New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-02

J so any respectable colorcd man ha> ;il,uty 81
them. There are many good white men in
this state who are actually slaves They ar,
slaves to the press. their business interest
and to a false public sentiment these juaU.
enccs have created here have Travelled
over Europe. aul while there ! met man,
Americans. and was cordially GREETED - all
OF them. In Rome | me; Intimately gentle
men high IN social estimation in New Or
leans. dincd At the sane table with them
and thei: families and, strange Il say, nobody
was hurt. They wouldn't invite me here
for fear of what their GeighbOrS would say.
! When white man meets one of H. away in
| the woods with lunch and bottle, he viii
share our fare and drink from the same bottle
: your black lips have been on. They are not
/ afraid Of You in the woods why should they
! be anywhere?
! Aud now will say few words TO The Rcrub-
/ lean party. It's recori is familiar to every
[ one in the country. The Colorcd people thus
I far, to a man, have stood by ;h,t party. Now
there IS an attempt tn divide the ,olorrd vote
/ II Is claimed that peace an prs ,er!ty in the
South may be secured by this 90 ans Now
! might no; saw a. consistently. why can't
the whites divide their vote ar leave the
poor c"l"red people alone. They NE Il quiet
inohrnsisc. lIw-ahInG reoplc. You have
the testimony If 4 ii"h city otiyi'i .hat they
. A.i' H'' 49, s'''N lttt' " IT, ''.l.N >Ltil
small things rs ~ not afrct TIE prosperity
of the State. 1t is the issue of millions ri
bonds that have done this. such n those Old
amt respectable schemes, the Mexican Calf
railroad, the Nashville railroad, anithe one
lousas and Jackson railroad subsidies. by the
city and State, for which the people GOT no
fair return.
Therefore think it wouli be wise po icy
| for the white people to divide aud ION in with
! the black people in relecming the stale. As
l said once before if half dr,ln Garrett
baggers can come in and, a. is 50 often
charged so manipulate the color,,l snt" that
they can steal the state, the white people
ought to suffer for their stupidity ana want of
energy. | am told many good Democrats
would come into the Republican party only
they are afraid OF public opinion and that the
cOlored people would not receive them
Now, my experience has been that all Demo-
Gratis who have joined us have been given the
front seats by the colored people.
We want these people who talk of good
government to come in with us, aud make Va
all united, peaceful, and prosperous people.
have been travelling Il great deal where
monarchal governments prevailed, and have
been close observer of men and customs,
AMI have come back prepared better than
before to grapple with the questions before
us. am ready to Join with all to make n
great effort for peace and prosperity. In all
the places have visited no place has pleased
me like louisiana; but am tired of feeling
that each time leave my home and children
| may never return to them. | am tired Of
being looked upon as an enemy. am tired
OF meeting the white peoples trowns. Here
I am and here / am going to stay want
these people to stop abusing ME and those |
represent. Now when Governor Antoine,
out of the goodness Of his heart, gave aid to
the sufferers the other day it had to be asked,
WAS the money clean? 2" Would they have
asked that if he had been white? Was there
any inquiry of that kind in regard to white
contributions: How can we respect or trust
a people who, calling themselves n Christian
community, thus abuse, villify, and traduce
US, even in the exercise of most holy charity.
l sat for one hundred and sixty days in the
Senate, and for the course pursucd-that /
deemed conducive to public harmony and
amity-I was Kissed in the cOlOred clubs, and
yet the opposition press, when il came to sum
up their list Of villains, put PiuchbaCk at the
head, as the greatest villain of them all.
Since then have been further hOnored with
the confidence Of my people, but still | am
painted the worst of all. | have passed
through mOnarchial governments, and on their
soil brcathed the free air of heaven. There
was no one to modest me no on" 10 say |
]
| say here that citizens Of Louisiana must he
made as free "a those Of monarchical govern
mcntS | intend to labor to remove the
OdiOus distinctions on account Of color. |
shall labor for perfect equality. | announce
rs my shibbolcth that | will contend lp: no
thing less for my race than perfect equality
not infringing upon social distinction and
5 cjal laws. | mean perfect equality, save
and except the natural attractions and rcpui-
siOns Of individual men, and | moan ~ this
to liberate the white man from the false SEN
timcnt and fear of ostrlc,m IN hl,ncs, and
social Tile that noY cn>iiyca Inn.
New, | hlvc annouuccd my poliIy after the
manner OF Amy johnson, and | viii say ii
| few words of President Grant.
| am not going, a. We say in tie NUl,h, to
plat his hair, - for | d. not iatt"r any man
| make my remarks IN good faith, ana from
honest Convictions. l think if he desires Il
third term tn" people are prettyliNely to give
/ it to him. The bone ant ainew Of the conn
try DON know anybody but Grant, aud their
IDEA is that there would be no harm done II
he wa- again elected.
/ 1t seems to inc a suicidal policy to abuse
/ the President of the United States, whose
( friendly Offices Louisiana so much need ami
/ when no one can harm hair OF his head. 4
man may butt his head against the wall Il
/ dozen times-perhaps he viii knock out h.
/ brains but he won't hurt the wall.
| have wandered over nearly ali the civil
/ lied earth, and brrathed the air Oi many
| countries, but have returned to the state
/ that, with her faults, love better than all.
would rather stay on her soil, and here
/ will stay. have made all have in means
( and reputation here, and whatever more I
! shall become possessed of shall place here,
+ where belong.
/ am poor, indeed, in thank, to offer you,
/ for deep feeling has few words 70 use, but I
1 tender you my deepest gratitude for the cor
( dial, generous. and magnificent reception you
! have given me.
Rob Ray "I the mississippi.
Desperate, Though Learned villain.