The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
OF WHICH RACE BORN?
WIZ ANTI- MJsCE1ENi1ToN LATs FIIL
IN LOUISIANA.
No Ono Knows where tho Divsding Lac
May Fnn-DRrk Family Secrets Now
Unsttrrcd That Might Ne Bruttsd.

IN JsOOisfHNa.
No Ono Knows where tho Divldiug Lilac
May Fnil-nnrk Family Secrets Now
Unstirrcd That Might No Bruitsa.
NEW ORLEANS. July 2. Among the bills in
troducod before the Louisiana Legislature this
session which seemed certain Of passage was
ono prohibiting the intermarriago OF negroes
and whites. This was the law IN to 1s6S
when tho first Republican Legislature abro-
gated II. m 1870 an attempt was mado In the
State Constitutional Convention to prohibit
misccgcnatiou. but 1t was voted down by the
Democrats by largo majority. Another
attempt was made this year. with every
probability of success 1t is admitted
by all that the nnti-ncgro sentiment
in Louisiana Ia stronger to-day than
It has been since tho war; This was shown in
the massage by tho last Legislature OF the Sep
nrate Car law. which prohibits negroes from
riding in tho samo cars with whites. and by
other similar legislation. In several parishes
moreover. movements have been started in
opposition to miscegenation. and In some
masked mon havo ridden around. after the
fashion OF the White Caps In Indiana. to whip
all white men and negro women living in
concubinnge. for the other kind OF miscegena-
tion is practically unknown in Louisiana.
1t seemed a singularly appropriate time.
therefore. for those who are opposed to tho i'll
termarriaRe OF tho races and to miscegenn-
ton generally to pass law against 1t. and its
success was mover doubted; but tho law. like
so many on this subject. has died n natural
death. and negroes and whites can intermarry
as formerly. The defeat OF this and similar
measures has always como from tho whites
themselves n mntter which has caused some
surprise. as the public sentiment among the
whites seems to favor such legislation.
Tho CRUSADER. the negro paper here. gives
strange but plausible explanation OF the op
position raised to this Anti Miscogenaton bill
among tho whites. According to it: I've arc
30 intermixed IN Louisiana that 1t would BIO
hazardous to mako law that might in time
be tho cause Of testing the secrets OF fllation.
Tho magnanimity Of tho known to DO colorcd
people has been productive OF so much good
for suppressed origins that no one but the un-
informed con feel surprise at tho defeat or
laws on tho prevention Of intermarriage bo-
tween the races in Louisiana Legislature.
We do not know whit tho remote future will
develop on that score: but at this time. when
birth. it would be like Imposing on good nature
70 make intermarriaGe between the races
There is no difficulty in understanding this
mixed Blood among &c The families lies IN
THAI sw TO ~s
riago between the races would bring out tho
fact OF their origin. since they also would te
among tho prohibited classes. and that tho
colored origin Of many Of these families is
well known among tho negroes.
The charge of mixed blood among the whites
is by no means new. 1t has frequently been
made before. and number OF libel suits have
turned on this issue both before and since tho
war: and it is known that II number OF papers
and pamphlets giving tho carly history OF
some OF the parishes and Of families living In
them have been destroyed because they traced
some Of the latter IN to colored ancestors
Tho subjoct OF intermarriage is delicate
one in Louisiana" the CRUSADER says truly.
and it suggests that the matter would not
have been stirred up by tho Legislators from
the northern portion Of the State had they
known the condition OF affairs in New Orleans
ind south Louisiana
This assault Of tho CRUSADER, has stirred up q
large number Of whites. who Insist that ti,o
challenge thus thrown out be accepted and tho
law against misccEenation be passed. no mat
ter whom 1t affects. The bill. however. will
almost certainly be defeated. but whether
from tho cause assigned by the Crusader or
some other 1t Is impossible to determine.
This Is tho first time. however. that the col
ored people tthe mixed racel has threatencd
that II any race legislation Is directed against
them they will revenge themselves by betrny-
ing secrets handed down to them by their
mothers. and pointing out that there are many
so-cnlled white persons in Louisiana who have
1.-THE African faint" in their blood.