New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-10
THE ADDRpas OF TEE c0LoRED MEI.

I The ADDRESS OE T6E CV1OhhV &o0'
The colored Republicans Of the paris
Of Orleans. through their chosen repre-
sensatives, have issued an address to thei
fellow-citizens Of both races. which by tn
patriotism of its sentiments. the model
alton of its tone and the elegance OF it
style must command general respect
while its special charge Of being ignore
in the 'counsels Of the party" couche'
as it is. in temperate though self.appre
cia,iye terms. demands serious consider
alton. and SO far as borne out by facts
prompt and thorough action.
It is gratifying to perceive that. not
withs.anding these charges Of neglect AM
! Injustice, however well founded. there j
nothing in this document to encourag
the opponents of Republicanism in tn
expectation Of a weakening in GU
ranks. On tho contrary the address
emphatically announces the unwaverlnf
devotion of its constituents to the nationa
Republican party Oh the ground both o
..instinct and conviction. and their CRATE
full recognition Of its claims to their sup
port, confidence and cooperation. After
eaunerating some Of these claims. the
address se-afirms its party allegiance in
/ the following forcible terms:
| Gas long as the national Republican party
| shall be rs true to our liberties IN the
| future as it has been in the past. we shall
| neither be scdnred nor eoerccd fro" oar
partisan fe0ity.
One noticeable and praiseworthy fea'
ture of this address is the modest manner
in which the selfassertion Of its authors
manifests itself. Not to appreciate their
own weight md importance would indi-
cate obtuseness: to assert that apprecia.
ton haughtily would be in bad taste. A
happy medium has been hit, showing that
just se!f-measure which recognizes the
responsibilities attaching to power and
awakens tho expectation that these repre-.
sentative colored men will use their influ.
ence with their own race 70 diffuse among
them a livelier sense Of those responsible
ties and more correct notions upon the
duties of citizenship. It is not light
thing to hold the position described as
follows:
We are the life of Louisiana, the sub
stance of the Conservatives and the pivot
of the white Republicans. Our cultivation
Of the soil mainly gives to the State the
cha aui,ua and n CnfnA the
State government owes its existence.
That position involves intelligence.
without which the State would be blind;
industry. without which it would become
impoverished: probity. without which it
would become bankrupt. To be the ''l;fe
of the State" is to be its spirit; to give it
form and character; by means Of chosen
representatives. to make. interpret and
execute its laws: to direc. its industry: to
develop its Internal resources: to mold
its destiny. To give existence" to the
State government is to become directly
responsible for the character OF that gov
eminent. it being presumable that the
officials composing it are mainly repre-
sen,atives Of their constituents. Hence
arises the necessity Of carefully scanning
the character and qualifications OF
all aspir..nts to public Office. and
Of rigidly rejecting such as are unfit
in point OF capacity or probity. no mat
ter what other ''claims" they may pretend
to. No one. in fact, has ''cla;n.s" to OFF,
cial position: the selection Of candidates
for such being matter to be determined
solely by itness and exrediency: and the
sooner the general mind is brought to
understand tia: the distribution OF Offices
is not the special object for which gov
ernments are established. and that tie
exercise of the elective franchise is not
legitimate trade. the better it will be for
the government and for society in general
1t is. therefore. q happy thing for the Re-
publicans OF Louisiana that the leading
minds in its colored element {numeri.
cally its principal part? have SO complete
a recognition Of their importance and its
responsibility: That they
will exercise this influence with their own
race for its gradual enlightenment in the
true principles of government is not to be
doubted: neither is it that they will.
sooner or later. obtain tina: important
share in the management! Of party inter.
ssts to which their worth and intellige nee,
Is we'll a. their race influence enti:!e
hem.