New Orleans Republican., 1873-06-04

ciate the adage ''you can't teach an old
dog new tricks" Now, the trick of allow
ing to negroes absolute civil equality
with their former masters, entrance to
the dress circle at theatres, the privilege
of drinking at the bar Of first class sa-
looms or hotels in company with our "old-
est and best" the right to hire the front
pews in the middle aisle of our fasbinable
churches or to occupy the reserved seats
at the races or other public gatherings;
in short the right to do in public just as
the white folks do-private social rela-
tons being private matter-these tricks,
those old masters can not learn. Yet on
the faith that they are about to practice
them, they invite the help and CO.
operation of the colored men
against the party whose success
has made such a state Of affairs
in any degree possible. Besides this at
tempt to cajole the blacks to their sup
port by promises whose performances is
so unlikely, the new "old massa" party,
proposes with the aid of its dusky re-
cruits, to effect the exclusion of ''carpet-
baggers, white and black, in other words
of immigrants intending to claim and
exercise all the rights of citizenship,
political as well as civil. But this means
the exclusion of all classes Of emigrants,
inasmuch as it is impossible to know be-
forehand who will adopt politics as pro-
fession and who will not; who will run
for an Office as soon as the law qualities
him for holding one, or who will "stick to
his last" Considering that the greatest
need of this State just now is an influx Of
capital and labor, this attempt to revive
the old Know-Nothing party as local
organization seems not exactly the course
of wisdom. Neither is it in keeping
| with the efforts which all Of our citizens,
including distinguished members Of the
"old-massa' party, have been recently
making to invite immigration.
On the whole this seems to be the most
desperate attempt yet made on the part OF
a class of played out politicians to get one
more hold on the public teat. 1t will not
do The instinct Of self-preservation with
some and the power Of intelligence with
others will teach the colored men to give
the cold massa'' party ''a wide berth, y
while the attempt to gain the negro sup
port by promises SO repugnant to their
lifelong prejudices will disgust those who
would consider any political success as
dearly bought by keeping such promises.
If, however, the starters of this new
party are sincere in their desire to accord
to the colored men those rights to which
i they are entitled by law, but Of which
they have been partially deprived, as far
as the efforts Of these very men could de.
prive them. there is very simple way Of
proving their sincerity. Let them join
the Republican party, by whom all the
rights and privileges of citizenship have
been given to the negro, and placed on
as firm a basis as statutory enactments
can afford. Let them give all the weigh,
Of their influence to the Enforcement Of
such laws, occupying in the meanwhile
that retired position becoming in recent
converts until their sincerity is fully
proved. Then, and not till then, can
they, with any degree of propriety, ap.
proach colored men with demands fol
their political support. Until such test
has been fairly applied, their newborn
zeal for the rights of the colored men is
liable to be regarded as mere political
trick.
Should our advice be taken, and these
professed converts prove their sincerity in
adopting the principles CT the Republican
party, We shall be among the first to offe,
them our sincere congratulations on such
conversion, and hearty welcome into the
party Of justice and equal rights.