New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-27
POPULAR CONSERVATISM.

| Soda is described as a fixed minera
alkali, having power to neutralize acids
When converted into pop its neutralizine
qualities are lessened, and it has been re-
marked that mixers and drawers of diluted
alLali pop become violent partisans. Il
has been recorded Of the lamented father
of Creole soda water that he said, Before
a niger can get soda in my shop he must
first walk over my dead body" OF words to
that effect. Sodality expresses fraternity
and fellowship, but there is none of it
about soda shop. Flies and Democrats
are alone welcome in the kingdom Of pop,
and it appears as if the latter are there
bereft of their Eve senses. Soda shops
are just now the especial objects of solicit
tude, and the Picoytne is the apt
chronicler of events happening in soda
water society. The etiervescing soda is
congenial with the efervescent Picoyune.
Yesterday morning that journal, ''keep-
ing well abreast of the news current"
treated its readers to tive-cent sensation,
put up with care and labeled, Civil
Rights and Soda Water" ''Melee and
Broken Heads" The chronicIer relates
with careful minuteness that between the
hours Of seven and eight o'clock two
negroes entered saloon on ST. Charles
street and called for soda; one of them
said lie preferred red syrup in his, and
they were both served with the nectar fit
only for gods and Democrats. Whether
OR not the colored men were better dressed
than the citizens on the sidewalk, or
whether there was anything particularly
offensive in the fact or act of calling
for red syrup instead Of another color
will never be known; but at the
moment the colored men were drinking
their pop with red syrup, one of those
gentlemen whose business it is to super
intend the affairs of others, rushed into
the pop shop and assaulted the colored
men; other Conservative citizens, selected
from the mass Of those who are candidates
for chief Of police, rushed in and Joined in
the melee, and succeeded in frightening
one Of the colored men, and knocking the
other one down and severely ipjuring his
head.
The name of the soda bruiser is not
given. 1t might grieve his family in
Ireland to hear his name read from print;
and no arrests were made. This is but a
specimen Of the soda water war inaugu-
rated by a mischievous class of ''citizens'
who are a disgrace to any community.
It shows an incompatible littleness in
men who will thus NEEDLE with the affairs
Of other men. Soda shops will become
and disorderly places, to be
avoided. Il is unfortunate for the pop
man that social and civil rights have been
down to soda counter. The |
alkali in the bucket mus. be the dis |
urbing element. The rigor of soda
'ules, however, DO not effect col |
ored men alone. While it is severe
lpon a dark conplexioned man who |
wants red syrup, it has also been known
o decide questions Of etiquette in soda
'ircles. It was but q few months since |
nat q respectable white merchant Of
Jarondelet street was ordered out of
ANAL street soda shop because he applied
or drinls-color Of syrup not stated-in
lis shirt sleeves. He was told that ladies
the salon, and that propriety
olbade the proprietor to serve any man
lot fully dressed. 1t is the war OF idiocy.
. cclored man behind the counter may
erye customers, but colored men in front
re not allowed to profane the sacred pre-
iDets of the sticky marble slab. The
oodlums of the street forbid it.
l