The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-04

and what Is pronotive Of them, the gravesi
dangers are to be apprehended for the whole
State. Such voters naturally become the
prey and tool OF interruptions demagogues
For In proportion to mems fgnoranes is the
intensity Of their faith Ia the ornnipstence d,
government TO remedy every Ill they suffer
from, and the Inevitably resulting disposition
to adf re to tho men thas undertake to per-
form :Gost by governmental instrulneutali-
| ties. ~..-.E
| 1t Is only by educating the masses that
/ they can be brought to understand tho in
superable limitations on the ability Of gov
eminent TO hrnsLiorate mans condition. And
until men learn to know the insufliclency Of
tbs State to do everything for them 1t Is vain
to hope that they can DO emaneipated from
the baneful influence Of leaders that foster
and encourage their irrational expectations
And history that 10 written not in dry -as-Iust
volumes, but In the vivid memories Of US all ,
teaches us how recklessly selfish and corrupt
these leaders are.
There Is In Louisiana a large class Of cltI-
zens whose misfortune it Is to be peculiarly
| exposed to the dangers that beset the iRnor-
ant In the exercise Of their political rights.
1t was no fault Of the negroes that they were
ignorant and inexperienced ia political Affairs
when they were invested with the right u
participating In the government Of which
they we're citizens and subjects Nor, consid-
ering the events which brought about this
result. Is 1t surprising that the negroes con
ceived that they must necessarily be- In an
tagonism to the whites. This idea was, too,
diligently instilled In their minds by those
whom they. not unnaturally, looked on MS
their true friends and protectors.
But the events Of the last decade have done
much to open the eyes OF the negro He has
seen the men whom his suffrage placed In
office enriching themselves by plundering
the State and adding to It's burdens Along
with the negroes shaken confidencs In his
former false guides, another hopeful sign is
to be noticed. 1t is the eagerness he has
shown to profit by the educational advan-
tages that have been hitherto In his reach
From this circumstance We may reasonably
hope that with the help Of m efficient school
system our colored fellow citizens will In no
great while be in position to act with indie
pendent judgment in political affairs and to
decide nationally for themselves who are their
real friends. The education Of the negroes is
the surest, perhaps the only means for bring
ing them into harmonious relations with the
whites. moderate degree Of enlightenment
will show them that their material interests
are Identical with those 81 their white neigh
bOrs, and that these have no indueernent to
Cypress them or deny them any Of their
rights.
We are about entering on new era in the |
history OF our State ne success We shall |
achieve Ia restoring prosperity and harmony
will depend largely on this question OF gem
eral education. And the action Of the Con- |
stitnticnai Convention in this respect should /
be accepted by the coored citizens 81 Louisi- |
ana rs guarantee Of the determination Of
the Democratic Conservative masses Of this
State to accord full aud equal advantages to
all nIasseg