The weekly Louisianian., 1874-02-28

owing to combination of unfortunate
circumstances, the race has not distin-
guished itself favorably in the three
States we have mentioned"
This, and similar utterances found
in other Republican journals Of the
country, while Objectionable in
temper, and unjust in their reAec-
tons to some extent, are not with
out foundation in fact, and are
worthy the serious consideration
Of our people, suggesting as they
do, a duty of the hour that may
not be safely neglected.
The circumstances under which
our race entered upon the duties Of
citizenship were so strange, and
embarrassing, as to entitle them to
the sympathy and kindly help of
fair-minded men of all parties, and
especially Of the resident white peo-
pie Of the South. Gentle and
patient under centuries of wrong;
teachable and entertaining hearty
desire to live in harmony with their
former owners, there was no reason
why the colored man, freed from
his bondage, and native white man,
freed from his prejudices, should
not live in peace, and together
build upon a healthier and better
basis, the wasted fortunes of the
South. This course, so considerate
and expedient, was not pursued,
however, by our white citizens;
and the colored man suspected, o.
tracised and sometimes prosecuted
for claiming his political rights,
was thrown upon his own resources
or forced to seek intelligent white
leadership from other sources. Il
is not surprising that we should
sometimes make mistakes, with
such surroundings, not only in the
leaders selected, but also in the
adopted for the general
and for self-protection. The
boasted Anglo7Sa1on, under similar
endorsements, and with the great
political problems before him,
novel, and hitherto untried would
have made the same blunders, and
performed the same inconsiderate
scts, that are so constantly charged
Upon us as a race. The acknowl-
evils that attach to the Re-
publican State Governments in the
are not wholly nor mainly
to either the ignorance or
.vickedness of our people.
The same spirit that prompts the
editor of the N. Y. Times, SO flip
to say of Senator Bruce, that
Mississippi has elected steamboat
'orter to the U. S. Senate only be-
ause his skin is black" express :
ng itself in an hundred suspicious
nd p1oscriptive forms, through our
esident white men, together with
he evil counsel, and influence Of
ONE Of the white adventurers who
ave forced their leadership upon
s, have contributed largely to add 1
, the ills Of which the whole peo- 8
(e so bitterly complained. t
The North has contributed it's
uota Of demoralizing agencies \
i'd the South has not withheld her ,
as the history of legisla- a
On in Louisiana will show "the
dest and best" have been more
less fully in all the corrupt jobs, L
dinarily exclusively charged upon al
negro rule in the South" and y y
or ways that are dark and tricks tt
at are vain" these same traducers
our race &c are peculiar"
So much, justice to a much abused r
ople required but the oolored /
liens are not altogether blame
IS in the matters charged. We M
ve sometimes erred in our politi-
action and incensiderate legis-
ion and unwise laws have been Ar
, result We are making hope L LIE
progress in political knowledge !
/ the acts that heretofore might '''
70 been excusable on the score m
t they had been unwittingly G
,e, can no longer pass uncen-