The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-28
OUR LAWMAKERS.

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Of the South, and the comforting upon them
Immediately thereafter, ali the political
rights and privileges enjoyed by their
former white masters, are the cause of all
the troubles that afflict the Southern States.
Especially in Louisiana, South Carolina and
Mississippi is the .baneful effect of this
unwise and dangerous privilege most
severely felt. Here in our State the most
important offices are filled by ignorant and
illiterate negroes.
| majority Of the House of Representa-
tives are negroes. The Senate is presided
over by a negro. The Superintendent OF
Public EducatiOn-an Office which no one
should fill but an accomplished scholar and
gentleman--is disgraced by mulatto,
whose literary attachments are about
those Of twelve year old boy. Negroes
who cannot read are made justices Of the
peace, police jurors and members OF the
Legislature. And so through the catalogue
of State and parish officers, we find igno-
rance and corruption, personal irresponsi-
bilty and moral obli4uity every where
prevailing.
With equal propriety and good sense
might so many balloons be assembled to-
gether in the Mechanics Institute and told
to make laws for Louisiana, as the horde of
debased, ignorant and stupid Senegambans
who have just adjourned, after going through
the farce of what is called legislation. The
&c, .I,%r &c +1,o
sible nature, and we all know education is
an indispensable requisite for wise and in
telligent legislation. What, then, must be
the character of the laws enacted by gang
of negroes, fresh from the corn and cotton
fields, presided over by cooks and BARRIERS,
harangued by steamboat stewards and gam
bling house walters.
Such is the class of rulers and law makers
the Republican party has given us. Such
are the beings who fill, to-day, seats once
honored by such men as Benjamin, Soule,
Preston, Roselius, Noise, Sandige, Morrison,
Hyams, Mouton, Olivier. sigur, Heron, Wag-
gaman, Bemiss, Roman, De ClOuet, and
host of others we might mention, men whose
brilliant talents, high sense Of honor, great
integrity and personal character, commanded
the respect and admiration Of the nation and
gave the legislation, the Government and the
credit of Louisiana a name and reputa-
ton second to no State in the Union.
But to-day where is the fair fame of our
State: In the lowest depths Of degradation,
wallowing in filth and corruption, dis
graced by ignorance and imbecility, scorn-
ed, ridiculed and denounced by the enlight-
ened world, and handed over to the keeping
Of those who exult over the ruin and degra-
dation of the country.
How much longer will such an appalling
state Of affairs be tolerated by the white
people of Louisiana and of the whole coun-
trys Is not the State worth an effort to
rescue it from the grasp of the benighted
negro and corrupt carpet Dagger: Must we
always live under their ignorant and venal
1OminiOns
Our relief and salvation can only be
found in vigorous and determined action
cy an efficient organization of the whites,
md by united and harmonious conduct.
Let us ali resolve to rid the country, cost
what it may, of the thieves that infest it,
he political frauds that curse it, and the
ignorance that disgraces it, and success will
;rown the struggle.