St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-04-15

fht.LDONNE STATION, LID,
March "a, 1882.
Hon John p. Jones. United States Senator from
nevada, Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir-Althoush personally un-
known to you, It, at this juncture be
comes my duty to congratulate and in
dOrSe you, as representative cOlored
man, npon your speech upon the Chi
neSe question, which embodied 50 many
most valuable truths fer the citizens of
my race.
Since emancipation, |, TO whom, in
preference to many, the benefit of a
limited education has been youchsafed,
have seriously y considered and studied
the question resulting from cmancipa-
ton and negro suffrage. While both
these measures are the inevitable de-
ductions of unprescriptible right, have
fully appreciated the draw backs cOnSe-
quent upon the induction into the du-
ties OF citizenship, actual sovereignty
OF million OF electors, whom education
had no chance to fit and mould for such
franchises.
1t is not reasonable to suppose that
less than a tenth Of Il population, own
ing less than one per cent, of tue land
ed property, and with such an unavoid-
ably low standard of educational intel
iigeEce, should ever succeed in obtain
ing a controlling share of influence,
without counting the accession of num-
bers, equalllng our entire muster roll.
within 10 years, by immigration.
1t Is not reasonable either to prOgnOS
ticate that race taken from barbarism
and kept in slavery until 30 yesrs ago,
can succeed in equalling, in any near
future, race having to back it a thous-
and years OF progress, which still con-
tinues. 1t is contended that a large
proportion OF the Caucasian race is still
very ignorant and uneducated, and will
not prove superior in intellect to our
colored laboring class. This only holds
good in the south, where the slave-hold
ing aristocracy has etfectually prevent
ed the instruction of the poor Cadian'
in -bellum times.
| do fully endorse your views in re-
gard to actual facts.
1t is far better to look the future
squarely in the face and to know that
it will take our utmost efforts TO follow
at distance race which has so many
advantages. There is no blame or dis
grace IN such superiority, which is
caused by circumstances over which we
had no control. Our utmost efforts, in
stead of persuading ourselves that we
have already accomplished an intellect
ual equality to the Caucasian, should
be directed to striving for it. | am
trying my best to inculcate into my
children a loyal friendship for their
white friends and an earnest desire to
emulate them in their studies.
To sum up, fully and truthfully ac-
knowledge that what you say in regard
to my race is founded onsquare and act
ual facts. and do not only acknowl-
edge this fully, but also your clear pur-
pose to benefit the race, which have
needed and received so much of the
fostering care of the general govern
ment for the past 20 years. | also CRATE
fully acknowledge that your kind ex
pressions OF sympathy are assurances
of future assistance. We severely need
it. But in all situations in human life
it is also best to look the actual situa-
ton sQuarely in the face. You have
shown that to US, and thereby benefited
us, while white people who f1atter the
negro to obtain his vote, and try to
make him believe that he has already
attained the very pinnacle OF excel
lence, are doing him grievous and ire
parable injury. Men who arc weak
enough to deny the justice OF your az
gument, and to pamper the imagination
of poor people already contaminated by
unscrupulous demagogues, certainly
are the very worse traitors to a race
which surely needs all the possible as
sistance which can be possibly af-
forded by free and philanthropic ma
ton. Yours, very truly,
OSCAR CROs1ER,
Of Terrebonne.
Late State Senator Eighth Senatorial
District.