The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-27
The WHITE MANS Party IN LOU
ISIANA,

III JDt lhep lDHcitH 'DupTc >Nlollti fto
Washington City, a colored Congressman OF
Mis- ,issippi asserted that there was but one
,arty which the negroes could JOIN, and that
vas the Republican party.
That such is the prevailing opinion among
he colored people, hardly admits OF a doubt:
he colored Congressman was, on that occa-
Ion, simply the echo OF his people Inns
,roposition, however is unfounded The
,oIored people, as a race, are not compelled
" a sense Of insecurity to consolidate their
orces, as they have done, under the banner OF
he Republican party.
Their rights, political and civil, are fully
guaranteed and protected by stringent provls-
ons of Federal and State constitutions, and
# Federal and State laws They should have
ought the enjoyment of life, liberty and prop
rty under common legislation; but they at
empt to obtain by coercion the enjoyment OF
,ertain rights and privileges, which they claim
Is civil and political, without regard to the
-laims Of Others, equally Interested and bear
ng equal rights and privileges. Here they
id not stop; but they organized their leagues,
md even their societies, upon the basis OF
ace and color and, as II race, constitute the
republican party in Louisiana and other re-
INSTRUCTED States -Atricanizing there the
Republican party.
The negro is essentially a Republican parti-
an whether he wills it or not !; indeed in the
,ulk of cases this is not a matter OF volltion
With him, but one Of race and color. If he
maoines for one moment that he can break
he spell, and, as an American freeman, exer-
Use his own individual Judgment in the selec-
ION of his own political course apart from the
,ulk of his race, he finds hanging over his
read the sword of Damocles the penalty OF
reason to his race.
The Republican party of Louisiana being
hus Africanized, and the State government
lling into their hands, as a necessary conse-
luence there is developed the tendency to At
icanize the government itself. Such ten
Iency is but the natural consequence Of rear
ng the party in power upon a question OF
aces. The tendency, at first, does not APP
,ear in bold relief; but with time and gradual,
int successful inroads, the evil assumes
threatening proportions
On the other hand, and as logical Sc
Iuence, the colored people are taught and be-
ieve that the Democratic party is the white
mans party-that this party designs their de-
nivation of civil and political rights, which
ire now common to all citizens
As matters now stand the next campaign in
louisiana will pivot Oh the matter Of race, and
hat, too, under the direct provocations Of the
'olored people. They have forced the issue
whether this commonwealth is to be governed
" negroes or white men, and they are deter
mined, by some sort Of fatality, to attempt to
Africanize the State government.
The while people cannot, if they would,
void the issue. They may close their eyes
lot to see but nevertheless the irrepressible
conflict is coming.
In Louisiana Republicanism means Afri-
'anization-the consummation of the last six
years Of disagreement and ruin and these
tadicals consider themselves sure of success
Is long they can see the white people of
Louisiana fail to meet the issue squarely by
he use of the same mode Of warfare.
We must have thorough and perfect or
,anization throughout the State, and we must
proceed Systematically about it, by districting
he cities and parishes, and opening books in
which every white man who is citizen shall
,nroll himself, pledged to support white men
or Office and to act with the white party in
negro and carpet-bag bondage and of restor-
ng her to something Of her pristine glory.