
fellows, who are sincerely anxious for the
well-being Of the community. But the ig-
norance and cupidity of the colored people
have been, beyond question, played upon
ha,a snU ona of tba dira cansas of the distress
n nnS 1 dsh. y. wh;nb nnUress ms C".onaret
1r;tb ,ba unnr;nc;nIed class rofarreG tn we
ra,-a hn5 nntnraS mon w;th % 1;+,io ,r?!,c;1
Mo and un;ta 90 mncb ant;tude for eyiI ond
p' " h;Is TO the great mass of the black neonle
,ba uame Of the oreat Rennhi;can nsrtv
ha. sanct;fiad the WRONG + nresen+s the
annoor.nca of hay;nr hsen cp,o,n;ttsd IN
IT. name and that Sartv now .tands re-.
sIons;hja for = hafore Tho neonje of the
State and before the nation
do not admit that the career Of tho Re.
nnblican nartv in Ionisiana has been one of
ppumit;oafed evil nor that her nresent mis-.
fortunes ara eolalv dua IN rolit;col canses
We take GOOD oovernment as a riobt. and
caviI nnIv at wrongs done and of these VA
are now treating. Partners in whatever
wong has heen Committed the white and
black Republicans have no, equally shared
Tho snoils. IN the former has haen arropated
the lions share. rarticnlarlv those of etf;ce.
From NV own ohservation and knowledce
of Louisiana an eoual number of competent
ana honest col0red men can be found 70 ex-
erclse office. as can be found in the small
number of their white allies. Are they
elected or appointed in the State govern.
ment. or is the federal patrOnage bestowed
on .ucb a hasis2 Tho record is against an
affirmative answer. While the colored
people frequently make the mistake of
Clothing one of their race with Office. sim
ply because he is of their color. a white
man ia never found who does not think
il ia his special prerogative to enioy a berth
of some public Character. and although we
are not altogether inexcusable in this,
ewing to the avenues of business being gem
eralIy closed against us by the intolerance
of the old population, vet it must be ad-
mitted that Office. holding has grown to be
+: he nermanent occnnation of the white Re.
,,ubiican nonnlat;on'
The wrong done bv the whitelRepub.
,icans toward their coIored brethren of the
same political faith in Louisiana consists in