The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-10
FROM NORTH LOUISIANA.
The Storm The Election in Monroe
The Intimidation Law.
VIENNA, La, Nav 2. 1S7

VIENNA. La, May 3. 1876.
Editor Democrat Monday was a warn
summer day, closed with a night of de
licious freshness. while in the north
and northwest. at u distance. the hori
8on was black with clouds Of Egyptian
darkness, and the lightning was uncom.
monty vivid and frequent. The wind
from the north came sweeping over oui
hills before midnight. and the daylight
brought winter again. A fog this morn
ing has probably saved us from the
ravages of frost, and again the sun
shines forth with power
MONROE CITY ELECTION
The friends OF reform have handsome
ly carried the election i'm Monroe. with
the assistance. doubtless. of tho African
element Of the population. It is said
that the colOred people have a majority
OF forty" on the registry. but, without
information on the subject, il Is pre-
sumed that they did not all vote alike.
This result Is a prelude, we trust, to like
triumphs over all our State It is the
dawn of a new day, bringing in a hap
pier time fol both classes of voters.
Could the colored man be brought to see
his real interests, he would, of course.
assist his white friends against the evils
which fall on our communities from the
In view Of this desirable result. the
crime and folly Of the =
INTIMIDATION LAW
tso-called. Is apparent. 10 an inquiry
regarding the intent Of this law" il
out It's meaning. That anything done or
said-any influence. even simply of per
suasion, to induce the colored man to
vote against the Republican party. was
forbidden and punishable by this law. I"
The immortality of such law Is appar-
cnt from its injustice; l. e., its interfcr
ence with natural rights and its inilic-
tion of tyrannical penalties But there
Is n deeper malignity in its provisions
than that Of injustice. The law is
grossly immoral. IL is subversive Of the
dictates of conscience. which requires
n man to exert a good influence
over his fellow men. It forbids the in
struction of the ignorant in matters OF
the highest Importance to the well-being
If society. IL forbids the right leading
Of the blind, and requires the abandon
ment OF the lower members of civil com
munities to influences which are an
tagonistic to their prosperity and their
morals. Whether white or black. the
class OF men, who are ignorant or vi
cious, must be PIT lnder the moral po,re,
IL is the duty of a man who is gifted with
political Judgment, and with an un-
doubted knowledge (from experienced of
what measures are conducive to the
good of society, and of what kind OF
men are best fitted to fill offices of trust,
10 impart his wisdom, to use his inHu
encc. by example. advice and persuasion,
upon every occasion, and upon any and
every man offering an opportunity or
demanding the exercise of these duties
of good man or a good citizen.
Nor can IL be said. that when a
man yields to superior intelli-
his liberty or his manhood is hindered
or compromised. Good advice and con
sequent good influence are the silent
and powerful forces which sustain the
purity OF happiness OF families aud com
munities by thousand modes OF oper-
alton. which. although we fail to take
cognizance OF them, yet challenge our
attention and recognition in the results
produced. As man i am bound by the
law of God, written on the heart" to
warn my fellow man of danger to his |
person or to his property-or, generally, |
to his happiness. In addition to this |
natural obligation rs man, | am
bound, as citizen, to seek the welfare
OF the community, large or small, Of
which am member. Under the obli-
cation and sanction Of the law Of
GOOD INFLUENCE,
every planter, merchant, mechanic. or |
individual of any occupation, which fur
nishes the occasion and the subjects for
instruction and guidance, must exert
his moral power to lead and guide the
persons who are needing or seeking his
political advice and direction.
The laU Of Congress which forbids
all this exercise Of humane and neces-
sary influence Of intelligence over ig-
norance, of wisdom over folly, OF
over immortality, is not only
in its intent and provisions grossly
absurd. but shockingly immoral.
DuTY-HoPE.
The influence which we can and ought
to exert over the colored man, who is
still. and perhaps long to remain, in
infantile political pupilage, opens an
avenue of approach to happier days. 1t
IS a great. almost a holy work, this of
rescuing our deluded and deceived and
laborers from the control
If corrupt and otherwise vicious guides