The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-07-08
The Last Appeal.
WILL OUR coLoRED FRIENDS HEED US I

We do not hesitate to say that great
Importance to our local affairs and to
our State at large hangs upon a prop
er and emphatic answer from our
colored citizens to the earnest appeal
We now propose to make to them.
All classes and races of men have
arrived at the station Of citizenship
and enjoyed its privileges and bles-
sings through hard struggles, through
wars and devastation and race after
race has been destroyed, by those
more powerful, in their struggles
without reaching the great end cf
man-to enjoy life, liberty and prop.
erty, freely aud fully, governed by
such laws only as protect him in these
three great blessings aud conduce to
lis happiness thereby.
1t has been reserved for the colored
race to reach this highest summit of
mans hopes without these ATTENDING
horrors. He has been invested
with a full and free enjoyment of
those blessings which cost our FORE
fathers oceans of blood and millions
vt treasure, will, but the loss Of an
insignificant sum of either.
This great boon that the negro now
enjoys has been giren him BY the 'chite
race IN fee simple.
All men are lis equals before the
law and he per contra is the equal Of
any man. Under the constitution Of
our country he is allowed the privil
edge to enjoy life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness to the fullest ex-
tent--so far can lie 60 in the enjoy
ment of these blessings that the lati-
tude is only limited to the fact that
he must not interfere ,cith others in the
enjoyment Of their rights. And here is
the point, the warning point We de-
sire to make-the appeal we do make
as men who Inherited our liberty from
all ages to thore who were allowcd it
by US. We ask the calm considera-
ton of all thinking fairminded colorctl
men to ours words Of warning for
they are big with import to them all
and we most sincerely hope that those
who do read, who do think, and who
arc fairminded will impress the truths
we now utter upon tie minds Of those
less educated, more ignorant and more
susceptible to bad influences.
In some lower parishes Of our State
the colored man, much abused aud
long used by the radical thieves as q
voting power to place them in office
that they might plumber ns and the
negro as well, have been DESERVING
the republican ranks in large numbers,
to such an extent in fact, as to give
rise 10 what is called the "Uniou Rights
Stop" organization. An order where
in every man is sworn to cote the radi
cal ticket blindly, and Without question
and those ,cho do not join, the tncmber'
We have it from undoa1rtteadt A atd e HI!
ity that this order is being attempted
to be organized in our parish AM
upon this comes our appeal and warn
ing.
We ask the colored man if this i
not a free country where every maj
he he white or black has the right t.
act and vote as he pleases : Yo'
have this boon Of voting and yo'
take an oath to kill other colorel ,ne1
that do not choose to cote tcilh you o
for your men /!
We ask you ifthat is your idea q
i: justice or liberty I
Is that fair or honest ?
Is it not claiming together to mur
der your fellow man for his opinio
; sake
Remember that we are your friend'
: Whatever Others may say to you abou
our intentions regarding your right
We say this y: We intend to preserv
to you all your rights under the Coz
shtution of the United STATES. 70
shall vote a. other citizens do, freel
r and fairly, for all time to come, aud
p that end we pledge our sacred hon,
and our lives.
But We will not submit that viii
y you enjoy the great boon Of doing
: sou please as citizens that you vi
t be allowed to kill and STAY those
i your race who honestly differ wi
= you. We do not intend you shall
goni:e any such society in this pa
. ing as the "Urion Rights Stops" v
9 will not allow any such organizati'
{, to exist for a moment that won
bind its members to kill those wi
refnsell. tn iuip. etl,eyn. IL I'VE did
"o8m not be TRUE citizens ourselves
W. now ask you to pause, stop a,
reflect but one moment on the serio
It consequences that will certainly ft
}. low if you should 60 on with such
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