New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-02


the bottom lands and in the swamps, where
the greater part OF the colored people live,
the census takers did not visit and explore
and do their whole duty. l know something
of this business from personal observation,
while Mr.. NOrdhOff knows absolutely moth
ing. / know if there was any derelictlon
or neglect of duty in taking the census.
it was in not enumerating the colored
population in full. Frequently the cen.
sus takers would go to house and
see some white person and readily
ascertain the number of white inhabitants
belonging to the premises-whether absent
or present-while the poor, hard worked
negro, being in the field blowing or some
where else drudging for scant subsistence,
would not be mentioned-lf even thought
of. Hundreds and thousands OF such cases
occurred in taking the census in Louisiana
in 1870; which fact subsequent registrations
have clearly demonstrated. And besides,
the observant gentleman makes no reference
to the numbers of whites over twenty one
years of age recorded in the census who do
not vote, nor to the equally patent fact that
since the war, and especially since the cen
sus of 1870, the increase of our population
has been constantly and largely in favor of
the blacks; negroes have fiocked to our
State, while the tendency OF the white popu,
liz don has been rather to decrease.
This is plain and well understood aues-
ton with all who live here and know any
thing of the real facts, and l would not
alude to it so minutely but tor the fact
that the editor of the Herald has referred
specially in some extended comments to
this great supposed Democratic advantage.
1t amounts to nothing. Mr.. Nordhof is
wrong in his premises and wrong in his
conclusions. There is nothing in politics
more plain and absolutely certain than that
Louisiana is fairly and squarely Repub-
lican State so far as the ''cOlor line" is
concerned, and more largely SO at this mo-
ment than ever before.
The next item is as to how the COnserva-
tive party of Louisiana is composed. The
gentleman calls it "an honest mans party"
This will certainly be news even to many
members Of that party. l would tain that
it were simply true; l would be the last to
enter objection; but, alas the gentleman is
mlstaken-he counts without his host. But
as the days of compromise are upon us l
will not be specifically exacting, perfectly
willing to let bygoDes be bygones, and hope
for the best, reserving the right only to hit
and venality become too OutrageOusly i'm
pertinent.
We are not informed that the ''last ditch
ers" of Louisiana are not "last ditchers,'
but only very clever set of very practi-
cable gentlemen who wish very naturally
to make the State Democratic. To such a
natural proposition, SO inDOcently stated,
perhaps the Republicans Of Louisiana could
enter no very reasonable objection if less
murder and more logic had been used in the
past by their Democratic adversaries, re-
Numbering in the meantime that it any
Just reason or excuse has existed why the
sword should have usurped the place of the
pen in Louisiana politics, that cause and
that excuse reaches far back to the early
and lifelong teachings of the gentleman
who now prostitutes his pen to the vicious
tastes OF those who look into the uncertain
but none the less corrupt columns of the
New York Herald for guidance and direc-
tiOn-glorious teachings of liberty over
tyranny, which Mr.. Nordhotf has hereto
fore seemed proud to defend, but which he
seems now to have forgotten, or which he
most willfully and wickedly ignores. He
must know, unless inexcUsably misin-
formed, that in order to put down and rem
der null and void these glorious and vital
principles, the Republican party of Louis
lana has, to some extent at least, been
thrOttled and crushed out by heartless
brute force. which he with his vena pen
would now fam uphold and defend.
But here again comes in the thought of
compromise, and l would fam not spoil the
hopes of future safe and honorable peace
by indulging TOO pointedly in rebuke and
repartee, however Just and richly merited.
The next complaint this hired grumbler
has to offer is that Mr.. Estilette, whom the
Republicans helped to elect Speaker. 'is too
deaf to carry on the business of the House"
l would be sorry of this did l not know it
is not SO. Mr.. Estilette, though little
"hard of hearing got along first rate as
Speaker. aud besides, has the redeening
faculty or trait of observing. as if by intnl-
ton, what is just and right, and possibly
the nerve and manhood to defend and win.
dictate it-more, alas. than can with truth
be said of every itinerant correspondent of
corrupt and heartless journal.
The whole letter of Mr.. NOrdhotf shows
but too plainly that he belabored himself
hard and sorely to give the worth of his
hire in kind-mOral filth in return for filthy
lucre. He even cOndescends to give Gov
ernor Kellogg mean and gratuitous
thrust-says he is "by nature trimmer"
If this were simply and fully true, Gov
ernOr Kellogg would still be much less to |
be deprecated than his assailant; for Mr. |
Nordhoff has proven bimseif trimmer and |
falsitier for price. against his personal and |
individual expressions of right and Justice. |
And then to play tOady at the expense of |
the laboring and producing class, he refers |
specially to our sugar planters as "the |
cream Of the population" Thus would he |
seem prone to revel in sugar and cream" |
to gluttony upon very short acquaintance |!
to which we have no objection in the |
world. "De gustibus non est disputa,d,tm."
But all this is really sickening and con-
temptible to one who has lived in Louisiana
as long as l have, and who knows and I'M
derstands the precise condition of things |
here. have some patience and fOrbear-
ance for Democratic strife breeding Jour
nails OF the South-thOse through whose
vitals the arrow of the slaves deiverapce
has passed as a leaden weight which duls
the hopes forever; but for the man who
has all his life drank at other fountains,
and been taught and has himself taught in
return other hopes and other aspirations.
and who now comes and for price IN gold
stlrs and approves the muddy and filthy
waters OF oppression, to say that have a
supreme pity, mingled with disdain. is but
leebly to express my sense of disapproba-
ton and loathing
allude to Mr. Nordhotf, as the the cor
of the New York Herald. and
not as a private citizen entertaining similar
notions with myself upon general questions
,f right and wrong, as | chance to know he
Ices. Upon his native heath, as the editor |
II Republican journal, his past record
proves him quite as radical as myself and, |
a fact, much more so. The difference |
Gems that he will write and publish for a |
consideration that which he must know to !
70 unjust anu wrong. ana 1 lear a personal |
rial would prove that he would succumb to
'rong and oppression in toto if placed under
he CALLING ordeal through which some of
hose whom he now malighs have passed
nscathed. Let him confess, if he so DESIRES
hat the North has drawn an elephant III ,
ne freedom and Acknowledgement of the
egro; but let him not cast any reproach :
pom native Southern men who have ever
ood to the right against all Odds and who
ave record, both public and private.
,cond to none within the broad expanse OF
lis great country. ! love not the people
my native land or any norton thereof | I