Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12
MEETING OF THE COLORED
PEOPLE.

The friends of emancipation may
well point to the proceedings at st.
James Chapel as an instance OF the
capacity of the cOlOred people to
perform the duties cast upon them
by their change of condition. The
citizen of the South who opposed
emancipation may see in the good
sense and moderation expressed by
the speakers guarantee that these
people, whose laborS have done SO
much tor the material welfare OF the
South, stand in "a more responsible
relation to the State as citizens
than they could ever have done as
serfs. The system and ability with
which these proceedings were con-
Quoted are the fruits of education
and intercourse for generations with
with a people who have avOyed the
cardinal truths of religion and civil
liberty. These have been the adj
ventitiOus results of the relations
referred to. 1t is to these impress
sions we owe the superior prepare
tons for self.govern,nent exhibited
by the cOlored people of the South
ern States. 1t is to these principles
of sacred and civil duty that the
South owed its social safety during
ing war. and the development of its
agricultural products since. 1t is TO
this association and influence, evrn
under the institution of bondage,
that the colored people of the South
have marched up to the enjoyment
of freedom with the Bible and the
bill of rights, and not with naked
infant impaled upon spear, the
horrible emblem Of ignorance, bru-
tally and oppression exercised else
wnere over the Africans in bond
age. We make these comments
upon the moderation of the colOrrd
majority of Louisiana tor the pur
pose of showing the true basis OF
relations between the two races.
Read the proceeding and speeches.
There is an acknowledgment OF emf
nent service rendered by white men ;
there is no demand for more than
the rights guaranteed by the laws;
there Is even Il dignity in the posi-.
ton that in knowledge, i'll virtue, in
usefulness, the colored race can
stand OH its own pedestal, and does
no. by an importunate demand fol
Dersonal association admit its own
lnferiority. These people claim a
right to a satisfactory participation
in the administration OF the STATE
government. They complain tina:
they have been s;gnally betrayed in
the last election, and that their un'
doubted supremacy of suffrage has
not been fairly acknowledged in the
distribution of patronage. This is
no demand for division of proper
ty. 1t is no threat not to pay taxes
nor 10 assail with murderous wed
pons those who, in their opinion
exclude them from the offices which
they deem themselves entitled t.
fill. The justice of their demands
we have in this connection NO neces
sity to discuss. 1t is the spectacle
! of intelligence. moderation and
! gratitude to which we call the at
tentiOn of all So, thern people. Ii
: demonstrates the capacity of the
$ coiored people to take part III the
administration OF their own govern
1. ment. 1t shows that as an element
, of intelligence and industry, it is al
: indispensable part of Southern Or
: ganization. This meeting alOn,
5 would demonstrate the capacity o
!, the colored people to lake charge o
their invaluable Inheritance. Th'
3 slightest consideration of the values
which they produce in the fields ant
: tie services they render in TIT
, cities, would teach the Southern
2 people that in no country III thu
r World is there Il body of peOpl
performing the same services ant
r creating the same values, so kindly
? SO contentet., aud so worthy OF trast
Is it IN England where they hesita
! ted to admit their people to the RICH
of suffragei Or in France, wher
the people poured petroleum owe
: the proud edifices OF their oppres
9 sOrs? Or any where in Europ
D where Communism rears its terri
2 ble banners No where, we repeat
: is there IA people which renders tn
I, same services OH the same terms
: Here then, is a fair basis OF socla
$ and political cooperation betwee'
the Two races. On the one side Their
is moderation, improved and in
proving intelligence, fidelity to OF
der, with "a vast productive capaci
! | -. I'm tLo 1,tla.- nn,,it.-l I'll, NON