New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-17

intelligent, orderly and keenly conscious
of the political dangers which surround
them. The colored people may thus ap-
peal to the republic Is the African prov
inces of Rome implored to be protected
from the expressions Of Jugurtha. The
colored people of Louisiana have been
advanced by Christianity and freedom to
appreciate the blessings of liberty and
the horrors of actual or constructive bond
age. Let them give this high evidence Of
their capacity to represent their own dan
ger, and supplicate the aid OF the only
earthly power which can relieve them.
We would, therefore, suggest that the
colored people deliberate among them
selves upon this important exposition.
Should it be determined on, there are
men of that race who can prepare the ap-
peal to the nation, who can argue the
justice and necessity of its adoption, and
demonstrate the industrial consequences
of its neglect. This capacity We will
guarantee from antecedent evidences fur
nished in the political history Of Louisi-
ana within the past few years.
We can only advert again to the serious
retribution which the persistent persecu-
ton of these people may bring upon the
planting interests of the South. The solid
Democratic South means to the colored
people deprivation of their rights, de-
NAL Of their wages, with an exclusion
from the acquisition of landed property.
Here, then, are four millions of people
without rights and without homes, sub
iected to the will of an aristocracy OF
property and intelligence banded against
them. In what do they differ from our
own white ancestors? In what respect are
they better off than the Irishman or Ger
man who quits country where he has
and can have nothing for one in which he
has an equal chance with others? We beg
to remind those who now triumph in the
terror of these poor people, that as they
have the same motive SO they have the
same future as the immigrants from
Europe to America. They have the
intelligence impaired by q century
of moral instruction and labor dis
tipline by q race advanced in
morality and knowledge. They have
q power of creative industry to which the
foreign exports Of the United States are
chiefly due. They have native courage
and capacity of military instruction.
Would not such an element Of order and
production be welcomed by England to
free Jamaica? Would not the govern
ment of St. Domingo hail the advent of
such allies? Would not Spain accept
them in Porto Rico? Would Mexico OBJ
ject to interpose such powerful colony
against the depredations of the savage, or
to accept SO many stalwart laborers in her
coffee fields and silver mines? Would
Guatemala or Venezuela hesitate to offer
gift lands and political protection to such
an invaluable element of defense and
production? History shows too many in
stances in which the exodus of people
deeming themselves oppressed. have
founded new and formidable empires, to
render the impending possibilities ridicu-
lous.
We have 20 idea that such an exodus as
that to which we refer would become in
any political or military sense formidable
to this republic. Go where they may the
American flag will probably overtake
them. Established among a people of
whom they have no such apprehension as
they feel at present, these people like
those bees which as go the precursors of
the swarm, may even anticipate and con-
troll q movement Of American progress
which seems inevitable. But the conse-
quences of their exodus would fall espe-
cially upon Southern agriculture. At
least one and half millions of adult
male and female laborers might be taken
from the productions of the United States
and added to that of England, France,
Spain or the Spanish republics. Of the
mental and mechanical element, though
large, we take no account. To the man
and transportation interests Of
the North and West such an exodus, or
even the Encouragement of Southern pro-
duction, may not be so important. The
colored people would always exchange
With these American fabrics as far as
might be possible. We conform our
selves to the effect of such movement
upon our own local interests at the South.
A mass meeting of the colored people
to supplicate the United States that they
shall not be deprived of their rights, or
even driven to the necessity of seeking
homes among some more congenial peo-
pie will have warning effect It might
be followed in certain political results by
4 general convention of all the colored
people in the solid South. Whatever
these people may do will, we are satisfied,
be conducted with order, with patriotism
and with intelligence. It is as specimen
Of capacity to participate in their own
that We should desire to
see mass colored meeting supplicating
The United States for protection, and
praying that they may not be reduced to
the sad alternative of bondage or exile.
AN APPALLING PROPOSITION.
The Times informs our distinguished
u;sitors and the world now neaninp over