The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-10-14
COMING TO THEIR SENSES,

people of Louisiana, an extract from
which we give below. The names
appended to the address include The
present Superintendent of Public Ed
ucation, the Secretary Of State, thu
notorious Pinchback, and Ingrahan
who has been Surveyor Of the Port o
New Orleans, and brother of thu
Antoine WHO is called Lieutenant
Governor, and several others. Il
would seem the document may fairly
he called a representative one. The
first light in which this strikes US i:
that it affords incontestable proc
that the colored people know now
and have all along known, that thu
impressions so persistently fabrica
ted of our hostility to them were lies
If they thought or suspected that We
were bent on doing them bodily harm
or political wrong, they would not ad
dress us as they clio.
But the practical benefit to be &C
complained rests with themselves
The white people have their Tickets
both State and Parish in the field
throughout the State. If the coloret
people support them to any consid
cradle extent, they will give us there
by the best evidence Of their desire
to help in the recovery Of the State
from the degradation into which they
have plunged her by following the
blind guides they have hitherto Sc
lected.
We quote:-
We constitute the body of Repnhli
cans, but our integrity and capacit,
are ignored IN the councils of the par
~, while our manhood and citizenship
are not unfrrQnrntly humiiatrd in gu
intercourse With those whom We hav,
exalted to power. There is IL specie,
Of mystery, S" far as we are concerned
about the plans IF campnign and thu
policy OF I he State administration
which denies to every cnln,ed man II
this rommnuwea not even except
! ing the Lieutenant Gnvrrnor, the Sec
rotary of State, the Superintendent %
Public Ehura'ion. and the State Teas
nrer, all participation and knowledge
of the confidential workings of III,
party and government. Hnniliatinl
a> it may, appear, witt, all Of our devu
tion t." Rrpublicauism, th-.e is not ,
man nf color. off ial or nthe wise, wh'
can infol NJ MS, III the present crisis, %
The system to be- pursued by the party
or the pole, OF the Administrative,
upon a single measure OF public inter
est. We wo.Id It fleet n" credit np"'
our developed manhood and int-Ili
:tnce. nor i~ worthy IF The privilege
Of American citizenship, did we 40
Indignantly resent the treatment %
puppets. .-a T..
We do not object to the complexion
at orr Leaders. hnt we d." prnteS
against the manifestation of that I'M
charitable and unjust spirit which ia
tracises ns in the administration whicl
We have created with our su6ragrs.-
Men are likely to be IA much wantin.
in integrity us srlf-respect when the,
will solicit our support and then shrinl
from official intercourse with lis, A,
administration whic!, is ashamed o
the source trnm whence sprung, ant
III IT'S disppnsaIinnS dl-cri'ninates III
vidu"nsly against Its Imriisans, inclte'
the gIavest applrhensiOns ni in:rati
tud- AMI treacherv. While we are r.
pnhhcans. we are also American citi
zens. We owe much tn oar party, bu
mare t" onr country, and realizing al
sc do, that HE Republican party, a.
controlled in Louisiana, in treqnpntl!
it variance With equal and exact jus
tirp tn lts conscientious adhcrents, i
Incomes nnr duty to grasp the sitna
lion and encourage such Il course u
wisdum and patriotism as would re
reive the approval and Support of t!,'
people, irrespective OF color.
The administration nf Governor KEEL
logg owes iis existence to our support
and to that extent We are Responsible
We, i'll many respects, have been sail,
disappointed. Bnt painful as are on
regrets over the past, they are sigh
whrn cOntra.ted with our fearful antic
Ipat'nns. Our experience imprrs>es u
with the conviction, that the in egrit,
Of the Re .uhlican party is not sub
served by the p"|ic'rs pursued by tlr
State government, and We shudler u
we contemI late that our interests arr
likely to I've compromised Tor in.liviia;,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and through fears u
personal safety. The Governor seem
~ represent policy which il neithe
gpner"ns to the whites nor just to til,
blacks. 1t is rigorous aud obstinate
in it's crusade against the aspirations u
its color ed friends, while it is obsrqui
Gus aud wavrring in all dealings will
its political foes.
THE PROPOSITION TO THE WHIT
| PEOPLE.
The political hostility of the C0nser
natives aud PERSONAL antimthirs q
many Of the white Republicans TOWARD
us. render our position peculiar ana
embarrassing. All that is virtlous ii
The administration of public affairs i.
claimed by the whites, while all tia
il vicious is accr. ,litrd to the blacks
Neither the influence nor the Oppnitn
uity has been permitted t" ',s to shape
or control any policy. We have retr"
graded rather than advancrd under the
administration: and had it not been iol
some of the intirxihle white Republic
| cans. We WO,lltl long since have bppu