New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-01
tnDyyG INSULT no INJURY.

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY
convention of colored men, called TO con-
yidor the condition Of their race in Louis
lana. and to discuss the emigration movement
was held in New-0rleans a few days ago.
Among its members were men of character
and ability. who have been prominent in po-
ltical. religious, and educational movements
since emancipation. The fact that there Is
occasion for the gathering of such a body Is
If itself one of great importance, for 1t shows
the existence of profound encouragement
and discomfort that could only result from
lopg-continued hardship and injustice. Indeed
the spectacle of these coloied people comparing
their knowledge of other States and c0un-
tries, and debating whether it would dc DeS'
TO seek a refuge in Kansas, or IN zen
trail America, or in Africa, must De IN
cxpressibly saddening to every rShJ-mlhueu
man. They love their homes as strongly as 90
their white neighSOrs. They want no better
country than Louisiana, but the intolerance
and iDlumanity of the whites have made II
imrossible for them to live there with COM
fort and self-respect. Poverty contempt anu
iIl-usage are the rewards OF their patent IN
dustry. The labor of the black race has re-
deemed Louisiana from the swamp ana the
wilderness. And yet to-day the population
which forms the bone and sinew OF the otate
is forced 70 seek in strange lands for the peace
and security of home.
The convention is a reprOach upon the whites
of Louisiana: but they seem to have no con-
ception Of the gravity OF the emigration iHoNt-
mcnt and no apprehension OF the unenFiaole
light in which it places them before the Woriu'
The New-Orleans papers made the convention
the butt of cheap ridicule, and falsely repre-
sented it "a a politicians movement Inc
democrat which is the special and pecbilir
organ of the Democratic party, was proiluc Ill
cOptemDtuOus headlines for It's accounts Oh liie
daily proceedings. It's last heading was Inc
"Emigrating Mokes." Even the deyoat prayers
of the delegates were cOarsely Dulesqueu'
One of the principal speakers was the Kew
Mr.. Blunt. Baptist clergyman who was
driven from his home and family in Aatchl-
toches last Fall by an armed mob OF Demo-
Gratis for the sole offence of helping TO organ
ize n Republican meeting, and threatened WIN
assassination by the Democratic newspaper Oh
tbe Mace if he should ever return. AS con-
snicuous victim of Democratic cruelty MI.
Blunt WAS selected for the special target OF
tbe reporters' wit. This is the way his last
speech was reported:
Blunt the innocent from Natchitoches. got tie hoof
in fact he got two floors he started on the lower one
and when his eye began fash ana bis soul expand ne
cot ND on the secretarys door, TOO. He lit out lie was
one or the oppressed. and he lmeT how 1t was himself
He banked on the clergy, tor lie was clergyman. lhey
ought TO lead. lament Amen j The time had come
when we ought 10 loosen ourselves from the politicians
lCheersl
voice" Amt you q politician as well as a
preacherl"
Blunt" Sar, I am no poticlaner; I'm minister OF
the gospel and solicited vote in my life Inevcf
sold out like some Others did, to the other side" zone
hundred number twelve bgogans pounded the hOor ana
cries OF Go on " were heard.l
Blunt was now fever heat. and be gan 70 perspre
The ventilation OF the church being bad the reporters
tired AGAIN.
MI. Blunts grammar is probably better and
his person cleaner than the reporters who
seeks to make him contemplate. His testi-
mopy before the Teller Committee showed
him to be a man of unusual intelligence and
force Of character, and the whites of Natchi-
toches who drove him from his home with
their reyolvers at his head admitted that he
was an honest citizen and 4 faithful clergy
man. The convention In which he and so many
other colored leaders took part appears, in
spite of the ridicule cast upon it by the New
Orleans press, to have been body of earnest
men, honestly seeking the welfare of the col
ored race, and weighing carefully the adj
vantages and Disadvantages of various pro-
iects for rescuing it from its present de-
plorabe condition.