The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-07
WHITES AND BLACKS.

printed an address on the SITUATION,
purporting to come from "the proml-
nent colored citizens OF Louisiana.
The address Is in the shape OF IAN ap-
peal to the nation" In behalf OF Pack
ards government, and Is signed py
twenty. five or thirty negro politicians.
| All the signers of the document are
men known only from their association
and connection with the carpet-bag
thieves who have, for eight years,
cursed this State and bred discord and
strife between whites and blacks. II
there Ia single name attached
to this address which Is associated
with any honorable or useful mea-
sure We do not recognize it; Ii
there ia one OF the signers noted for
the advocacy of any act calculated or
designed to benefit, advance, or in any
way profit the great mass OF the four
hundred thousand colored people in
Louisiana, or of any scheme that was
not designed to rob the taxpayers OF the
State and prosecute its white citizens,
we should like to have that one OF the
signers pointed out to US, for we are I'M
able to designate him. II the laws
had been enforced, and population,
embezzlement, perjury and bribery
punished, many OF the signers OF this
appeal to the Nation 2" would now be
in the State prison. and there are none
of them who do not get their livelihood
through the shamefully corrupt prac-
tees which constitute recognized
principle In the sort Of politics and
government carpet-baggery has intro
duced among us.
These men, then, we submit, are not
representatives Of the "colored citizens
OF Louisiana :" they are simply the col
ored representatives of the miserable
and Ubiquitous system Of partisan gov
eminent and indiscriminate plumber
which has nearly ruined the honest
people of Louisiana, both black and
white. Their statements are untrue,
and their appeal is the veriest bosh.
The issuance of this address, 80 full of
falsehood, and 80 inspired by luminosity
to the white people of the State, shows
the absolute necessity for the extermina-
ton OF so.called government based
upon hostility to the taxpayers and
white people generally; the policy of
which Is inspired by the worst, the most
malevolent and destructive passions,
and the legislation Of which is con-
trolled by such men as the signers of
this document. ....
Notwit hstandipg the broad and i'm
pertinent assertions OF this appeal, we
aft rm that, on the part of the whites Of
this State, there is no disposition to
harm the colored people or deprive
them of their rights. On the contrary,
the whites have every reason to protect
their colored citizens; to deal
justly with them, and to improve their
condition. The colored people are our
best, In fact, our only labor element
This naturally induces US to protect
them; they have large influence and
power In our politics, and this prompts
every sensible men in the State
to desire their mental and
moral improvement. And to this
protection, and to taxation for
this improvement. the white people
of Louisiana are solemnly pledged.
Gov. Nichols voluntarily gave this
pledge; the platform of the Democratic
party enunciates this pledge; it was
given In the most unqualified terms
In every newspaper and on every
stump In the State during the
campaign; there Is not State officer,
member of the Legislature, parish
official, or private white Democratic
citizen of the State, who Ia not solemnly
bound by this pledge.
That there is strong; very bitter,
indeed, We sometimes fear, q very
dangerous feeling among the honest
people Of this State against Packard
aud his gang Of robbers, who are
keeping the community in turmoil,
and who are imposing upon us
daily a loss, in the suspension
Of trade and industry, Of thousands of
dollars, we do not deny, and it is true that
that feeling extends to the negro politi-
clans who are associated with Packard
md his coadjutors in this wicked
and scandalous business. But this |
IS the full scope end extent Of
,he feeling Of bitterness on the
bart of the whites. Toward the
masses OF the colored people they
entertain the kindest feelings. II the
colcred people have, during the past four
years, been subjected to the persecu-
tions referred to in the appeal to the ma
ton, the reason was that Kellogg paid a
premium for crime; that under his lin
beetle and corrupt administration the
laws were either not enforced
at all, or they were corruptly admin
istered, and wild, brutal and law
less men multiplied under the