The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-12
THE RELIEF COMMITTEES
AN EFFORT TO MAKE THEIR WORK
TME FOUNDATION OF POLITELY
CAL CAPITAL.

That the workings OF the relief and charita-
bic associations Of this city during this time OF
dire distress and poverty should be made the
foundation Of political capital seems almost in
credible, but such Is nevertheless tho case.
From almost the very day on which contribn-
tions from the North and East for the relief OF
our plague stricken people were acknowledged.
there has been an effort to convince the gene
rous donors that In the distribution OF the sup
plies sent and the expenditure Of the money
forwarded, there has been q race distinction.
Dispatches representing that the colored peo-
pie have been excluded from tn g benefits or the
various associations have been sent North and
nn bsy ey R W to do
their incognito. and by private 1nd1ylduals,
the lowest Of the low in the ranks Of the Repub-
and sad to say, both the CORRESPONDENTS and
the individuals have been influenced by certain
persons recognized as Republican leaders In
It was only the other day that Naval Officer
James Lewis. a.colored man who to his credit i
be it said, has depra ated and condemned hn1 5 the
and who has, rs an official and an Individual,
given the various associations every assistance
connected with the Chicago Times, requesting
tho truth regarding the rumOr SO industrions!y
circulated that the claims OF c:olored people
were ignored by the relief committees,
His reply has been published. but it is worthy
of being placed once more on record. 1t was as
New ORLEANS, September 8. 1873
| Martin Lewis, Times Office. Chicago:
| Not true as to distribution. No discrlmiDn-
Se NEED hoip Hn"'''5 JAMEs tEWis, Naval ofeer
Naval Oficcr Lewis. in o conversation with q
| been severely criticised by .promin1.nt lsepuub-
| licans and that his action ,in sending. the dis
direct direct opposition to the interest and policy Of
| the party. and, growing somewhat excited he
said that although he did not want this fact pub
matter and in the same spirit he would not hes,
| tate to give the names OF the parties, and would
even &c to The ext9nt qf & pHb'ish1agg tatag card a.
rters There were several present rep
resenIng different ,paper5st) t that p ca2 con-; 8
and and 6. q. Antoine had called on, the repre-
sentatives Of the Peabody, Howard and Young
Mems Christian Associations for the purpose Of
inuuiring into the manner In which rtauisi-
tions for rations were drawn, and whether or
| not there was any discrimination on account of
co or; that the COMMITTEES were Informed, and
| as q result Of a subsequent deliberatiOn OK
pressed themselves satisfied that no discrimi-
| nation was made; that without regard to colo
nationality or religion. reauistions were given
to the needy, and were on presentation duly
This is. in substance, the statement Of Naval
Of1cer Lewis It WAS published yesterday
morning, has not, been ,contradicted. and is in
every respect worthy Of belief
! That the conclusions reached by the commit
| tee were not satisfactory TO the Republican
LEADERS, who are working this thing. is evi.
| deneed by the fact that yesterday the several
associations were again visited by another com
old complaint, and threateni ng to appenl t. the
| contributors to the funds Of these associations
for donntions for hereLiet Of colored people, was
This document WAS signed by J. Gould. ,Geo
DoneIa m nnIya1W y \ sanfars H~T + B. stamps nnd <. r
Riard. It will be observed that the names o
two of the persons who acted with Mr.. LeWls
| .jt-,,n tr hp HH1nrunnf
/ A few words us to the request of this dOcu-
ment Gould is not known. George W. Bryant
Is noted rs the fighting and swearing preacher
member and an active worker in every party OF
ceptrd, Of VI, G. Brown it is but necessarily tc
say that he is the ex-Radcal Superintend@ent @ Of
that position establishes his character
Central tn a Ralief Committees. which has charge OF
the distribution Of the government rations,
and he was actuated by sincere d"sir to relieve
the necessities of the people Of his race. anc
not by part isan motives, he could do It by requ1
sitions signed or countersi igned by himself:
G. o. Antoine Is weak minded individual
who has often been pushed into a prominent
; position because of hi Willingness to serve aF
q cats paw or flgnre- head for the more intelli
gent and smarter men OF the party.
!, Stamps holds about the same position in tht
estimation Of the leaders Of his party rs does
Antoine He was for awhile member OF th
General Assembly Of the state, and while h
was such he was known as The greatest fool II
fools occupying seats at the time
AS to the others, they are not prominent II
politics. and were evidently, roped in.' =. Rar'
must. however. be excepted. OF him 1t can b
said that he is anxious to stand well with th
leaders and wire pnllers Of his party. and this
, no doubt. explains his action.