The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-02
THE ANTS AND THE NEGRO

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lottery fight the antis have urged as
their main objection to the submission
of the amendment to popular vote,
the alleged intention of the pros to
Stubborn the ignorant negro vote Of
the State by bribery and untoward III.
flnenees, but late developments go to
show what is condemned 10 Sparta
may be condemned in Athens. After
loud threats of the free use of hemp
and shotgnns, should emissaries of the
lottery be found in our midst with gilt
tering seduction, we find men who
were loudest in their denunciations,
abroad among the negroes of our sec.
tion using methods far more despisa-
BILE than the prejudged intentions of
the pros. In no instance has an ad-
vocate of the amendment in this Sec
ton we speak for Lincoln - ap-
preached a negro with promise or
threat to influence bis vote, but to the
contrary the pure and undefiled have
sought the negro in his private circles
and in no mistakable terms warned
him that the midnight bastinado, and
very probably the hemp, would be re-
sorted to in case he did not fall into
line with the nti-lottery ranks. Not
only in one section of our vicinity but
in several has this very seductive ar
gument been used.
We have learned from representa-
tives of the colered element that the
mode of procedure is to attend negro
religious meetings, which are frequent
at this season, aud after lecturing
them on anti-lotterv doctrines to pro.
duce what is purportad to be roster
of an anti.league and demand sigma
lures with the final admonition ~ ou
can do this of your own free will, but
if you refuse you may expect US to
call on you again when we will use
harsh measures with you" Oh, con-
sistency thou art jewel! But the
antis do not appreciate it. They pre-
fer the tabled gem said to repose in
the head of the Shiny frog. The ne
groes of our section are largely in fa-
vor of the amendment, realizing their
station of ignorance and poverty,
places them in position to receive
large benefits through its adoption.
Ignorance and lack of education has
been great drawback to the negro in
the march of progress, and they keen
: ly feel the necessity of lifting their
race from its present state of depen.
dency to a plane where the blessings
t of freedom and liberty may be real.
!, lied. Education alone can lift them
in the status of citizenship and the in.
crease of school facilities offered by
the misunderstanding the pres.
; ent term of two months to six in the
year-concerns them vitality and is
claiming their earnest consideration
and if unmolested by intimidators aud
demoralizers will vote to man fol
the adoption of the amendment
Emanclpated from thraldomi by the
solemn voice Of government, poor, ig.
: norant and low in the worlds estimate
3 he should be allowed the rights with
which he has been endowed, and when
i, he turns his thoughts to self-elevation
be should not be crowded back in the
j. narrow groove of ignorance by self.
3 conctituted guardians. To the negro
the amendment means ample school
facilities for self-improvement sup
preston Of his rights means poverty
ignorance and crime.
Let the negro exercise his feelings
I
! and suffrage untrammeled by threat
or intimidation in this case, bis inter
est is large and his rights should not
be curtailed. The advocates of the
Q amendment will in no instance at
tempt to influence white or black by
: unfair means or intimidation. Nov
a come to the front fair and square ant
It we will count voles with you in Apri
nert. Othe. wise, we shall deem i
n our duty to keep our eye on you ant
y proclaim i. fearlessly to the worlt
should You be fonnd exercising undu
3 privileges or despisable methods. II
Q line with our purpose, and true to ou
convictions, we shall not hesitate t.
g print in "box car letters" the names Q
:. the bulldozers should necessity requir
y tt Ruston Caligraph.
l. appointments for Calcasieu parish b