New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-21

much injury 70 the State and which ha
been, and y now, powerless for good.
Il THE RACE ISSUE.
Some insist that tho campaign of 10
, should be conducted - that of 1874 wa
that tho white people should unite instinct
lively - the white people On the race issue
1t would be mere folly to adopt that courss
unless We determine, not only to cary thu
election, which doubtless could be done
but to install the officers elected-a tasl
somewhat more difficult. If the white
people Of Louisiana, with any degree Of
unanimity, resolve to assert at al hazards
what they believe to be their rights, I will
certainly act with them-right or wrong
do all in my power to insure success and
bear my full proportion of any consequences
which may result from failure. But those
who advise this course should remember
that. while the campaign of 1874 was Q
brilliant success ct the polls, the Returning
Board nevertheless, by its mere declara-
ton, assumed to change the result of the
election, and its action was sustained by
| the government Of the United States. The
| Returning Board still exists, and the fed
eral administration which sustained the
board in 1874 will be in power until the
| fourth of March next. If our past expe-
rience avails anything, it should. think,
teach us to expect from the Returning
Board in 1876 partisan decisions such as
have been previously made, and that the
federal government will sustain again such
decisions. Now, if this should be the case,
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.
Unless we are unalterably resolved that
under NO circumstances will we submit to
such an Infringement on our rights and
that we will force the United States to
establish military government in this
State, rather than allow the existence of
another ueurpation, it would be better to
make no attempt to carry out Q programme
which will, a. in past instances, be aban-
doned at the very time when, logically, the
most desperate efforts should be made. If
any people ever were justified in resisting
their central government the people of
Louisiana would have been justified in
resisting the outrageous action OF United
States officer in ejecting the representatives
Of the people from their own hall on the
then, and will not fight in the future under
similar circumstances. If the Returning
Board fraudulently counts out the men
elected to Office, and if the United States
government sustains the Returning Board,
humiliating a. tho admission may be, we
all know that practically the people of Lou
isiana will interpose NO forcible opposition.
The truth is, the people of Louisiana will
not cross arms again with the federal gov
political campaign which all sensible men
know means carrying the State by violence
ana intimidation, when it is certain that
the Returning Board will declare result
contrary to that announced at the polls;
that the federal government will sustain
the Returning Board, and that we will, 90
far a. any effective resistance is concerned,
submit to the action of the federal govern.
ment.
There are many who insist that the white |
people of Louisiana should unitedly act
with and as
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Those who advocate this course say that |
q very large majority of the white people of |
Louisiana always have been, are now, and |
will ever continue to be Democrats, and |
claim that the minority should, and will, |
yield to and act with the majority-some |
from sense of duty, others from fear of |
the consequence which will follow re-
fusal so to do. They contend that national
politics can not be ignored and that the
voters of Louisiana will be compelled to
vote with and support either the Demo-
cratic or the Republican party. They as
sert that there is no hope for Louisiana, 90
long as the national Republican party re-
mains in power; that the State will be at
once relieved and redeemed when the De.
mOcracy triumph, and that the Democratic
l
ensuing election.
These assertions and propositions are all
incorrect or doubtful, and some of them are
dangerous.
It is not true that very large majority
If the white people of Louisiana are now
attached to the Democratic party. This
e simply assertion against assertion, and
neither is susceptible Of positive proof ex-
sept by the votes of the people at the polls
Uh Wi nhoh IN ho |
carried if those who hold the affirmative
continue to insist as strongly ON its cor
ectness as they now do) but it would seem
hat the truth OF the negative proposition |
hould be reasonably presumed from the
act that the Democratic party OF Louisiana
vas disintegrated in 1872, and from the
urther fact that those who still chung to it
hey attempted to do so, and were absorbed ,
q the Fusion party of the white people of !
.ouisiana. Ii
1t is not true that any considerable num-
or of white men can be forced to act with
ny political party by appealing to their
oars and the few whose votes are in that
ray obtained, are really more injurious i
han beneficial to the party they are COM
elled to support.
Perhaps national politics can not be, ex- il
city speaking, ignored, but it does not 9
blow that the people of Louisiana must q
ote either the Democratic or Republican r
cket. The whole people of Louisiana 9
oted neither in 1874, and organized then q I d
arty which declined to express any opin- n
ms relative to national politics, and ex- t
ressly declared It's sole purpose to be the 6
Assumption of the State. he course pur, p
led in 1874 can be pursued again, and q
lere are many who think it would be wise 9
The assertion that Louisiana must re- +
ain in its present condition as long as the b
ational Republican party retains power is
,rtainly not we'll founded. Virginia, Ten t
sssee, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Missis- t
ppi, indeed, all the Southern States, with
le exception of South Carolina and Louis
reed on them as result of the war, and = =
lat too, while the Republican party held :
i'll and undisputed control of the federal :
What other States have done =
ouisiana can do. The Republican party :
ay carry every Northern State at the next :
ectiOn. :
ay even be elected for third term, and v
would still be possible to secure gov l
.nment for Louisiana which would repre- {
mt the wealth, intelligence and virtue of q
10 State, which the white people would Q
dorse, which would maintain peace and G
,store prosperity to the agricultural, COM t
ercial and other material interests of the b
tate.
The assertion that the Democratic party | t
ill triumph at the next election is merely
q expression of opinion, and there are o
lany intelligent white men in Louisiana O
no believe that party has no chance to q
in; but the proposition that Louisiana
ill at once be relieved from all the ills G
le now endures if the Democratic party +
aims control of the federal government ia 4
srtainly no axiom and requires proof. q
the Democratic party f
,onld sympathize with all efforts to estab- I
sh q Democratic government in Louis | a