The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-30
TIE POLITICAL ISSUE.

1t is fact, not to be ignored Or concealed
that there is diversity Of opinion among the
white citizens of Louisiana about what issues
should be prominently brought before the
people and what should be the watchword il
the coming campaign, to unite all conservative
voters, excite enthusiasm among the masses
and insure crushing victory at the polls in
November
few gentlemen object to anfnrling the
white mans banner to the breeze. They say
that the negro is in a majority in this State;
that he is equally interested with the whites
in promoting the election of honest men and
securing the blessings of good government:
that he is tired of his carpet-bag master, and
ready to abandon him; that it is not Just and
proper for us to inaugurate a war of races, ex-
citing jealousies and engendering bitter
hatreds between the laborer and his employer,
which will result in not only political disaster
and defeat, but will likewise paralyze our agri-
cultural interests in the harvest season; that
instead Of alternating it should be our constant
endeavor to obtain the cooperation of the
colored race in working out the material and
political regeneration of this State and,
finally, that it is wrong for the superior race
sal denuneiation and wholesale persecution of
the ignorant and inoffensive negro, while the
latter remains passive, and has committed no
overt act to excuse or justify such conduct on
our part.
To these views we cannot assent and are
prepared to demonstrate to our friends who may
entertain them, that they are neither correct
nor true in point of fact.
We deny that the negro is in a numerical
majority in Louisiana In 1870, according to
the Radical census, which is VIGOROUSLY incor-
rect, the negroes, big, little, old and young,
exceeded the whites only about 24OO Since
then they have diminished in considerable
numbers. Bad crops, worms, overfows and
numerous failures among planters, have mate
rally decreased the demand for negro labor,
and forced the colored man and brother" to
seek occupation elsewhere, beyond the con-
fines of il-starred Louisiana. The recent
overflow alone has driven more than 5000
negroes from the alluvial soil of this State to
the table lands of Mississippi and Texas
Thus, it at once appears that the tremen-
dous negro majority is delusion and snare,
imaginations Of few misinformed individ-
uals.
As illustrating this fact, we recall CONVEX
sation which friend of ours once had with
if the Republicans have such an overwhelming
majority in this State as they assert, was it
necessary to enact outrageous registration and
election laws to elect their candidates.
/" Well, replied the Governor" $50 that we
might count the votes to suit us. If the first
count did not show majority We could count
again, and keep counting until the figures
we're favorable to the Republican candidates
In the words of Mr.. Davis, .'we have been
worse cheated than whipped" by the Radicals
Of this State, and the first duty Of the cam
paign is to provide against the recurrence Of
such frauds in future.
As to ever being able to persuade any con
siderable portion Of the negro race to support
Southern white men for Office, every reflective
mind at once perceives that this is impossible
They are ignorant, uneducated, suspicious
and deceitful- controlled exclusively by their
and are perfectly impervious to
reason and argument Since they have been
invested with citizenship every endeavor has
been made to conciliate them and dissipate
heir suspicious and fears of the white race.
In 1868 their own candidates for Governor
md Lieutenant Governor, Taliaferro and
Dumas, were supported by the whites. In
1870 colored delegates were admitted into the
Democratic Convention and all their constitu-
ional rights were formally recognized In
1872 representative colored man was placed
,pon the Fusion State ticket, and othere We're
nominated, voted for, selected by the whites
o other subordinate offices.
Every concession made to the negro has
,nly increased his natural insolence and made
lim more exacting in his demands upon us.
The more sensible colored men who We're will
ing to meet us half way in the efforts which
ave been made to reconcile the races have
'een tabooed, mistrusted and ostmcised by
heir ignorant associates. Unifcation is i'm
'ossible, and all Of our exertions in that direc-
ion have like dead sea fruit turned to ashes
n our lips. The negroes refuse to be recon-
lied and propiated- Let the sons of God no
onger degrade and humilate themselves by
eeking their friendship and good will They
ave sown the wind Of dissension, let them
zap the whirlwind Of disaster and ruin.
CLOSING Our AT AN UNPARALLELED SACRIFICE.
Such is the announcement of Messrs. H. B.
teyens / Co. corner St Charles and Com