The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-17
The Lesson of the Leagues.
lTrom t1e Sew Orleans Tilnesl

-S-
GFrom the Sew Orleans Tilnesl
Secret political leagues, eFer since-tl
memorable days of . Rip, san. set him
up again. have almost invariably proved
Il plague to their inventors. However
worthy the design of the Founders OF
such organizations, vicious and preJu-
diced elements soon acquire a controlling
influence in their management and lead
them into most lamentable excesses. 1T
is easier to co1jure up phantom than TO
exercise tito kindle a fire ttlan TO
duench q conf1agration. In the Know
Nothing movement, certain classes OF
white people were arrayed against otheT
classes, chiefly on questions of birth and
religious faith, and SO intense was the
bitterness e~ngendered that a blood ce-
1nented seal not infreauently attested the
fiendish force and merciless vengeance
of the dark-lantern league.
This organization was, however, lost
in the stirring excitements OF the war,
and has not been heard of since. CItl-
zens of native and foreign birth were
enlisted on both sides in that conflict,
and notwithstanding their previous dis
sensions, fought with acommon bravery.
Adopting the spirit of of Moore's
melodies, they practically said:
g shall | ask the brave soldier that fights by my
side
Inthe cause of mankind, ifou ereeds DO agree :
Shall | turn from the friend who is faithful and
tried. .
Neither Valor nor patriotism can be
tried by a standard which finds it's shib-
boleth in creed or birth. But the differ
ences between different, members OF the
great Caucasian family are less marked
49, 4t,n-a Io&-1aanE 41,nH ENoJ1naciarS nrd
the African. Between these latter ma
and wideHed it by the traditions and pre-
induces of centuries. The historic pO-
sition of the negro is that of subordina-
ton, while the whites have held, whether
riglltfu1ly or not, the unquestiOned en-
blems- of mastery.
During our late sectional unpleasant
ness the relation of the two races in the
South was suddenly changed. The for
mer Slave, politically at least, exchang-
ed places with his late master, and be-
came at the close of the war the petted
ward of the nation. This wardship has,
however, proved a curse rather than a
blessing. Tt gave to the " loyal trick
Ster in politics the convenient tools
through which the ends of a corruptam-
bitiOn were easily attained, and thus
brought ruin upon every State where
these tools had even an approach to SUI
premacy in point of numbers.
TO continue the mischieyOus supre1n-
acy thus acquired, the negroes were
banded together by artful whites IN
union and other leagues, and wherever
the spirit of these leagues has been car
ried out, the ruin SO mercilessiy con-
tinJled, fOethe common injury OF every
1aL&,n.4 lnr1 0-~xa n ,a,aA Yn1. A q o,x o-sI
begets another, counter. or Kuklux lea
CUES were organized under various titles,
and they too, 10 far from doing any
good, have proved most fruitful III mis-
chief and disaster. MS
little lesson of these leagues be read
Alright, they should give such warming
as the stranded wreck furnishes the mar
iner on a treacherous coast. The good
elements of the leagues areseldom ed
BILE of controlling the bad ones, and un-
der the shadows of secrecy THREATS are
insinuated which the conservative ele-
ments aud society are impelled to resist.
Like produces ikessSecret organizations
on one side provoke like organizations
on the other; hence runners of a white
league are. followed by Tum0ls.aOf a
black league, tile details being purposelF
amplified and exaggerated to make the
rofnanGa0f the situation more perfect,
or the Intimidation more complete.
The two races in Louisiana are too
hear on a par i'm point OF numbers to
make redemption practicable unless the
better elements of both races join in the
attempts Radical tricksters have lost
the control they once had over the negro,
and the latter begins to see thattlle ruin
OF his white neigib0r lis not the best
means Of enriching himself. Both must
work together for the common redemp-
ton which both SO greatly need
Tn ouredition OF Sunday, we attempted
to show the necessityo of attachinga an ed
vocational qualifications to suffrage, and
iii relation thereto we have received the
following note from an intelligent col
ofed MIN:
10 Tho Editor Of the New9oraeais Times:
My attention has been called to your
articleUf Sunday, headed 1.-THE True
zAsaWell-wisher of this, my native State,
and a representatives Of both races, white
and black, Ivy blood would be glad to
work with any one or party to redeem
the State from the present unfortunate
condition. How shall it be d0ne9 Sug-
geSt, either privately or publicly, the
party who will act sqarely with Your
noble suggestion, and [ am with you
and from the knowledge / have of my
cOequals, can, without hesitation, pledge
for them also their co-Operati0n.H
There must be d place in the politics
OF this State for pers0nsl in the condition
of the writer Of this note. AlIWho wish
to serve the State should be afforded an
opportunity.
GEMs oF THoGaHF-Happy indeed
are they whose intercourse with the
world has n0G' cilanged the tone Of the
heller feelings, or broken those musical
chords of the heart whose vibrations IRE
so mel09giDils, so tender and touching IN
the evening of age. i
H you wish to i've the life of a man,
and nObA0f a fungus, besocial, be broth
erly, be charitable, be sympathetic, and
labor earnestly for the good of your
Kind.
The man who cares for nobody, and
for whom nobody cares, has nothing to
live for that will pay for keeping of soul
and body together.
Innocence is d flower which withers
when touched, but blooms not again,
though Watered BIZ tears.
Passion gets less and less powerful
after defeat. Husband energy for
ireal demand which the dangers of life
nlakgsinF,On it.J @YfUH
Permanent rest IS not expected on the
road, bnt at the end0f the journey.
Tie good mans life, like the mountain
top, looks beautiful because it is NEAR to
49, ere