New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-15
HOW PROMISES COMPARE WITH
PRACTICES,
Hon. j. Henri BurcR Recalls Some Old
| Reform Speeches.


| EDITOR REPUBLICAN;
The inclosed IS copy of an article sent
TO the Pcayune by me to-day.
VIII you be kind enough to insert it in
your issue Of TO morrow, and oblige
J. HENRI BURCH
| Editor Picayune
la Yesterdays Issue an editorial appears
under the caption of Mr.. II. j. Burch on
the Situation" TO which my attention has
been called as intending to reflect, in some
| degree, on my recent political course, and
TO impute breach Of faith on my part, in
connection with the Reform party. The
arguments adduced throughout the article
referred to are certainly plausible, but they
can not be substantiated by facts. OF such,
however, l do not propose to speak, but
will cOntne myself simply to the latter pOr
tion of the article referred to, TO which |
especially object.
On January 8, of last year mass meet
ing was held at Lafayette square 10 take
measures to reform the State adminisrra-
ton, at which it is well known people of all
classes, without discrimination, assisted.
Having been called upon TO address the
meeting, among other remarks, said that
" had witnessed the operation of the cleo
ton law and | knew what an unjust system
it was. ] wanted fair election law-one
that would secure a Republican representa-
tive for Republican parish, and a De
mocratic representative tor Democratic
parish. Let Dem ocratic constituencies have
Democratic representatives., and Republican
constituencies have Republican representa-
tives, and then the State would have a
Legislature which would assemble in the
spirit in which this meeting was assembled,
in harmony, and aiming at patriotic ends.
| wanted no militia law. Why have law
under which men could be called out to
shoot down their fellOw-citizens, as might
have been done on Saturday night had the
slightest prOvocatiOn been givenG"
On the night Of February II. ensuing, an
other mass meeting was held, when the re-
form committee of tifty-one made their re-
port, in which they made use Of the follow
ing plain and explicit language: "And
that as the affairs of our State require, at
this time, in our opinion, the exclusive aon-
sideration of the people, it is distinctly un-
derstOod that when we invite the cO-opera-
ton of all good Hen, we do not intend to
compromise them in relation to federal
politics. Oar purpose is to free ourselves
from the yoke of our present State govern
ment, and to get rid of its cOrrupti0ns.
Wnen this has been accomplished, every
person acting with US will be free to unite
himself with any federal party whose
policy is favorable to cur best interests"
Mr.. kennard made an eloquent address
on that occasion, IN which lie said Men
OF color We guarantee t. you q Just pro-
portion of the State offices, and fully recog-
nize that no solid basis OF reform is possible
which does not recognize your rights and
respect your wIshes. YOur advancement
will insure our prosperity. We viii aid
you to secure for yourselves the j4st reward
of all your labors. and secure d better in
heritance for your childen.f
But Mr.. Kennard also made that the Op-
portunity for arFaigning the national CAV
ernment, and thereby laid the germ OF dis
trust in the sincerity Of his assertions.
Subsequent events have fully developed
the motives that we're, even then, latent in
the plans of the Soi Gisdnt RetorIa party.
aver that the Reform party did not come
up 10 the high standard Of their platform,
H0r to the wise and statesmanlike utter
anees and opinions of such men as Hon. |.
=. Marks, and others Of equally liberal
views. Mr.. Marks always manifested
a sincere desire to carry out the pro
visions OF the platform OF the Reform party.
or design ef his co labOrers.
AT that meeting als0, the writer was
called upon to address the meeting. when,
in the course of his remarks, he said: 'He
was glad the committee had recommended
that party lines should be dropped, and all
go for reform. Ii they had proposed to or
ganize on the basis of Democracy, the col
Ored people coald not go with them. If they
had even sugar-cOated II as conservative"
they could not do it, but i'll a movement to
unite the people III a great struggle for re-
form, disregarding old party lines, the col
Ored people are with YOU Again, "Ihe
majority of the col0red people are opposed
to obnoxious laws, and would insist upon
their repeal. He did not care who said to
the contrary.
Inow revert to the PicGyune's charges. |
1t says: TO conci!iate the negro race these
same men made protracted and hercniean |
efforts, with hardly response Mr.. Burch |
was pledged to assist them; bnt he never |
raised voice or finger He proved untrue, |
as the RefOrmers think, to every real inter |
est of his people, and is content to be tool |
Of the power which recognizes only 10 use |
him. The Reform party still lives, holds !
fast to its principles and VIII work to main- !
tain them"
The real state OF the ease is now before !
the public, and / am wilhDg 10 abide by It's |
decision. l am charged with being M true |
TO the Reform party; which charge, as to |
reform measures, / Walnra!n to be utterly |
false and groundloss. Acting upon lny as |
sertion and profound conviction that the |
c0lored people would net countenance any |
hostility to the national government so |
soon as the Reform party joined with the
fusion party III urglDg tie election OF |
Horace Greeley for President and opened |
q continuous attanh upon the admlnIstra- |
tion Of General Grant and all those who
adv ocated his reelection, l felt certain that |
there was no longer any hope lett for the |
cnlored people, and that the guar |
antees and promises Of the Reform !
party to the oOlOred people had eliminated |
in mere political, eloctioneering maneuvre.
therefore now charge the Reform party |
with open, hagrant and wanton pertdy, III |
making insidious propositions and decs lttul |
promises to the cOlOred people, as before |
quoted, for no other purpose than to divide !
the Republican party, and control the COZ |
ored vote at the then approaching election.
They thought TO lure the cGlOred men away
from the principles to which they are de- |
voted by honeyed words and specious pausl-
bilities. They promsed-what7 We guar
antee to you just proportion OF the State
offices" and, in fulfllment of the pledge, |
they put one colored man on their State
ticket, and in such an office that he would |
be perfectly unable to counte act any in
quitous or unwise measures, and then their
orators COOlly tod their audiences that they
had nominated a cOlored man to an IN sig
alfeant office as political experiment.
During the recent campaign every posi-
Ole device was res0rJed to by that Reform
party and their friends TO defcaud the col
1red voters of their Tiguts, with what slo-
cess is now before the p0b.ic. But warned
hat party, ats have. quoted, that If thrj
bad proposed TO organize On the bl3la 0i |
Democracy. the c0.rred people could not |
- WITH chem .a.Ce - 10 Inconsistency !
whatever IN nay subsequent conduct on tn. |
score, but when J f"au1 .bc Re,Oca par |
y uniting it, forces With the Democrats, II |
order the better {, Tnaka sar on President |