New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-12
Waiting for an Answer.

The journals throughout the country are
discussing with much warmth and vigor the
pros and cons of the Louisiana case, and
among all of them there is striking unan-
unity as to the close relations which that
question sustains to the Republican party.
On the one hand it is said that the Republic
can party cannot afiosa to tear down de
.facto government, and on the other it is as
serted that the continued recognition of such
a government as now exists in Louisiana
will prove too heavy a burden for the party
to carry into the next Presidential campaign.
We are not at present concerned about the
correctness of either of these positions, be-
cause we know that parties, like men, must
live from day to day and the main point of
anxiety with us is, whether the Republican
party is filling the measure of justice which
it has adopted in more than one solemn ma
tional gathering in opposing all prejudices
against the negro race, a heretofore trusted
and trustworthy partner IN the political for
tunes Of the dominant PARTY of the nation:
Are the Changers of the West pressing
their claims SO vigorously as to crowd out
the claims of the negroes of the South Is
personal ambition growing so strong as to
overlay party. fidelity: Have the lines be
tween the party Of emancipation drawn
under the stringent conditions of bloody
struggle for national life become so dim to
the sight Of Conservative Republicans and
Liberal Democrats that each tents aud messes
In the others camp without feeling change
fpolitical atmosphere, and without debating
as to the conditions of their copartnershp?
If any Or all Of these queries may be pro-
pounded amid uncertainties for an answer,
then the first duty of the party is not to Sun
load" but to load up again.
For ourselves, we may say that we do not
believe that, because Mr.. Stephens has dincd
ut State dinner at the White House, that,
therefore, lie has captured it. We are I'M
willing to believe that, because Messrs. Ferry,
Frelinghuysen, and Carpenter have taken
bring them for the nOnce in accord with DEM
Ocrats, that they have abandoned the fight
against the Democratic party--that ancient
and implacable enemy of the negro race.
On the contrary, we Opine that party lines
and party purposes are becoming clearer and
stronger as social amenities and parliament
tary courtesies grow mere frequent and cor
dial. There is always an element of con-
version in power, and source Of sympathetic
influence in public patronage. Mr.. Stephens,
through his experience in the White House
and among the Departments is far more
likely to learn the ways Of righteousness than
he is to disseminate the doctrines Of prejudice
and prescription.
But, should we be mistaken in all this.
and find that the expedicncies of party
success are to take the place of political JUS
tice TO ali-that Is, a fair and square recog-
milton of the colored mans share i'm the
honors AID emoluments Of political success,
our people may depend upon us for loud
and constant sounding of the trumpet of
danger, and We pledge them it shall give no
uncertain sound.
This journal has stood by the Republican
party simply because that party stood by the
negro. Up to this time we have some, but
no vital reasons, of complaint. and we hope
never to have any, but it should be UNDER
stood that fair dealing towards us by our
political associates is the Indispensable
ground Of anything worth the name of polti-
cal copartnership and should the time ever
arise when our people feel that their inter-
ests have been sacrificed in the slaughter
Of any Of their representatives, we are but
the servants Of our race, and must link our
fortunes with their demands.