The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-03-06

l
ing address has just been prepared b,
the Democratic members of the Soutl
and Southwest:
To the People Of the Southern States:
! You have confded to the under.
signed in this conjuncture of affairs
the delicate and difficult task 81
guarding in the Federal Congress
your public interest, your rights and
Your reputation. You will therefore,
pardon the liberty we take Of adj
dressing yol ata period 80 critical,
upon a matter affecting your destiny
and that of your posterity. You can
not have failed to observe the persis-
tsnt etlosts Of eopie II the ]eaders Of
the pnslican| party 70 revive tie an
imositios of the late war, which hap
PLY, are fast giving place to a spirit
Of concord and unity in every sec
ton Of our common country. 1t is
impossible to predict certainly the
effect of these appeals to passion.
We believe that through the honest
representation Of upright and con-
scientious Federal officers and agents,
an independent and able public press,
and Of many citizens, without regard
to party, the true condition Of South.
ern States and the real sentiment of
the Southern people are being gradu-
ally made known to our fellow-citi-
zeDs of the North. We hope for their
favorable decision when fully appriz-
ed Of all the facts. The great end of
good government will be reached
when the people of all sections forget
that we have ever been enemies, and
come together as in the early days Of
the republic, emulating each other
only in devotion to the best interests
OF the whole country. With this ex-
allied purpose in view, there is moth
ing inconsistent with the honor and
manhood of brave people to resolve
to suffer with heroic patience what
ever he their provocations and wrongs,
looking through. the fearful present
to q hopeful future, and repel'ing un-
just epithets and eratuitous insults
with dignificd moderation. Let every
white man in every neighborhood 10
the whole South regard himself az o
commissioner Of the peace, maintain.
ing the kindliest relations towards the
black man, remembering that the res.
possibility for the extreme poverty
to which We have been reduced, and
the corrupt governments to which
his vote has subjected us, rests not
70 much upon him as upon the bad
men who with the assurance of Fed
eral support have by appeals to his
worst passions sought to make him
Dur enemy while We labor by all
honest means to convince him Of the
ruth that our interest and his are
Identical, and that both must he pre-,
served by good government, and that
hose who STIR up strife between us
ire the enemies of both races. Let US
It the same time see that he is. fully
in his guaranteed rights to
vote as he pleases in all elections.
Let IA continue to deal with him
honestly and fairly, and let US con-
inue cordially to invite to our midst
hose Of any political party who either
eek to know the truth or to find
ZONES Upon our soil. We do not ex-
lggerate when We admonish of the
lisheartning fact that every street
disturbance, every homicide of what
yer character, by who,nsoever com
nitted, by black or white, Republican
# Democrat, such as are incident to
very community upon earth, is per.
'erted isto evidence and purpose
0 accomplish political ends. Wei
yell know the gross injustice of such
harges, which have weight only where
ignorance Of our true condition prs
ale. Strenuous efforts are now be- ]
ng made BY those who misrepreseutl
gu to induce the passage by Con
'ress Of the most dangerous measures,
. order to irritate ous people. to
rive them to despair and to pp@
oks them to violent outbreaks, In
rider to furnish an excuse for annlv- j
1g for military interference.
We express the hope that major I
y OF the present Congress will not {
: found ready to sanction such leg
'lation. II it be accomplished, It 1
'ould be against the protest not only {
{ Democrats, but Of tho moral world {
nd the statesmanship here Of the I