The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-12-04
The White and COlOred Races
i'm Louisiana.
From the New Orleans Pieayune

races in Louisiana, and the occasion for
great work of ~harmonizing aud uniting
them for their mutual benefit and flu
turc prosperity. Whether P%inchback
will prove himself worthy of the high
compliments awarded him by the Re
publican, or equal to the brilliant OPP
~portunity presented, remains to be seen ,
but that there is q mission for some one
courageous and strong enough to realize
it, no intelligent observer of events will
question. We quote the Republicans
article:
A CHANCE 0 PINCHBACK.
A return of the spirit as we'll as of
the idea of conservatism to the a6Cen-
dency in the nation will involve the set
Element of a question which it has been
the policy of the late governing regime
to keep open. That question is as to the
status of the negro society. We do not
speak of the political position Of the
negro, for that is settled beyond the
peradventuTe of Il doubt. When we say
the status of the negro in society, we
mean his place of usefulness as a pro-
Queer of material wealth, his value as a
factor in the sum total Of our prosperity
and the share he must bear in the main
tenance of Law and Orderand in sustain
ing the public burdens. 1t is safe to as
sumo that the effort to enforce his social
equality, against the real desires and
contrary to the real interests of both
himself and the white man, will not
disturb the public peace any more.
From this time III the Negroes place in
society will be regulated rs Il white
mans place is regulated-hy his betiav-
iOr and by his worth, subject to those
laws of God which fanatic men have so
vainly ~eudeavOred in recent years to re-
peal by GIlacting human laws i'll con-
traventiOn of them.
The negro will have his vote. His
due share of the public funds for edu-
catiunal purposes will be allotted to
him. His right of person and property
will be protected as are the rights OF
white men by the laws under which he
lives. All the privileges and immuni-
ties of an American citizen will I've guar
anteed to him. Beyond this he must
face the music of life hencefOrth for
himself. No future Congress will enact
laws comforting upon him rights which
are denied the white man. No future
administration will appoint a horde of
marshnlS and deputy marshals, etc, to
teach them that the conservative white
man is his natural enemy. No states
man will rise up in the future tn build
upon the negroes imaginary wrongs a
system Of sentimental s0phistry. From
the foundation of the Republic up to
1868 the negro was held in physical
slavery. From 1868 to 1874 he has been
In1l -, YNN.ntI ,,,,1 Y,u1ifSunt Ain K,nry IL,
isnow fully aud completely emancipated.
Physical bondage had its advantages
as well as it's grievances. Moral and
political bondage the same. Under the
first tie negro was bought and sold as
to his body, but he was relieved from
all the responsibilities OfloOking out for
q livelihood. Under the last he was
similarly bought and sold aud traded
and bartered as to his vote and political
power, but was not relieved from any
of the responsibilities of life. Taken
all In all, his average condition was not
improved by the transition from physi.
cal TO political slavery.
On the other hand, so far as he is a
taxpayer aud TINS brought under the
burdens of government, his condition
was depressed rather than elevated by
the transition. His future welfare, as
we have said, depends upon himself.
He can continue to be a firebrand in So
ciety OF lie can subside into a quiet and
useful membership of it. 1t he accepts
the advice of Fred. Douglas and his kind
he will continue to be a fire. brand, and
will necessarily stir up resentment in
tRe breasts of those upon whose good
will his welfare very largely depends.
But IL he accepts the advice of those
who know that their own best interests
are intimately Involved in conserving
his, he will do well and be happy. The
men to whom the negro should now
look for counsel are those who furnish
him with the means of gaining a liyeli-
hood: not those who live by the agita-
ton that distraets all interests. There
il one c0lored man in the United States
who possesses an opportunity now to
become the Instruments OF great and last
ing good to his race aud to the country
at large. He possesses the air and the
address that gain him u ready place in
the good will of all who meet him. He
enjoys the advantages of an education
aud the powers of an intellect that ena-
BILE him clearly to comprehend the needs
Of his race and fOrcibly to state the
D ,licy which it is proper for them to
pursue. We say nothing Of his past.
When SO imany white TEL have done
dunhly and tIebly worse and still hold
UP their heads, 1t is n0tmeetto condemn
him aud thus crush out the possibilities
of good that are in him. We allude to
MI. Pinclilack, of Louisiana.
This man has long been convinced of
the facts we have set forth above. He
has many times expressed in private
conversation substantially the views
NE have given. III his own State, while
acting with the Republican party, he
has never liked or been liked by his as
SOciatps in IL, but has always enjoyed,
to u greater extent than any white Re-
publican in the State, the confidence
and esteem of representative C0nserya-
tives like Peun and Beauregard. Now
is his grand opportunity. He is in a
pOsiti0n where he can teach his race the
true doctrine of its material solution.
He knows very well the direction i'm
which it lies, and he has the ability and
the e~lodnence to point out the path. A
man of keen perceptions, good logical
faculties, fine humor, wide aud accurate
information, and an e~iegantaad eloquent
facility of expression, he can at once
command the respect of the whites and
the confidence of the blacks. 1t does
not signify That his skin is as white as
anybady's and that but One-eighth of
the blood iii his veins is African he has
already attained commanding position
as a negro leader. and he Al keep It
best by leading the negroes IN the Gi-
rectinn of their true interests. 1t may
signify something that the seven
eightlis of Caucasian blood in his veins
is the blood. ms he sllows with pride, of
the South Carolina Pinekneys for that
is a strain that has been wont TO warm