Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-27

| cess.
That the Inauguration of Nichols, will fol
time, at least, terminate the active par
ticipation of the negro in the politics of the
State, there is no kind of doubt. The mo-
ment Democratic government is estab
lished in Louisiana, the black man will
cease to be a citizen in anything but name
lie will be practically as far from the ballot,
box as he was 70 years ago, and all the re-
suits of the war upon the politics of the
State will be as completely blotted out as
they are in Georgia and Mississippi While
all this is true. however, | think it is none
the less fact that naturally the condition
of the negro will be improved by Democratic
success. For years past capital and labor
have been at war in Louisiana, and of
course, general depression has been the re-
suit The white planter has suffered, and,
in consequence, the black laborer has grown
poorer year by year. The feeling between
master and man" has not been a good one.
Politics divided them, and there is no reason
to doubt that each did what he could to
cheat and outwit the other. In such a con-
test there could be but one result As the
colored people say themselves, when set
ting day came they were quietly informed
that
'Nsusht e naught, figure . a figure;
Ais Tor de white man and nones for de niger"
To show the force of this doggerel, need
only explain that in this State, as in other
parts of the South, the colorcd laborer
works on what is known as the share system
that is, in consideration for certain
quantity of corn and meat, together with
tho use of mules and implements. the negro
agrees to cultivate the land of the white
owner. and when the crop is sold it is under
stood that he is to receive a certain stipulated
share Of the proceeds. 1t was seldom, how
ever, that the laborer was ever paid anv part
of the profit At the end OF the season the
white man always found some way out Of
hi. contract, and if the negro persisted in
demanding his rights, a sound beating was
too often the only satisfaction which he re-
ceiyed. If he went to the Republican courts
for redress, he found none, for the Judges
were powerless to enforce the law in such
cases. and the Sherifs were never able
to support their authority by a
display of force. They could summon
no posse. The white men would
not serve under Republican, and the
negroes dared not. The black people had
majority of the votes, they elected their own
State and parish governments, but these
were powerless to protect them in any of
their rights. twill thus been seen that the |
of the Louisiana negro, from
standpoint, has not been m envi-
able one. There is every reason to believe
that it will be improved under Nichols In
the first place he is pledged in the most
'olemn manner to secure to all classes of the
people equal and exact justice before the
courts. Gen. Nichols mas the power to
AIRY out this pledge, and it is believed that
be will do so. lie has also promised that
lnder his government the agreements and
contracts between planter and laborer shall
&c carefully watched: and the planter kept
o the letter of his bond This also he has
he power and the will to do. But better
han all the efforts OF the State government
ooking toward the protection of the negro
will be the improved feeling which will
doubtless spring up between capital and
abor when the present political troubles
ave been ended -Nc0 Orleans Cor ". Y.
iUgS