The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-24
Negro Consistency.

| ne claim OF our negro popuiatlon u
suffrage is based on a strict construction OF
the inherent right of man to elf-govern-
ment. They are men. To be sure, they
are as body ignorant and unused to self
control they have no education, iptellec-
tual or moral, of kind to fit them for the
responsible duties Of law makers; they
are men in stature, children in minds and
infants in the habit of self-government
but still they Just pass for men.
We shall not gainsay the fact; it is not
our purpose to urge at this time any dis
qualification of the negro race. as such,
for suffrage. Nor do we intend to dwell
upon the proposition, held by certain per-
sons, that two different races, even if
equally capable, cannot tremendously
govern the same country. They are all
men, indeed, but they are not all brothers in
the sense which gives complete unity. They
are distinct, and must stay distiDct. There
can be no intermarriage. Inevitably,
where there is a fixed and immutable dis.
tinction of any kind, there will be, not only
prejudices, but real or imaginary clash
ing of interest There will be sympathies
drawing the two races apart and congre-
eating each to itself in hundreds of ways.
All will vote by preference for men of
their own race, and eventually recognize
the influence of none but their own people,
This will make two distinct unites, in
stead of one, and it can be easily conceived
that such a country will lose in strength by
the fact.
Int oil 49,
at present. call attention merely to the sin
gular fact that these rigid advocates for
self government have been, in practice,
fearful innovators upon their own theory
whenever they have had the chance.
And we need not go outside of this State
to show instances enough of this. Under
negro rule New Orleans has been deprived
of eelf government, and it's administrators
appointed in spite of the people the gov
eminent of the State makes special laws
to regulate the local affairs of the city and
the parishes. The city park is foisted on
us without our consent and the Metrepoli-
tan Police are named and appointed for us
without our Intervention yet at our ex-
pense. Taxes are assessed against our
SiIiHCho Iuc OF CDe state
at large, who have not strictly a right to
say one word in the management of our
local business. In the parishes, it is the
same thing, and the negro Legislature gives
to Governors the appointment of parish
jurors to rule the people. 1t is not the
people of the parish who govern them
selves, but the Legislature or the Governor,
who rule them through their parish Jury.
1t is the business of that jury to levy taxes,
and therefore the people are taxed without
their consent, the very tyranny against
which our ancestors rebelled when they
inaugurated the great American Revolu-
ton.
1t is no answer to say that New York and
other States have done some of these things
too. Yes, but the negroes profess a special
devotion to the right of self government.
1t is upon that doctrine that they rely for
all their political privileges, and yet, when
ever an opportunity occurs, and they have
the power, they show the most utter disre-
gard of that same doctrine when invoked
by others. They pass laws, create rulers
and impose taxes upon special commune
ties without their own consent or approval,
The men who as race are inclined to
such outrages as these, are not yet fit to
enjoy right which they treat with so
much contempt.
c. T,;-