New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-24

9
ing to cooperate as party. There were .
few who claimed to be Democrats in the
body, but they were censured and de-
nounced by the press Of the Democratic
party and by the white people generally.
This state of things lasted until 1872,
when, there being split in the Republican
party, the Democrats united with the "War
moth" wing of the party and formed what
was termed in that year the ''Fusion party"
This game did not succeed, the Grant or
Kellogg wing having beaten the Democrats
with their own weapons. Both parties had
"Returnipg Board" If Warmoth had
not provided this, the fusion would not
have been made.
In 1874 there was repetition of 1872 and
similar result, only that the Democrats re-
lied upon their White League and force
rather than upon fraude, as in 1872. The
world knows how this policy was overcome
by the Republican party.
In 1876, as l have said, the Mississippi
policy was adopted by the Democrats.
Now, what does this history proves
Does it not prove that the Democracy of
Louisiana have never honestly accepted ne
gro suffrage, and that that is the issue they
present to the Republican party of the
United States to-dsya Does their policy
not prove that they know the negroes are
majority of the voting population OF the
Statel If the whites were in majority,
why resort to intimidation or seductive in
auences or oppression of any kinds They
boast that there has been q large detection
of negroes from the Republican party at
this election, and that these negroes have
voluntarily voted the Democratic ticket.
Then why theee acts Of violence which
have been committed Why were the
threats made against whites and blacks
alike of denial Of employment and of
business support! Why threaten and prac-
tice any kind of ostracisml Why threaten
to refuse social recognition for difference
in political opinion9
The conclusion is that the North must
either secure to the negro voters of the Re-
publican party in the South the same free
dom in voting that Republicans in their
section enjoy, or prepare for complete
notification of the constitutional amend
ments. That is what the South means. At
the present time the negro does not vote in
Georgia nor in Mississippi except for the
Democratic ticket, and this they do under
species of compulsion. Let any Northern
Republican present to the Democrats of the
South this test of their honesty in relation
to negro suffrage and opposition to it, viz:
the repeal of the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments, and he will find that such .,
measure meets with NO favor in this section.
because 80 long as the negroes can be made
to vote the Democratic ticket there will be
no objection to their exercise of the suf-
frsge. On the contrary, it is entirely proper
that the negroes should vote that way, and
| they mus: not be deprived of so inestima-
bic privilege so long as they continue to
exercise it for the benefit of the Democratic
party.
There is further reason why no North
ern Republican should sympathize with
the Louisiana Democracy or give them any
| countenance in their warfare upon Repub-
lcapism IN Louisiana, and the accomplished
results Of the great conflict between North
| ern and Southern civilization which ended
in 1865, and which. by the North at least, is
supposed to have been permanently settled
by the constitutional amendments. That
reason is that the Louisiana Democracy are
in COLLISION with and act constantly under the
counsel and directions of the Northern De
mccracy. But for this fact harmony would
long since have prevailed between the racei
in this State. The single result needed il
Louisiana to bring back prosperity to bel
people, and friendly relations between hel
white and black inhabitants lie the disband
ment of the Democratic party. So long al
that organization exists as q separate AND
dis tinct political party there can be NJ
peace here. There is NO good reason VIII!
q Democratic party in the South shoult
now exist, because if they are honest il
their acceptance of the constitutions
amendmen,s-if they have abandoned thei
notions of State rights and State sover
eighty, then there is no difference in prin
ciple between them and their opponents
Democrats may cay there is differ
ence, and that they are struggling
for that local self government which
they allege has been denied them b.
the federal government. But probe thi
allegation, and you will find that the,
mean by local self government the govern
ment of the white people az the superio
race, as the people VINO own the lands. wit
, control the capital and have exclusive pos
session Of all the intelligence in the State
Discounted in this argument, they fal
back upon the charge of corrupt practices
the misgovernment, the gross abuses whic
have characterized Republican rule; bu
, they will not admit that the Democracy
resr onsibIe for these abuses, even in psr'
while the truth is that they are directl
: responsible for them, because many of theI
benefited by these abuses, shared in tn
| profits airing from them, while others {
them. more eagacious and more cu1nin.
! | stood BY inactive while they were in pr
8 | press chuck.irg at the idea that the Repu'
? lican party would be held accountable IL
!. | ell the wrongs that had been done viii
Q they were in power. The Democracy shou
= be made to answer for their just share
J. these wrongs. because they deliberate
n held themselves aloof from all open partit
,. patton in the government, while many
q their wealthiest and most influential mi
n we're sharing secretly in the profits OF Il
l vicious legislation, of which they we're &C
0ntn oil To-