The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-20
AN ADDRESS,
In Behalf Of the Alumni, 10 the Gradua'
ting Class OF the Law Depart
ment Of the University
of Louisiana.
by cHAs. Il. FENNER, ESQ.

Gentlenen-W Alumni, who, start.
ing from the very point at which you
now stand, have made more or less ex.
tensive explorations into that, to you,
undiscovered country" upon whose
borders you now pause, with uplifted
feet, ready to cross, have the time-hon-
ored custom Of returning hither at each
annual recurrence Of this day, to vel
come the new corners and to speak TO
them some words Of encouragement OF
advice.
As their representative on this occa-
sion, it has occurred to me, In view OF
the recent momentous events IN the
history of Louisiana, that 1t would not
be inappropriate to present to you some
considerations, of an entirely n.par-
tisan character, touching your public
duties as citizens of the State and the
United States.
Twelve wears have now elapsed since
the last gun was fred in the great civil
war which, during four years, had con-
vulsed and torn the country. very
shortly after peace was restored.
system Of reconstruction was
adopted, under the terms OF
which the State Of Louisiana, in COM
mon with the other Southern States, was
formally restored to her relations as
State in the Union, and nominally In
vested with the control OF her own
affairs as State. But 1t must be ad-
mitted to be true that during all this
period, prior to the ever'memorable
twenty-fourth day of April. 1877, there
has never been day when the military
power of the United States has not,
actively or potentially, controlled and
governed the State; there has never
been an election which, either in it's
conduct or in the ascertainment and de-
cision of it's results, has not been intlu-
enced or determined by that military
power.
IT is equally undeniable that this pol
icy, Notwithstanding its manifest re-
pugnance to the spirit Of the constitu-
ton, Notwithstanding its danger as
precedent threatening the independence
Of every State, notwithstanding It's de-
plorable results not only to the South
ern States but to the prosperity OF the
whole country, has been sanctioned and
sustained by the vast majority OF the
people of the Northern States.
It is very easy to call this the policy
of hate" and to account for its support
upon the ground OF the rancor and ill
feeling toward us left in the minds OF
the Northern people as the result Of the
war. But it will not do to judge the
motives of vast masses Of men by SO
narrow a standard. The fact is, there
were other and different reasons as
signed for the support Of this policy,
and we have no right to dispute the sim
certify of many of those who protested
to believe them. These reasons are,
principally, the following
1. That the Southern. whites did not
truly and sincerely acknowledge, and
would not honestly enforce the equality
of the colored people in civil and po-
litical rights.
oninion and free speech, and that they
ostracised and maltreated Northern Re-
publicans and Union men who came
here to live.
9 That they were violent and lawless
and could only be restrained from tram
ping upon the rights OF persons who
did not agree with them In opinion by
the strong arm OF power.
4. That they were not at heart friends
20 the Union or loyal to the national
IF must be admitted that there was a
time when there was some foundation
for these charges. 1t was not to be ex-
pected that q people, emerging from
such q conflict as that in which we were
engaged, should instantaneously abJure
ali the prejudices OF opinion and feel.
ing in which they had been reared, ana
should adapt themselves at once to
such a tremendous change in their sit
nation and relations. But Time, the
great healer and educator, soothed and
taught us rapidly. and brought into
play those tendencies OF human
nature, provided by an all wise
Creator. under which man always
reconciles himself to the inevlta.
BILE aud accepts and adapts himself
to the situation in which be is placed.
And for years past I assert that these
charges have been flagitious calumny
upon brave and chivalrous people, ex-
cept as far as they have been made true
by the very policy OF political and mill
tary interference for which they were
assigned as the causes. The only facts
In our history which tended to sustain
them have been themselves the direct
outgrowth Of the same policy.
We have protested, in every way in
which people can protest, that these
charges are false. We.haye pledged our
selves, in every mode by which the
honor of a people can be bound, to prove
them false, whenever we should De re-
stored to the control Of our own affairs
and the ad ADMINISTRATION Of our own State
government. BY these solemn protests
and pledges the honor Of our people is
irrevocably committed to maintain the
equality Of all citizens, white and black,
In civil and political rights; to cultivate
the spirit of federation under which free
opinion and free speech shall be guar
q 49, nd nrfn hnl la S3r