The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-31
Causes aud Effects.
From the New Orleans Times.

7 From the New Orleans Times
1t is claimed as an excuse for the ex-
istencc of the White League, that the
Black League was started first, and that
the latter made the former necessary.
OF our own knowledge we know not
which is entitled to the honor or dis
honor OF precedence, but accepting the
assertion that the sable organization
first raised the banner of political Ostra-
clsm, the creditor following the example
of Il parcel of ignorant and superstitiOus
negroes is an exceedingly questionable
one. Ever since the date of emancipa-
ton the blacks have been aping the
whites in all sorts of social and political
guilds, but most of them are without the
slightest material significance. That
they have voted for the carpet baggers
is true it was, however, not because of
organizations which originated among
themselves, but because they listened to
the dGlusiVe and interested advice Of
those whom they believed to be their
white friends. 1t was white influence
that corrupted them, and just so far Us
they have aided i'll the establishmentand
maintenance of a corrupt governments,
they have suffered with the whites in
proportion to their means and cXpecta-
tlons. We speak here of the great, hard
handed mass of the negro voters not of
the. dlsreputable few who have accepted
the position Of political hrigands and
made plumber their highest object. Plan
tatiOn hands, low as they may be in the
order of intelligence, have still sense
enough to know that if all the profits of
a plantation arc swept away in taxes the
rate OF wages must decrease. as no bust
ness can long be kept up which is not
self-slstaining. Nor is it any satisfac-
ton to commO field hands to know that
II SMART INSCRIPTIONS darkey out~of
every Thousand has stolen enough during
Il few Acknowledgements to render him
self comparatively independent. They
can see as we'll as white men can, thaB
col0red official thieves are Just Us dcs-
truCtive of all the higher interests of a
community as white ones arc, and the
! necessity of gettingrid of official thieves,
regardless OF race or color, became
mOnthsagOa general popular conviction.
Such was the political situation when
the White League flung forth it's pros
criptive banner from the outer wall. 1t
is the work, not of prudence, but of pre-
judge; not Of wisdom, but of wanton-
ness. Conservative journals, as well of
the North as of the South, oppose the
movement as at once reckless and sui
cidal. The Nation, which has kept up
a. pei SiSSClIt iIG VI OppuSltlOu W L SuSidl
oppression in the South, declares that
the white people of New Orleans chad
better let the Democracy carry a few
more important States before they pla-
card such sentiments as make up the
manifesto of the Crescent City White |
League Much that is said is we'll said;l
but to tell the truth, the document can
not be read without feeling rs if its
authors were impatient young White
Leaguers, with their fingers on the trig-
gers Of their pistols, and all ready, if not
more than ready, for another 1866 riot of
vastly larger proportions" They see,
or pretend to, sec ""sthe hereditary, civil
izatiOn Of Louisiana, threatened and
and they arm themselves in order to Sc
cure at once the honors and rewards of
victory oven such Il feelsa:r ~
Even the Boston. Post, which is of the
strai&lltest Democratic sect, and has
criticised Radicalism in all sections Of
the country with an unterritied fierce
ness worthy of the days of Andrew Jack
son, thus speaks of the White League in
Louisiana -" Fearful as is the pr0voca-
ton, we cannot but profoundly depre-
cate and sdepl0rC any measures which
threaten what this one does, q social
war. " *i Whatever the ditcrna-
1--WE, the peril OIL Sucn an experiment Is
too awful to be encountered either c0olly
Oron an impulse. Itamounts to an appeal
to t1al11 to and destroy the editieG in
order to get rid of the ycrmin." This is
strong language, but it is evidently that
of a. sincere and earnest friend. ,fgfE cd
We know that r~ascally negroes are
constantly doing rascally things, aud
foolish negroes foolish. things but we
10 not belieyei it either wise or prudent,
IN such an emergency as this, to drive
Intelligent and honestly disposed ne
groes back into the ranks of q mischiev-.
OUs and oppressive Radicalism which
have practically abandoned, by
at once proscriptive and suicidal.
IF it requires all Ofthe whites, with some
lid from the blacks, to win in the coming
contest, how can an organization which
l large portion of the whites and all of
5he blacks oppose, present even the
slightest ehan1ce of yictoryg ~ 7~ss-H
Louisiana is tired of organized defeats
Let enough of her sons, bound together
u a grand community of interest, unite
or her redemption. In bringing about
effects, adequate causes must be
in motion. ~ .r.~a ,t.. -..ft