New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-31
CONTENTIOUS INDIFFERENCE.

C0ETEMPTU0US INDIFFERENCE.
The appeal Of the White Leaguers,
headed by Colonel McEnery, has beer
entirely disregarded by the Democratic
leaders. In an address to the Demo
cratic party of New Orleans, the Demo
cratic Parish Central Committee takes nc
notice of this appeal, but exhorts al
conservatives to rally to the Democratic
platform, as affording all the measures Of
reform which can be demanded. 1t is an
adroit appeal 1t says:
In previous elections, inducements nave
been offered to our conservative colored
fellow-citizens to join US and support 1ol
public offices those identified by every ne
with the best Interests of our State and
parish, but every effort, however, proved
abortive.
Then the Democracy does not propose
to accept any colored vote. In what,
then, do they differ from the White
Leaguers? In nothing so far as the issue
of complexion is concerned.
In regard to that canon Of the White
League creed which forbids the employ
ment of negro laborers the position OF this
central committee is identical with that
of the Leaguers. Because 'the conserva-
tive colored citizens" would not join the
Democratic party, "they can not be sur
prised that this committee urge the con-
servative citizens of the parish to discrim-
mate in the employment of laborers. :"
There is no connection in this logic.
"a colored conservative" has certainly q
right to vote for Republican candidate,
but if he does so he must be punished by
discrimination Gin the employment Of
laborers." This is penalty on conserva-
tism, rather inconsistent with the offense
of political independence. But to fill the
bill of the White League completely the
address goes on:
A conflict of races is ever to be depre-
Gated, but when the material interest OF the
employer is placed in jeopardy, az it now
is, it behooves him protect himself by every
means in his power.
Here we have an intimation that such
violence may be resorted to as is faint
lined in the Picayune phrases:
Supervisors can't refuse our suffrage on
one basis we know of, and returning boards
can't butcher the result, after we work 1t
out.
That is, returning boards can't butcher
election results after we shall have butch
cred them. The Democratic address turns
short when it reaches this point and ex-
plains that its remedy consists only in the
of employees thus:
The employer should employ but those
bad government which has well nigh ruined
the honest and Industrious of both races.
This is little more moderate, it is
true, than butchering returning boards.
We have heretofore shown it to be i'm
practicable, as it invites the loss Of one or
more crops, great intermission of our
trade and great aid to our commercial
rivals, who have taken our Western trade,
and are now striking after our cotton re-
ceipts. In this modification Of the White
League programme we can see the stand
taken by the practical and property inter-
ests of the Democracy. It is mild at
tempt to convince the White League that
the Democratic platform is as intolerant
as their own, while it may not provoke
the Intervention Of federal troops or the
punishment Of those who may violate the
law.
We concede that this is a more rational
basis of politics than the "dead line" of
the White League. The intolerance of
driving a man from honest labor because
be will not surrender his duty Of choice to
his employer. may not have occurred to
The Democracy. If such an argument
could be justified by example, the Repub-
leans could not be blamed if they occupy
Ill the political appointments to the entire
exclusion of their political opponents.
So the Democracy stands at bay, with
It's head down, ready to toss the light
weights of the White League higher than
. kite, if Messrs. McEnery & Co. press
upon them. Translated, the position OF
The Democracy is this: We will exclude
The colored voter and incumbent of Office.
We will dismiss all colored people from
This we can do with i'm
punity. What more do you want
Is not this the purpose of the White
League? Is not our object the same, and
IS not the means we intend to employ bet
ter than to butcher our adversaries, who
may summon few legions of troops, and
then where will your White League be?
They can not all take refuge under the
French or British flag. Those who may
have committed offenses will have to fly
the country, while the colored people will
remain.
The Democracy, then, stands fast, and
demands that the Order of the Camelia
shall disband. Will they do so?