New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-28
IN UNITY THERE rs SAFETY.

We notice at this time many OF the
signs of storm brewing in the political
atmosphere. The old Democracy of this
State finding it perfectly useless to organ
| ize with anything Ike unanimity upon
any of the old time platforms of prin-
ciple, have come, at last, to listen with
approval to a proposition which, If
adopted, will remit half the people OF
Louisiana to condition of suffering
greater than that from which they were
lately snatched by the strong hand Of the
nation. Too weak to break down Repub-
lican principles, and too unenlightened
to adopt them, they are on the eve OF ap-
pealing to the cupidity of the white popu-
lation, by holding out great hopes OF
emolument and prosperity which are to be
realized as consequence of driving every
colored man from Office, and if necessary
to- expatriate the whole race from the
State with their women and children.
Doubtless they will magnanimously per-
init the exiles to carry with them their
personal effects, provided they are nov
more than a mere "nigger' actually re-
quires.
The incipiert steps in this utopian
policy have already been taken. The
newspapers and orators are already vaunt-
ing the superior virtues Of the white race
over the negro and his white friends, and
a grand movement in force upon all the
offices will be ordered early in November.
After the election, when the battle shall
be won and the enemy swept from the
field, halt will probably be sounded, for
the purpose of determining whether, hav-
ing acc ON plished the main objects OF the
campaign, the entire and undisputed pos
session of the country, it will not be
wise to pause in the high career OF con-
quest and old out inducements for the
good niggers to remain, since when every
white man has been given comfortable
public or private Office, steamboat Or
store pulpit or plantation, there viii
be an incre ased demand for operatives IN
the mental positions So there is no
prospect of carrying out the whole Of this
magnificent plan for the redemption OF
Louisiana
If any number of gentlemen, without
limit, wish to join together for the pur-
pose of pledging that they will support
none but white men for Office, We have
no objections to offer. Every citizen has
the unrest ricted right of selection when
he comes to vote, and if he chooses to en-
ter into such an arrangement as to make
his vote effective, no one can take excep-
ton to his doing 80. Whether the choice
be one Of principle or of men, it is equal
the same; the voter is free under the
law. But he is bound to extend the same
freedom to his fellow-citizens that he en-
lows for himself When, however, he de-
mics this right, and appeals to force to
keep his opponents away from the polls,
or to compel him to vote from dictatlon,
he assumes the attitude of violator OF |
sacred right and grave offender against |
law. If we are to understand that the |
order of the White League is instituted
for the purpose of coercing voters or de-
priving them in any manner of the right
Of suffrage, then we may say that direct
war upon the life, liberty and property of
a part of the people is contemplated,
which must be resisted with all the power
the threatened may possess.
The White League is, in our judgment,
one of the synonyms for Democracy.
There are others, which have been aban-
doned Conservatives, Reformers, Flu
sionists, Independents, White Leaguers,
all are tarred with the same stick, and all
include the same men and aim at the same
objects. They will be allowed an open
field in any mode of warfare they may Sc
lect. The Republican party is on the
defensive merely. 1t is not aggressive.
None of our party wishes to drive DEM
ocrat from the State or to stife his vote.
If the battle is to be fought with ballots,
we can set our printing presses in motion.
If with bullets. we shall be compelled,
albeit reluctantly to order on a supply OF
the necessary weapons. In any event the
contest will have to be fought out; for
men do not yield up their lives, liberties |
and rights without a struggle. But the
tactics will not, probably, be an open
fight. The first intimations of hostility |
will be perceived in the country par
ishes by the few white Republicans. |
When the lines are drawn which |
are to separate the colors, the declaration
that was so often made at the outbreak
of the civil war will be announced: |
"Those white men who are not for US are |
against u.s. And all who refuse to come |
in at this peremptory command will be |
marked for persecution. The white Re- |
publicans will thus find their positions
made as uncomfortable as possible. But
they ought not to be moved. They will
not be in any real danger so long as they
are true to their Republican principles
and the negroes are true to them. We
have an immense advantage over our pre-
decessors of 1S60-61. True there is as
much error here now as then, but reason
is left free to combat it. Besides there is
a great change for the better in the hab
its of the people. Every man is free to
speak his sentiments without danger of
being indicted by grand jury and hang
ed by mob. Some of the best men in