The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-11-27
IT'S GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY.
lrrn NJ the New Orleans PicaYnne.l

From the New Orleans Picayune.l
One of tn greatest needs of the South,
In their prpse Mt circumstances, is the in
tiupnce Of an independent and enlight-
ened press, whose spirit and Object
shouId ba tn direct the minds of our
npnI,le To n course which will secure IA
Greater harmony among the people i'll
fine nnrsuit of the policy That can alone
restore this section to its proper position
and due weight in the Union. Ii is OBJ
yions that We have p%rejudices of our
" to overcome, as we'll as those of the
neonle Of other States, to resist and Oh
Hiterate. We cannot win the victory i'll
this contest without the exercise OF y
large self control and Il philosophlc tenn
DER. TO aid this victory Is the duty OF
i press which liz true tO the best inter-
estS of this section. ltisa difficult duty.
The great wrongs OF our people nave
made them ezaeting and ~intOlerant. A
aa"r. intense devotion aud more igor
ous LOYALTY are demanded of all sons OF
the South, ID order to secure that Justice
which has been so long withheld from
them. The manifestations of this in
tense LOYALTY are often construed to an
injury. Thus, because we have opposed
the domination of our recently enamel
mated African population, it has been
assumed that we are hostile To the con-
ditit>us of reconstruction. Nay more, IT
i ann,etimes aveFred that We would re-
sforn fS,e old condition of African slav-
ory Tl,ese are gross eFr0Hs which must
iii, disnpu,.d and e~radicated. The press
cannoF, e,nr,snY itself in il more pgaetie-
sIIy useful raRnner than in destroying
these illusions aqd callnlnles. What We
seek il the li~arnlall0us combination OF
the races to il cusslllltOil emu Of mutual
henefit and welfare. We comprehend
our situation aud our WsSla0tlsiDllltles.
There must be SincereguatSDbes8o t tue
fidelity of both parties tn this cUntf#aeE'
They must stand by each other. 1ae
negroes best interest is to maintain rela-
tions Of good will and mutual respect
and confidence with the great body OF
the white people.
1t il the duty Of the latter To teach
him this aud to offer every ir1ucement
10 such union and c~O-upeiatinn with
those who are bound to him by such
strong ties. The past should be forgot
ten. Abundant experience has shown
the negro race that there is nO right or
interest he has which will not be better
guarded by the honest white people,
with whom he has heretofore maintained
relations of mnity and intimacy. than
by the fugitive class of political adven-
tnrprs, who hive for q few years past
ruled and controlled him.
On the part OF the white race Of the
South what nobler mission could they
have than that of bringing about this
result, and by their superior intelligence
and vigOr conducting the negro race to-
wards u full realization of their duties
and capacities, and an intelligent dis
charge of the responsibilities of freemen
and members of Il civilized society and
of a republican governments This tu-
iti0n of the African should be taken
f~am the designing stranger and adven
frger and Femittetl to the people who
have the best knowledge of his eharac-
ter and capacity, and who will exercise
ti,e largest influence in shaping and di-
recting hiadeyelOpmentand aspirations.
IT viii be the great duty of the South
eTn press and statesmen to- enforce and
incnlcate tits truth and these 0hliga-
lions. Their success will give Il see-
ton what 40 party triumph will secure,
u permanent victory over the great OBJ
stacles that have 40 long impcded the
restoration Of peaee, SOCIAL Older and
political organization and material pros
perity within our borders.