The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-26
rAs Nsgres. and tho elvn Rights Bill
New Orleans Times Democra

We present, in another columns, the
views Of number Of the leading colored
men of the state on the subject of the
recent decision of the Unithd States
supreme court in the civil rights cases.
They generally talk very sensibly, ac-#8
knowledging that they are treated court
eously and enjoy the same rights as the
whites, but some few of them are unnec-
essarily alarmed and worried over this
decision, which. they seem to fear, may
affect their rights and privileges. 1t will
do nothing of the kind, nothing at least
in Louisiana; but will instead, have ex-
actly the contrary effect. The people of
the south justly regarded this bill as an
unconstitutional. tyrannieal and oppres
sive threat against them, and 1t conse
quently always aroused some. prejudice
against the neogroes. Tt threatened the
white people and interfeled with their
business. Armed with it, any noisy
negro could cause much annoyance
and trouble, hauling in the fed
eral government to interfere in the
business affairs of some third class bar
room or restaurant 1t was. in fine, like
all the race legislation of the republicans
INJURIOUS and inimical TO the negro. for
whose benefit it was nominally framed,
because it acted as threat to the whites,
and thereby aroused their prejudices
against 1.-THE colored brother.
We believe the colored people, and Ger.
tainly those of Louisiana, begin to appre
ciate the fact that their truest friends are
the southern whites, with whom they are
identified in every way, and who have the
same interests at stake as they. During
the days of republican rule, they were al
ways in trouble, and the republican con
gress and republican legislatures were en-
gagged the greater portion of their time ii
framing laws to protect them in their right
Ever since the democratic party has beef
| in power in this state all this has beer
changed. Peace and prosperity hav'
prevailed throughout Louisiana; crop
have grown larger; commerce has In
creased; manufactures have improved
The colored people have been equa
sharers in all this prosperity and hav'
moved forward with the state. They hay
increased their wealth and improved thei
condition wonderfully, as we pointed on
some weeks ago The white people ap
lpreeiate these facts, and here, at least
there will be not attempt to take from tn
negroes any rights or privileges, notwitf
standing the fact that the civil rights bl
is found to be unconstitutional. Tina
bill, as we have already said, was no pro
lection to them, but acted positively il
Iiuriously; their true protection lay in tn
\ good win and friendly feeling among IL
white people of the south, who, from ed
cation, sympathy and intercourse are d
sirous and anxious to see the colored RAJ
improved and elevated.
That the abolition of the civil RICH
bill will not be followed by any hosti
Legislation, or by the adoption of any III
friendly discrimination against the CO
ored race, the negro leaders of LOuisal
l. ought to know. The late constitution
convention should have taught them tn
l. 1t dealt with them in the kindliest al
most friendly manner, refused to pass 81
q friendly provisions, provided for L
a establishment of colored colleges al
oil normal schools, and, indeed, did more +
) them than any republican. legislature tn
: ever assembled in Louisiana, Such is
| sample of what the democrats of Loui
t lana do for the negro race of their on
It hfree will whereas the unconstitutio1
"a interference of republican congress in
!. matter which did not concern 1t neS
st accomplished anything but to arol
prejudice and race animosities: The
~ are nearly half a million colored people
Louisiana. whose Improvement eve
well -wisher of the state must desire a
= encourage, and whom we must all
unwilling to see take asingle step bac
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