Richland beacon., 1874-07-11
From the Shreveport Times
The White Mans Movement.

From every portion Of the State
there come cheering reports of the
rapid progress being made by the
white mans movement Everywhere
the white people have cast off the
apathy and despair which have for
years crushed them into the dust, and
enter upon this movement with a
resolution and an enthusiasm that
must accomplish the most gratifying
results. 1t has indeed fir, 4 the popu-
lar heart-awakcncd the people to
action as the bugle-blast that sum-
mons TO the charge.
Having become satisfied that the
longer continuance in power of the
horde of thieves and scoundrels who
have so long held a high revel of
crime, will force them to abandon the
State, they have nerved themselves
to the determination of leaving no
legitimate effort untried by which the
redemption of Louisiana may be Sc
cured.
To prove this to our readers-to
show them that the sentiment that
now animates the peol lie of this sec
tion is not confined to it, but is
travelling with the speed of thought
and inspiring the people of the entire
State with determination to check
the INSCRIPTIONS Legislation which
has wellnigh robbed every taxpayer
of bis property, and, at the same time,
inspiring them with the conviction
that by earnest and united effort the
desired result can be accomplished,
we make the following extract from a
letter written on the 2lst of June
from Monroe to the New Orleans
Bulletin. In reviewing speech de-
livered in that place by Governor
McEnery the writer says:
He wished to be distinctly under
stood as being no advocate of wrest-
ing any right or privilege given by
law to the negro race, nor one who
would seek in any way to oppress or
annoy that people. He was struggling
only to secure the rights and privileges
of white men now being encroached
on and further seriously threatened
by the tyranny, insolence and igno-
rance of the dominant political party
in our State.
In his opinion this is ths grand
issue to-day in Louisiaua : - Mtics--
question that appeals directly to the
heart and home of every white man
in this unfortunate State and the onlu
question on which erery white man
not traitor to his race can and will
unite.
The remarks of Gov. McEnery
were received with attention almost
too profound to admit of applause,
which, nevertheless, was frequently
elected. And if the faces of men
ever indicate any feeling, they made
an impression on the hearts of his
audience not soon to be efraced.
They were ,chite men, and as such
felt and responded in their inmost
soul to every sentiment and idea ex-
pressed.
There is not decent thinking man
in Louisiana who viii deny that race
lines of distinction are already sharp
ly drawn, and that as each day passes
the breach gaps wider that separates
the white from the blacke race in this
State of ours. Further, that unless
this insolent encroachment on the
rights, political and social, of the
white people of Louisiana is ended,
the day of the "irrepressible conflict"
will come when physical force shall
solve the political problems in
louisiana politics. The only means
Of averting this calamity lies in the
union of the white people of the State,
representing as they do its virtue,
courage and wealth, into one compact
and imposing phalanx. The negro
party and its corrupt and insolent
leaders dare not stand before the
menacing front of an insulted and
outraged people.
This issue is forced on us by the
negro party in Louisiana. 1t is none
of our seeking, nor are we responsible
for it and the results that may be
born of it. On the contrary, we have
almost sacrificed our honor and man.
hood in fruitless attempts 20 avoid it.
Its gravity and its magnitude terrified
US 80 that We hardly dared to imagine
it ever could arise. But it has arisen
and now looms up so prominently in
tie political heavens as to ovcrshadow
and dwarf every other question in
Louisiana. 1t remains to he seen if
the white people of Louisiana are
capable of meeting the demands of
duty and the hour, OF whether, by
dissentions and division, they demon
strate to the whole world their
servility and their cowardice.