The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-04-22

o,ored that every attempt to fight it
nnf on the color line could but result
in disaster, and ifperSistcd in would
enl in the humiliation of the negro
race. lie Furthermore warned his
friends that while a blind, unthinking
allegiance to the Republican party
might be the means of that party's
triumph, it would bring no substan-
tal advantage to the negro. He said:
"Gentlcmen, the question with us
is not parties. 1t is not Republican
ism or Democracy, nor am | Il Re-
Dnblican because believe in the par
f. by its name. If the Democratic
Marty would accord to the colored
people all their rights as citizens be-
fore the law, | would be Democratic
lust as soon as I would be Republican.
jApplausc.] The trouble with us is,
the solution of this vexed question of
race, and therefore, we must contine
ito the South. l heard last night in
our caucus debate, which for ability,
Ihavc not seen equaled in any con-
vention of our people, and rarely
equaled in convention of whites. And
in that debate one Of the speakers
said that laws were nothing except
they had the support of the people.
Gentlemen, this is too true in other
words, you may enact all the laws
that you please; you may pass statute
after statute but as long as the maj
ority of the people arc opposed to
these laws, no power on earth can
execute them. So then we may, by
an intelligent exercise of our right to
vote, make public sentiment that
viii secure the enforcement of the
law. That is the problem we have
cot to solve. Whether this conven-
lion will he equal to the task or not,
I know not. But think it can pave
the va, for a beginning. The clarion
mote was sounded from the national
capitol by Senator Bruce, of Missis-
sippi, [applause and the response he
met with from every section of this
land demonstrated to nc that the
black people had commenced to think
Tor themselves. Ever since the abo-
!ition of slavery somebody else has
been thinking for US, and they have
not thought wisely. [Applause.] l
say that Braces speecl. was the be-
ginning of a new way and, if it has
the effect which anticipate, all these
parties -demagognes to the contrary
will solve the problem of harmony
and mutual confidence between the
races in this section OF the country.
mean to say one other word, and
then am done. remember state
ment made by Douglas that the Re-
publican party was slip to the col
ored man, and all else sea. There
was u great deal Of tr1th in that. 1t
was the party of civil progress, it
was more in accord with the spirit Of
the age. But is that true of the Re-
publican party in the future :
In Louisiana, wherever the cOlOred
man has shown u disposition to be
guided by his own convictions, an
incessant war has been carried on
against him, boil, inside and outside
the Republican party. We are not
only impoverished, not only bankrupt,
but worse-immeasurably worse. The
black people have lost all their man
q, hood. To-day in that State a set OF
t'icksters, set of adventures, man
ipulate the conventions to such al
extent that only those they please Cal.
get admission to Il convention. Il
they do not openly subscribe t.
wrong, they will he counted out"
These utterances declare u new de-
parture, and sound the death-knel
of carpet baggism in the South. Mr.
Pinchback's enemies, of course, will
say that he has expressed the senti
mcnts Of q disappointed man; bu
they will find it easier to impug,
his motives than to refute his aryu
ment.