New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-31
PREJUDICE OF RACE AND SECTION.

which unhapplly have always eAlsteu III
Louisiana. The first organization OF De-
mocracy after the war was based on the
known prejudices of the non-slaveholder
before the war against the negro. Inc
interests and humanity Of the owner
had formerly induced them to de-
fend their slaves. Exasperated, how
ever, by the losses of the war, they
abandoned the care of the inoffensive and
HELPLESS laborers. The dread of social
equality aroused the enemies Of the COL
ored people against them, and the mex
cusable massacre of the Mechanics Insti-
tute was the immediate result of a fear and
hatred which events have shown to have
been unfounded. Those who had formerly
owned slaves and still owned plantations,
were filled with apprehension lest the use
of unqualified suffrage would destroy the
political representation of the State.
They feared, also, that free labor would
refuse reasonable wages or regular SER
vice. They, therefore, regarded the as
saults of the negro haters as favoring
their own interests, and proceeded to
enact in the Legislature laws which COM
PEELED the colored people to make con-
tracts of annual service, and constituted
failure to do SO misdemeanor punish
able by compulsory labor. Such was the
cooperation of all elements against free
suffrage and free labor.
The present appeal to the colored peo-
pie to come into the Democratic ranks
for protection, the condescension by
which Dem ocratic candidates address the
colored people arguments to prove the
identity of their social interests, all prove
that the past fears were unfounded, and
that the unity of interests is incontro-
vertible. 1t is true, the Democratic party
has not yet arrived at the point of pro-
gress where they can acknowledge COL
ored citizen fit for Office, but we may
naturally anticipate this admission at
least as early as the presidential campaign
of 1884.
The prejudice of section is as strong in
Louisiana as it ever was. The fact that
g. citizen was born in any other State of
the Union than this is-without Demo-
cratic dispensation for that fact-fatal to
any pretensions to support at the
hands of the Democracy. Such has been
formerly the feeling in Louisiana. In
the convention debates of 1916, a pro-
longed discussion took place upon the
proposition to provide American nativity
as qualification of the executive. The
immediate opposition at that day came
from such citizens as Mr.. Marigny, who
commended for the fitness Of Frenchmen
born, on the evidence Of their services to
Louisiana in peace and war. The gen.
eral sentiment, as advocated by the
speeches and votes of Grymes, Benjamin,
Eustis and others, was that some
such limitation should be imposed as was
subsequently embodied in the constitu-
of that date. The foreigner was put on
a somew hat more favorable footing than
the New Highlander. The former must
have resided within the United States for
fifteen years before the election, while the
latter must have resided fifteen years
within the State of Louisiana. Thus the
foreigner might, during his citizenship,
have wandered all over the United States,
while the native American was required
to confne himself within the lines of
Louisiana for the fifteen years 'next
preceding the election So the quaran-
tine of Yankee in those days was just
fifteen years.
1t must be obvious that the jealousy of
immigrants must have greatly impaired
the growth Of Louisiana before the war.
We may c How much to the fears of for
eign teachings to the slaves as motive
of Limitation, or even exclusion of men
entertaining opinions in favor Of free
labor
What, however, must we think of
those politicians who, when there is no
further danger from free opinion; when
Louisiana suffers SO much from the ex-
haustion Of war and the deficiency of
labor, still keeps up the prejudices
against Northern-born men, with the re-
luctant recognition of the political
equality of races?
We have seen the total cessation of i'm
migration into Louisiana from the North
ern States and from Europe. 1t has been
caused by the lawless intolerance of poll
teal partisans. We have noted that from
the day when the Democratic Central
Committee advised the members of that
party to withdraw their business patron
age and social intercourse from Repub-
licans, the closing of Republican stores
and the withdrawal of Republican capital
and enterprise from our city and State.
We may readily estimate the immense
injury to this State from such prejudice
by noting the rapid growth of those
States to which this immigration has
been turned.
The singular fact presents itself that
some of the most vehement opponents of
Northern immigration are themselves the
sons and descendants of Yankee immi-
grants. Hon. Mr.. Eustis and Hon. Mr..
Ogden are especially vigilant against this
class, while Mr.. Nichols is, we believe, in
the same category Of extraction with his