New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-25
OsTRACIsN-ITS COST AND C0HsEQUEH'

"sharper than . serpsnt's tooth is .
fhankless community. We infer from the
Tines essay on the political intolerance
which prevails. that it has suffered in its
circulation. its advertisements and the
social relations Of its conductors. the
consequences which visit the most care
.ul neutrality as the most pronounced
antagonism. The ostracisrn Of which the
Times complains is not like that from
| which the practice takes its name. 1he
| ostrac;sms OF direct exile can be compre'
hended rs punishment for some overt
act Of inc;yisn. That which falls upon q
| citizen ia far more subtle in its nature
and much more severe in its effects. u:
is more like accommodation. in which
a hereto was deprived Of all social
rights and industrial employment. BY
which he walked through life with
| pracard warning away all kindly Offices
and all social justice. This very principle
of intolerance drove men across the ocean
10 the American wilderness. It had ex'
PEELED the best artisans Of Europe from
theix homes and country and compelled
them 20 seek in exile subsistence denied
them in thci, nstive land.
Acolored man. endowed with right OF
suffrage. is told if he will not exercise 1t
at the order OF another, he shall be de-
prived Of the opportunity to labor. He
shall have no home and no wages upon
che soil of him who may owe that very
soil TO the clemency OF a conqueror. It
should be remembered that intole.
rance has no limit. The Bee gives
specific case. which occurred in the
memorable days when foreigners were
the carpet-baggers of New Orleans. A
German druggist, going to vote, was
set upon by Know-Nothings and shot
to death. Dying on the sidewalk,
rufian fired O. superduous shot to
..6nish him." This fendish campaign
was but an evaporation Of the same prin-
ciple at work now. A man killed for an
obnoxious nationality only expiated the
offense of voting the wrong ticket. The
German was killed. as tie negro has been
discharged, II control or nullify his vote.
It would eliminate here as in 1856 but
for the presence of United States troops.
and it may do SO whenever they shall be
withdrawn
A merchant OF mechanic who Joins a
Republican club, OF publisher who con.
ducts Republican journal. are spotted
for ostracism. No goods will be pur'
chased or service received from these men
il the same can be had elsewhere or Of
another. Very well. Suppose this prin.
ciple we're adopted by others. 4 White
League merchant goes to q Republican
house at the North to buy goods. He is
told, II will not give you credit, nor deal
with man Of your opinions" Another
wishes capital. ITO what political party
do you belong?" ITO the White League"
'.Then would not contribute dollar to
the diffusion Of such doctrine" The
personal persecution of ward politicians
may sometimes drive q man and his
family to quit the scene Of insult and an
noyance. Suppose manufacturing or
banking institution which. based on
Northern capital, is conducted by an Off
cer whose politics are ostracised by his
fellow-citizens? Finding the social ezclu-
sion insupportable, he decides to remove
to some more tolerant community. The
departure Of such q person would be
hailed in the clubs with applause. In this
act Of depar ture hundreds may be thrown
out OF employ. or course Of enforced
payments adopted which draws some
millions Of dollars from an impoverished
community. Ostracism in such case re.
coils. The persons driven TO carry their
capital elsewhere infict far more damage
than they fer. The same cause which
drives them away prevents Others from
taking their place. The first thing Re.
publican immigrant should do on arrival
at New Orleans is 20 report 60 the White
League clubs 20 know whether his chill
dred would be allowed to go to school in
company, or whether his wife or daughters
would be admitted to social intercourse.
It would require n very high cate
Of attraction to induce stranger TO seek
new community, if he had to endure
the scouts and taunts Of the local popula-
ton, as in Constantinople or Canton.
With a city dilapidated in its commerce,
and borne down by debt and taxation,
there can be no conceivable consideration
which would make man take his family
from any poor and peaceable place to
bring them here. For the ostracists do
not reflect upon the mischief which men
o, women driven from here, fer no offense
save that OF opinion, can infict. It is the
private correspondence Of European i'm
migrants, praising the fertility OF our soil,
the liberality of our institutions. the cor
diality of welcome, that brings millions
from the old world to che new. An oppo.
site influence will have contrary effect,
| and every person ostracised for opinion
becomes missionary, warning again: the
cruelty and cowardice Of intolerance.
| The effec. Of this treatment may be
| apprehended in the petition Of Louisiana
for federal aid. We often imagine, or try
to do SO. the powers Of face and duplicity,