The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-03-13
They Live By Cheating"
That is chat the Wcalthiest Negro IN
Northern Louisiana Said, among
OTHER Ihings, ofthe Radicals.

That is chat the 1Vealthiest Negro in,
Northern Louisiana SAID, Among
Otter Things, cfthe Radicals.
shreveport (La.) Letter, Of the 18th, to
Cincinnati Commercially
There is colored man here who
has done what not one iu q quarter
of a million of his race have succeed
ed in doing since emcncipa-
ton. Born aud reared Il slave, he
has since the war accumulated about
twelve thousand dollars worth Of
property. The name Of this man is
Abner Hall. lie has the confidence
and respect of all classes and colors.
In company with q friend | went
around to see Hall. He works at
the foundry of L. w. Jones as a pat
tern maker, earning good wages and
putting in every day. asked him
about the political situation Of his
race in this region, and first as to his
own political views. He said he had
always voted with the white people,
and used all his influence with his
race to get them to do 50. ''The
white people own this country" he
said, "and we must live here if we
live anywhere. A cold country, such
as up North, dosen't suit us. This
is our home, and we must be ut peace
with the white people. They will do
the fair thing if the colored people do.
My idea is that the Conservative par
ty is the party for US colored people
to 90 into
"They always nominate the best
men for office, and always so for a
peaceable government and low taxes.
These high taxes Which the Radicals
put on the country finally come out
Of the poor negro, If he had sense
enough to see it. A white party and
a black party, such as we have had
so much Of here, will ruin any coun
try. Look what it has done for Lou
isiana. The Radical party is cheat
ing party. Look how they got us all
to deposit our money in what they
called the Freedmen's Bank and then
stole it. Little do they do for the
Niger except to get his vote and
steal what little money he makes
through the banks"
"Did you lose anything by the
Freedmen's Bank" l asked.
"No, sir; but l had whole years
earnings there, and just did get it
out in time. smelt a rat. took it
out and put it in a bank run by men
who live here, and who l know will
do right. The next day | tried to
get out tifty-nine dollars that friend
had in the old trap, but it had done
shut down, and the money went UP
the spout. All, sir, you don't know
how much worry and suffering the
poor colored men have had about
that bank. Some had in three hun
bred dollars, and from that all tht
way down to fifty cents.
"That, sir is just one of the mail'
reasons why the Conservatives car
ried the election in this parish. The
colored men voted with them right
straight along. think / influenced
as many as two hundred myself.
reckon more. l worked as hard as
: could. I put in my time, for l knew
was doing good work for my race.
"The Conservatives carried thu
election, did they z"
"Yes, sir, carried it in this parish
by over six hundred majority, as tru,
az you and stand here. Tie count
ing out of the men we elected to tin
. Legislature was the biggest cheat
, that ever was. What's the use o
. having an election if they can do that
r The Radical party live by cheating
1t is all that they have got to go on
Nobody pretends that they carriet
!. the election 10 this parish, You can
find a Radical who will say it. The!
Il know we can beat them, asd that tn
e Returning Board cheated US out 9
% what we had fairly worn. The Con
servative party. sir, as much as la
been said about it, wouldn't do tina
mean."
"Did tho colored men vote the Con
servative ticket freely and yoluntarl
ly7"
eyes, sir; the election was til
fairest and most quiet we have eve
d had here. Everybody says that. b.
the Returning Board counted in til
very men that were beaten. What
the use of having an election whe
!, they can do that way 7"
mentioned that it was necessal
to count out a few Conservatives {
as to give the Republicans the Lee
islature. But Mr.. Hall protested TIL
it was no fair way to do, and that
the will Of the majority can he &
aside that way, we had as we'll abo
\ ish elections and give the count
over entirely to the Returning Board
"John Brown" called the jamie
and John Brown came out with inca
ured tread, while one Of the boys lu,
med:
"John Browns body
Is strapped upon his back"