The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-13
The Ratification.

The Ratification.
The immense demonstration of last Thurs
day night shows conclusively that the PEG
pie of New Orleans are taking more inter
est in the approaching election than they
have ever heretofore taken on any such an
occasion. 1t is clear that the popular mind
is fully and universally convinced at last
that change of government is of immedi-
ate and pressing Importance. The most
obtuse intelligence has come to understand
that poverty, starvation and ruin are closely
connected as consequences with the fright
full official plubdering under which this
community has been grooming for years.
We are assured, too, in various quarters
that the earnest convictions prevailing on
this sutject are not confined to the white
population. 1t is said that five or six nun
dred colored voters were present at the
ratification meeting in Lafayette Square,
and, though that mere fact may not mean
nything more than curiosity, it may also
have some connection with the profounder
feelings that are agitating conservative col
o-ed people in the Parishes.
of friendliness between the Southern whites
and blacks which must not be ignored, if
one would not be msled in ones political
calculations for this latitude. This natural
sympathy is not so apparent in city life,
but on the plantation, where intimate
daily relations exist, where personal inter
course is constant outside of the mere ne
cessities of labor, where mutual good offices
of friendiness are habitual, a real affection
springs up and gains strength. Carpet
baggery has waged 9 pertinacious war
against this feeling, striving by every
artifice and lying persuasion to convince
the blacks that their interests were antago-
nzed by those of their old masters, and in
consequence g superstitious belief in the
Republican party rs their only protector
has for long time united the Southern ne
groes in q distrust of their white friends a5
politicians. This unfortunate delusion is
now breaking up. The Carpet Dagger is
being canght in his lies and convicted
Of his bad faith. The negroes everywhere
arc opening their eyes 10 the fact that they
have been delu6ed and cheated by in
terested hypocrites, aud that their true in
terests are bound up with those Of the
white friends towards whom their better
impulses of affection always inclined them.
Mississippi last year gave unmistakable
proof of this truth. Alabama has just
enunciated it as emphatically. Will it
manifest its power IS vitality in Louisiana
There 10 TO reason why it should not. The
white population is as fully alive here as
elsewhere to the necessity of adjusting its
relations with the colored people on per
manent basis of good will and cooperation
1t has the means of convincing them tina;
they have been made dupes, ard it is ac-
lively engaged in doing 80.
Fortunately the State ticket put forth fol
this contest by the whites is such as to give
perfect satisfaction to tie co!0red people
Tie assurance Of Gen. Nichols, repeated
| last Thursday night with such force, canno
be suspected by any one who knows hin
or understands his character. The coloret
people of this State will be made to under
staDd that he is a man who meaEs what h
says and has the nerve to carry it out. Al
the other gentlemen on the ticket are 81
fully in accord with the leading candidate
that no doubts can be entertained of thu
policy which vii! prevail ia case of the;1
election. The rights of all will be rigid
maintained, economy in public affairs will
be vigorously enforced, and, so far az COOS
government can procure prosperity, "
may reasonably expect to enter upon a new
err Of peace and plenty.