The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-10
An Honest Mans Party.
From the New Orleans Times July 4th.

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From the New Orleans Times July 4th.l
What Louisiana requires-what in
deed the whole country requires, is-n0t
a white mans party, not a black mans
party, but an honest mans party. Is
and calculated to inspire retaliatOry
antagonisms, give no fair promise of
that peaceful redemption which can
alone give assurance of prosperity III
the future. We have had quite enough
of conflict in this State already. Black
spirits and white, blue spirits and gray,
have each presented themselves on the
political stage in questionable attitudes,
and every time have made confusion
worse COMPOUNDED. What political
arithmetician can figure up the disad-
vantages and impediments to self
government which have already arisen
in this State from the armed conflicts
between whites and blacks, wherein the
latter have been invariably the victims!
To these conflicts and their results
may be traced the all but universal ad-
herence of the cOlOred voters to Il cor
rupt party, which, while constantly
keeping the word Of promise to their
cOlOred men condemn the dishonesty OF
LlAS hfNlHSN NEtl PVT ouS DOAAElSA6sIh IVA
thoroughly as white men do, but they
cannot affiliate with even white reform
ers who practically ignore the late
amendments to the Federal COnstitu-
ton. Should q new conflict arise from
the clash of opposing leagues, now i'll
process of formation, the redemption OF
Louisiana would not only again be
hindered, but R%adicalism throughout
the North would find therein the stimu-
liant to renewed eXertiOns and the seeds
Of new successes. Old war prejudices
against the Southern whites would be
revived, together with those peculiar
Northern Sympathies which have thus
far given to the negroes a political
power wholly out of proportion to their
numbers and intelligence.
Under the circumstances in which we
find ourselves discretion is better than
yalor. For the conservative whites to
drive. the negroes together in a solid
phalanX Of opposition is to ensure theiil
own defeat. 1t is useless to delude our
than whites have left the State since
the commencement of Il late material
calamiJies. The reverse we verify be-
lieye to be. the case. We know that it
is, so far as this city is concerned. II
would, therefore be a very injudiciOus
attempt, considering the number of ne
gro voters and the full force of white
Republican officials and sympathizers
to hazard the redemption of the State
on the single issue OF color, Indeed, il
would be more than iniudiciOus il
would be suicidal. ....n~~ul ,~
The platform Of the Crescent City
White League, while Justly expressing
the opinion that the right. yof7sufffrage
was too hastilytaccorded to the seolored
race, incthe infancy of their. freedom
yet says in the name of the League
" We firmly fresBlVed that it was 5oul
duty, and q wise expediency to accept
the policy of the reconstruction laws
in their fulIscope.re Thereai is, therefore.
to be no, attempt Oh the part of the
League to prevent the negroes from
voting, their unm0lested exercise of the
nent feature nafttle policy Of the re.
construction laws. With negro voters
equal in numbers t.. the, whole of the
white voters, and they backed by some
thousands of white Republican officials
and sympathiZers, how cal it be eXpec,
ted that the white man'sDarty a sue.
coed in effecting their own and the
States redemption? ,3n ID: f5r,a .s4s
According to Fusion returns the Flu,
sion ticket was successful in the election
Of November, 1872, by majorities rang,
ing from 10000 to $4,000, and it is ad
mitted by those familiar with the can,
vass and-vOte that at least 1000 colore(
men voted that ticket. That 1000, more
or less, constituted the balance of powe.
in the premises. Taken from one side
and added to the other, it gave to thu
FusiOnists the success they claimed
Cam such aid be wisely refused a
present? Is there any. chance of sue
cess without itP f. 9.G.t-, f:-,~.. III
Honest Democrats and honest Repuh
licans, honest white men and homes
colored men, are equally interested il
the establishment of an honest manH
party, and through it. of an honest an(
economical State government. In %;
conflict not involving a single, issu'
upon which an honest Republican Cal
possibly differ as such from an homes
Democrat" there is no good reason VIII.
a shibboleth of race, or color should b.
established. Let orr party organize
ton be so framed that every foe to cor
luption and every true friend to reform
can acknowledgements fort State
redemption. Let it be the party 0
honesty and fair play. l