New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-14
TIE sRHATE AnO THE STAGE.

| and incidents Of legislative body? Their
each statesman is equal in the weight
his vote, in the freedom of speech, in tn
schedule of his duties, and the rate of hi
compensation. There is gallery flle'
! with spectators who sympathise with tn
actors and sometimes applaud them. L,
these particulars the Senate Chamber ant
/ the theatre are very much alike. There is
however. one great difference between
them. The Caucasian Senator sit
alongside of the colored Senator
he sits. indeed, under the parliament
airy government of colored Office
who presides over the Senate. TIL,
white Senator refers to the honorable
Senator from this or that parish without
any prefix which indicates the color o.
the Senator so addressed. If, however
the Senator of Caucasian descent should
be seen in company with the Senator Of
Congo descent in the pit or parquette Of
the theatre, he would be considered by
his constituents as having submitted to a
socialindignity. Why this anxiety should
exist to get into colored. company in the
State House and get out of it at the
theatre, is one of those puzzles which
would greatly embarrass stranger to our
institutions and usages.
AS we have said, these relations between
the two races will adjust themselves ac-
cording to the dictates of reciprocal inter-
| est. The stakeholder in o street car
railroad company can not well distinguish
from another that portion of his dividend
which has accrued from colored contribu-
tors. Messrs. Clearsides & Co. boast their
sales of -four and bacon made to the negro
planter. The grocery man will dilute the
black mans whisky or sell him peanut
coffee with as much complacency as if his
cheeks bloomed with the hue of the roses
The manager of circus or other public
spectacle can not be expected to cast out
of his treasury every dime that may have
been put in by colored fingers. The truth
u.s. that in this dearth of business people do
not care more thapAhe Roman Emperor
did to distinguish coin which results
from one contributor from that bestowed
by another.
There is indeed a tendency to association
between labor and capital, between de-
mand and supply, which will work itself
into satisfactory relations in spite of preju-
dice. Such relations have always adjusted
themselves, and can neither be made nor
prevented by law. In directing the labor
or mental service of the colored people
the employer must be considerate. Few
men wish to give pain by unwarranted
insult or to drive away service needed in
the farm or the household. Very few
persons who need food would repel it |
from the hands of a negro cook, and still |
fewer patients would refuse to be propped
up in bed, bathed or poulticed by negro
nurses. 1t has been but recently that
negro porter attended his employer
through an attack Of smallpox. He con-
tracted the disease and died. A memb er
Of the firm for which he had worked for
many years ministered to his wants and |
cared for his burial. Such instances are
and show a friendship based
On fidelity which can not be restricted by
) difference in complexion, for it is well
known that the protection extended to the
nj praI ,>an,>1a hoo alton <a }ho /
ent OF bloodshed in their defense.
1t would be far better for society if it
the kindly and respectful re-
ations to which the colored race are SO
much disposed. There is an example of
his disposition afforded by spectacle at
present or lately exhibited at one Of our
heatres. A sensation drama is mounted
With all manner of robbers caves, prison
ellis, railroad accidents, Indians, negroes
md Chinese. The leading character is a
negro, who performs incredible feats of
courage and ingenuity in rescuinga young
Gentleman and lady from death and dis
lonor. In the course of these adventures
he negro gives such evidences of courage.
evotion and integrity that one feels to-
'ard him just as toward Mesty, the
egro sailor, in Maryatt, or 'Scipio
lfricenus," so-called, argued the
ailors because he had been shipped
rom Africa, described by Cooper. The
isplay Of these qualities, the relation be-
ween wronged innocence and faithful
friendship, unconsciously brought together
be sympathies of both races, and as one
consequence crowded the portion of the
leatre occupied by the people of color.
hese dramatic incidents revived the
emory of events occurring during the
ar, and when the negro was the friend
the white even at the cost of opposing
is own emancipation.
1t would be much better if people
ould allow the social relations to adjust Q
lemselves, and seek occasion for har- I
ony between the races, instead of scru- r
nizing with microscopic vision every
ossible opportunity of exasperating the t
ne, or alarming the other. We can not b
nit calling public attention to the ex- q
enc anxiety Of the special sessionists to u
'cupy the same representative chamber
it'll Messrs. Stamps and Dejoie, while G
ey would consider it repugnant to- every Il
ntiment of propriety to occupy an arm o
lair in the same pit or parquette with Il
Their of them. This elevates the drama q
,nya the debate and infimafes that a | u