The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-12-25
the NEaRe)IS POLITICS.

The HENhVAN EVLAllVcs
For the last forty years, the negro
has been an Important factor in the
politics Of the United States. He
has already been the subject, if not
the cause Of our gigantic war, and
seems likely to continue to be dis
turbing element He has had gran.
ted to him by the fundamental law
of the land, not only hfs
personal freedoms from seryitude, butt
also the right of free suffrage. There
is no desire, on the, part Of big old
masters to. disturb lis >statdsg p
either particular, but still the ever,
lasting agitation as to him is going
on. Except when an election is on
hand, he lives in phrfect peace and
quiet, he lis protected ia Jalh his
rights of person and property, ana
the demand for his laboris so great
that he finds himself to be . very
important parsonage in the South:
He will trust his white neigh ors a y
to the details Of his daily business
and it is but seldom indeed, that his
confidence is betrayed. =,
At first, while under the, control OF
the carpet-bsgger, he was suspicious
of the whites and was the blind dppe
of his political masters. 8 He learned
after awhile that be, was being dqpead
and asserted his freedom. With the
departure of the carpet-bagger, he
lost somewhat Of his suspicious, and
year by year more and more ofithem
have been voting with the whites, 6f
their own free will and choice t In
the North the employees of the rail-
roads, mills and other works s which
employ largebodies ii men, are made
to vote as it pleases their employers,
under pain Of Dismissal. The same
rule governs as to all the officers and
clerks Of the government, and at
this seems to be perfectly right and
proper to the, Northern politicians
With US labor is so scarce, and the
demand for it 50 great, that no suct
coercion has, Or can be employed. 4
Mr., Brown was to try that plan Nltl
his hands, Mr.. Smith, bis next doc
' ueighbor, would be only too glad t.
! take them in and the hands woul,
. And themselves just as well of, il
every particular, and Mr.. Brow w
: would soon; be bankrupt. Nobod.
understands this better than the ne
gro himself, and as q consequence b
> has always claimed and exercise
:, the utmost freedom Of choice. III
: only now, when he has awoke to q
appreciation of the community az IN
: terest between the whites and him
: self, and when he is beginning largf
: ly to vote with them for honest al
: capable officers, that the Norther
, radicals are beginning TO how
- Blaine has led of in the Senate, Al
: We are likely to hare sectional d
> bate On that issue. ID, .,,s~ea8 .s.,l,
Now it seems to US that the couri
. of the South, under the circumsta,
ces is plain. Conscious of hsyin
accepted the Amendments, dc6nin
Y the status of the negro in good faitI
y and of having carried them ont
q the same spirit, we ought, to say
" them: Howl! Howl! until, you a
~ hoarse. Either the South and Il
~ negro are together free, or they q
y together slaves Of the Republics
y party, and for one, we, are in favor
ID forcing the issue. II We sre slave
re let US know it at once-if we are Fl
st let us act accordingly. There Dug
ia to be no more trucking to the cry
- the bloody shirt. agao7 s5} s4r1,
W