New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-02
AUGUSTA TONTBLANC.-
THE NARRATIVE OF A WHITE Lacquer


We shall decline to state what acclden
placed this narration at our disposal, an
even withhold from publication compll
men. due the skilful translator who ha
enabled us to present it in the American
language. Suffice il to say that the nara
ton is veracious exposure OF the deVlce
by which a Jealous friend Of the Whit'
League was convinced that it by no mean'
came up to the profession OF the program
me.-lED REPUBLICAN,.
M Auguste Toutblanc (pure white) TOOK
such interest in politics as might De SUI
ficient to secure "plass." The "a IN thu
word is pronounced az in architect. II
signifies any employment with salary at
tached. 1t is deemed more honorable than
any wage labor, though the wages may be
better than the salary. The 'plasses'
which M. Auguste had held were numerous,
and comprehended almost anything from
clerk in an auction store to collector for the
defense of Paris aid association" with
miscellaneous services as clerk at election
polls or copyist of record. For the rest
he had al the accomplishments, was a
brilliant biIliardist, perseveripg chasseu'
and fisherman. He was an tait in the opera,
had fair baritone voice, and played pas
SADLY on the piano. He was temperate in
strong drinks, but the fire of his cigar like
that of the Vestals never went out, at least
while he was awake to keep it going.
In the organization of the city govern.
ment he has been kept waiting in the mos
inexcusable manner. He had eaten up one
small tenement inherited from the ma ternai
succession, and was slowly nibbling the
chairs and tables which he had removed
into rented premises. 1t being unprofes-
sional that one who is in search of a ''plass"
should engage in any subordinate occupa-
ton, NJ. Auguste had much leisure in await
ing the result of the next election to follow
the eviction of the usurpers. This might,
Like the end of the world as predicted by
Miller, occur at almost any time within
four years. 1t was, therefore, mbent
on those who expected to profit by that
great event to keep their feet shod, and
their loins girded, so as not to be Out of the
way when this official millennium should
open.
M. Auguste was then occupied in stand
ing guard for Ihis millennium at the corner
of Bourbon and Canal streets. 1t was
called the "Lopez lookout" and at that
point the auroral dawn Of the otficial comet
of 1874 was expected to be first visible.
His hours of watch were from ii A. NJ. to
4:30 p. NJ, at which hour he went home to
see what his little wife had provided for
dinner, ready to resume his duty of await
ing the sudden end of the usurpaton, for
he well said 1t might come as any other
thief in the night.
1t was during this arduous term of pub
lie vigilance that NJ. Auguste first heard the
Blanc sans, Noir League spoken of. 1t was
evidently good thing. The whites in the
city having a majority of votes were as
sured of every place in the city, with fair
chance tor the monopoly also OF those
throughout the State. According to COM
putation there would thus be about one
salared officer to every five white voters.
To decide the incumbents a tOmb0la was
proposed, which would combine the pleas
ing excitement Of chance with conviction
OF perfect fairness. The tombola is a
round table laid off in radial stripes, wider
at the periphery, but terminating in point
at the centre. These pyramidal rays are
painted of different colors. There is mar
row bar of iron which revolves on pivot
at the centre of the table. The iron bar is
made to revolve rapidly around the cireum-
ference of the table, and he whose bet is
placed on the same stripe over which the
index of the iron bar rests gains the prize
placed on the stripe.
It was proposed that upon these stripes
shUuid be placed commissions for various
"plasses" varying in value from door
keepers chair up to the chief of bureau.
This was better than former proposal in
q Fusion convention to dispose of the nomi
nations by lot. 1t harmonized all. and the
White League would be harmonious-until
after the tombola. =.
1t was not long after admission that NJ
Auguste pronounced from the tribune his
maiden Grafton. His theme was: The
slacks have caused all our mistOrtunes.
They must be extradited.'
We omit the introduction.
Retore there were blacks, said he, French
~, W ,re-,. laborers Their introd uc1ion has
raTayed the race energies. II has cramped
,Ia race resources. We have been ruined bv
their workin q in our places. Our men Should
he in the field or at the forge: our women
nIayinc on the gridlron instead OF the harp
and the washboard instead OF the piano. Let
ms reform all this. Let us drive the negroes
into the Jungle, seize again the weapons OF
labor which they have insldloosly taken
and once more assert our manhood anu our
Marchons
M. Tontblanc was applauded, as they say
with both hands, accepted the congratuia-
4;ops of his FRIENDS, and sat down with the
baro;c determination to abolish. not only
slavery, but the negroes. Mr.. Tontblanc
h aa unconsciously passed far beyond John
Brown or Theodore Parker. The resolution
then pending -:
Hesolred, That we pledge ourselves, lnoi,
;5naIiv and tor our families, ID at we VIII
NOV no pure negro, or mixed negro, race
L. anyagricultural, commercial, mechanicai
or meniai capacity whatever.
VITA the cry, "Abas les negres' whion
r,aans "Down with the darkies'' the meet
:, = ad;ourned and resolved itself into-se'-
Thara are few things which e1alt man
-.1tn.r successful orstory. Coming out
- anv other sSrt of fight, the combatsn1s