The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1874-09-12

L "
politics alone, better class Of
Republicans will Join us ia reclaim
ing our State, and correcting all
the bad and malicious laws NOW
standing on our statute books
But who compose this better class
Of Republicans !? No one, 70 FAR.
has attempted to tell as. Surely
| 1T Is not meant that i'll is composed
of those men who have voted Tor
such measures as tue above, and
now ask for reelection +? To talk
Of the negroes as a better class, Is
but grim facetiB, for we know too
we'll how they stand ia connection
with the men who have been The
rulers Of Louisiana since the in-
auguration Of Republicanism. 70
trust to them for relief now, and
to trust to the supporters of such
measures would be suicide. An
other lease OF power to such men,
and they will own the State. None
of them, ercept our olm men 9eto
hare joined them, came TO the State
with anything more than a carpet
bag, but now own plantations and
magnificent residences, purchased
with money stolen from the public
crib.
As some even Of our prominent
men still cling to the idea of re-
concihDg the negro, let us take a
casual look at reconciliation. TnI
1868 we did our best to reconcile
them; we selected the best men
I'VE bad for candidates, with a spe-
cial reference to their conservative
proclivities; we held meetings an
over the State, aud invited tue
colored people to join us; We fore
told in the clearest manner the
present condition we are III; We
invited, and obtained the most in
telligent colored men to addre !
the eolored people. Did theY show |
any appreciation of our efforts
then for reconciliation (? No, thev (
voted to man against us; a mule
and forty acres Of land were
greater indueement to them than
the welfare Of the State.
In 1872 we tried the same rem
edy again, and how We succeeded
IS too well known for naeto 60 into
details here. Suffice il to say shat
the better class of Republicans
usurped the State government and
some Of the Reconciliators ioined /
them. Charity should come from
the strongest. The negroes have
always claimed 10 be in the major
ity, and whether they are or are
not, no matter, they have had pos-
session Of the government, and 1
ask, have they ever shown one
single effort to conciliate The
whites? Have they ever shown
themselves willing to accept tho
doctrine of reconciliation !? Have
my OF the Reconoiliators even
cad q reoonciling plank in their
No, to the contrary
lei whole energies have been
ised 10 disgrace and oppress the
whites. While our political speak
RS were CRYING at the top of their
'oices and from the bottom Of
heir hearts, Reconciliation! theirs
we're crying. IF We are not success
uli We will wade knee deep Id
olood Sill We hear men talk Of
oting for 4 coneiliatory measure
the whites and blacks
lave we not been working upon
he " conciliatory plan long
nough 10 see that all ol our cons
are taken as evidence Of
? DO we not see that ;
be eltecta Of reconciliation are !
My to reduce onr intelligent white
lbofing men and mechanics to 4 !
3yel with Tie Ignorant and dis.
usting negr02 lh6 negro has
ad every right, social aed politi- \
n, conferred upon Hun. which /
be most fertile brain of the laa- I
nhloan party could think 0f. j
.lii be is not satisfied, but COM.
pues % howl for his rights. Tha
me has come I hope, when the