New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-31
CRITICISM AND APOLOGY.

Harpers Weekly has lately had occasion
to say that the home rule of Democracy
means ''the practical restoration of all Of
slavery but its name, - and has been taken
to task by our neighbor, the Times. for its
temerity, With this for a text our neigh
Dor, of many sides and opinions, under
takes to throw the glamour Of patriotism
over the massacre of 1866 and the later
riots Of Vicksburg, remarking incidentally
that doubtless more were killed in both
places ethan Christian soldiers might
justify" Christians of any profession
have never attempted to justify such
slaughters, and the explanations of causes
and results soothingly given by the Times
at this late day will hardly improve the
case. It speaks of the riot of 1896 as
''so-called' massacre. It was so called,
and is to this day, and not a century Of
time can wash away its shame.
As to the position Harper's Weekly has
taken, from the beginning Of the rebellion
until the present day, the journal of
civilization" manifests itself able to main
tain itself against all journals of unciyil-
izatior, and it is natural that in its march
of progress it should become antagonistic
to those having no settled purpose or
policy.
What it said about the restoration of
slavery, except in name, and which the
Times characterizes as an ''unmitigated
SANDER" is at least not without shadow
of fact for precedent, for il appears that
IN 1865 an election was held at which
only white men voted, and the Legisla-
ture chosen was Democratic. When that
body assembled, among the acts intro
Mced was one providing for the combining
of colored people to the plantations Of
their employers, except when absent
upon pass furnished by the planter; an
other stipulated that any negro who
should fail to contract for the labor of
himself and family with some reputable
planter during the first ten days of Janua-
ry in each year should be arrested by the
nearest justice Of the peace, lodged in the
parish Jail with his family, and that said
Justice should contract with some planter
for their services during the year for the
benefit Of the parish. This was ''va-
grant act but it did net extend to the
white Migrants who were without DISPOSE
ton to work.
Since those days the negro has become
citizen and a against the will Of
his former master, it must be said-and
that fact should have settled his civil
rights as equal with other men. Uniform
kindness to the negro would have divided
his vote, and that would have been better
for all parties; but his right to be man
has all along been contested, and the
colored man, for political existence,
naturally followed the party which made
laws for his protection.
What is wanted now is something else
than intimidation Or promised security to
color line voters only. Let the fact be
established beyond a doubt that the lives
and rights of all men are sacred, and all
disturbances now destroying the pros
perity Of the Southern States, except the
minor wrangles for Office, will cease.
Until such state of things is accom-
plished, the Democratic party can make
no permanent Roadway. Harper's Weekly
knows this, but the Times does not &C.
knowledge il. ".....
While the message of Mayor Leeds We